WBEZ, the NPR station in Chicago has been doing outstanding investigative reporting on the Chicago Public Schools. The reporters, Becky Vevea and Linda Lutton, dig for facts and do their own analysis instead of reporting the press releases from CPS.
In this story, they do a fact-check on the city’s plan to close dozens of public schools.
The facts and the claims don’t coincide.
Wouldn’t it be great if every city had investigative journalists like them?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
It is good reporting. I was especially struck by past decisions to expand the number of schools at the same time enrollment declined. The article reports a decline in CPS total enrollment of 6% since 2000 yet the district went from 597 schools in 2000 to 681schools today with 13 more set to open this fall.
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Excellent reporting. We need this kind of investigation and analysis in every city which is facing mass school closings, including Philadelphia.
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It should be obvious by now that closing the Chicago schools is a retaliatory measure against the teachers. Recently I saw an interview with Rahm Emanuel’s physician brother, who basically said that teachers might as well give in because his brother always gets his way. Well, I’m betting on the teachers getting their way. Why? Because in the end, Emanuel and his corporate cronies will not accept classroom positions at $40,000 a year. And the public will always side with the people who are selfless enough to serve the nation’s children. Just give it time.
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Yes- whatever has happened to investigative journalism in this country?
Sylvia Peters Live well, Laugh often, Love much
Sent from my iPhone 651.270.8390
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I guess this would fall under, if it’s not fixed, break it some more. Massive churn,leading to destabilization, confusion, and gridlock. Should be a mess next fall unless the school board comes to their senses and puts the brakes on this chuckle-headed plan.
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Hi Diane,
Last week I read a short article in the paper that informed me that the Michigan Legislature had proposed and were voting on a bill that would make student growth, with test data being the documentation, the only factor in determining teacher pay. It had passed in the house I believe and was to go to the senate. It was a sidebar in the paper and then I didn’t see any further info on it. I wrote a couple of scenarios though that show the ridiculousness of such a law. I have attached them, and if you think they are blog worthy then please post on your blog. I would love to have them read, but no one is reading my blog!
Rosemary Schimmel
Teacher Consultant
Plymouth-Canton Schools
734-981-1672
rose42benn@comcast.net
ellenbennett.blogspot.com
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Could they come to Los Angeles, our newspaper hasn’t done investigative journalism in years. Hey, do they even know how to do it since firing all their veteran staff.
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I’m a Social Studies teacher including several AP subjects one of which has been Human Geography where the mantra is that place matters. The following link was posted on the AP Human Geography Readers facebook page. A group in Chicago has layered or combined a Chicago homocide map with that of the schools closings. It vividly shows why those schools are anchors of stability for those communities and why they need to be fully funded and supported.
http://chicagoist.com/2013/03/22/maps_of_note_cps_school_closures_ov.php
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