Rahm Emanuel: "The Education Mayor" & His Love Affair With Charter Schools

I have  never been a great admirer of Rahm Emanuel,  my hometown mayor.   In fact,  I supported one of his opponents,  an independent-minded administrator named Miguel Del Valle during the 2011 mayoral campaign.

It seems as if public schools throughout the nation are becoming public policy makers'  favorite piñata.   In Philadelphia,   state funding cutbacks have forced the closing of 23 public schools.   Yet state officials managed to uncover some miraculous monetary honeypot to fund  a brand-spankin' new prison just north of Philly to the tune of $400 million!

Here in Chicago,   50 elementary schools,  primarily in struggling neighborhoods,  are being shut down.  Programs, especially creative arts,  are being butchered at many surviving schools as well.   It has to be done because we're in dire financial straits,  so they say.   Yet the Emanuel administration  is able to pony up financing for a new sports arena near the McCormick Place convention complex.  This, despite the fact that two other publicly-financed athletic stadiums haven't even come close to paying for themselves:

1)   Soldier Field,  extensively and expensively renovated,             primarily to benefit the Chicago Bears,  who play eight    
          games a year there --- and ---

2)  Cellullar Field
     (nee: Comiskey Park) publicly funded to
      the tune  of $200 million for the owners of the 
      Chicago White Sox,  who for the past few years have
      had their rent payments waived owing to low 
      attendance.   (The team owners were mandated to pay
      rent to the Illinois Sports Finance Authority,  technically
      the owner of the stadium,  assuming that paid attendance
      figures exceeded a  minimum threshold.  Well, 
      that threshold hasn't been met for a while now).
    

At the same time,   bids are being solicited for the establishment of more charter schools,  despite their largely dubious records of success.  The case is often made that the charter schools save the taxpayers money in contrast to public schools.  Maybe so,  but is that really a cause for pride?   First of all,   teachers' average salaries are lower because  they tend not to hang around long enough to accumulate much seniority.   Also,  the charters are able to "cherry-pick"  their students --- generally the least "expensive" ones,  not those with special needs.  Unrestricted enrollment may be mandated,   but they can ultimately drop pupils who don't conform to their standards.  Rejected students are, of course,  shunted back to the public schools.

Here in my home town,  the mayor hand-picks the school board which largely controls policy with precious little public input.   There are seven board members:   a retired university dean,  a retired Chicago Public Schools (CPS) principal,  and five corporate poobahs.  So,  guess whose interests predominate!

Mayor Emanuel's latest appointment is an investment advisor named Deborah Quazzo who,  just incidentally,  sends her three children to the exclusive  Chicago Latin School.  Her firm,  in which she's a managing partner,  focuses on private equity investments in education.  She also sits on the board of a nation-wide chain of charter schools known as KIPP:  an acronym standing for "Knowledge Is Power Program".    (There are five KIPP schools in Chicago.   Nationally,  on average,  KIPP schools do not perform especially well in contrast to average public schools,  and generally well below college-prep public schools).

Anyway,  here's the kicker:   I scoped out KIPP's website listing of employment opportunities.   It features a group photo of racially and ethnically diverse young teachers,  all fresh-faced and hot-to-trot ---  y'know,  like a "big family".  Don't get me wrong,   I'm sure these teachers are very earnest and well-intentioned,   and really do want to make a dent!

But here's what's expected of them.   In return for "competitive salaries and benefits",   they're scheduled to work 50 hours a week:   (M-F  7:30 AM to 5:30 PM).  In addition Saturday "volunteering"  is an option,   but "almost everyone does it".    (Hmm!  What kind of performance review might a "non-volunteer" expect?).   (Personal note:  I've done plenty of volunteer work in my life;  it's  satisfying and life-affirming.   But volunteerism has never been "implied"  as "part of my job").

Decades ago,  labor activists fought ---  and some even died ---  for the 40-hour,  5-day work week.     Yet, dedicated young teachers at charter schools like KIPP,  are being imposed upon to work 50+ hours a week;  it's as if they're not entitled to meaningful lives of their own.  How are they expected to find the time to enrich themselves,  let alone start families?

Some folks might insist that KIPP-type jobs aren't being forced on anyone.   But throughout the country,  public school teachers are being laid off.   So if these dedicated young teachers really want to make their passion a reality,  their employment opportunities  are likely to be very limited.  

More often than not,  after three years at a charter school,  they're done with teaching!

Here's Your Pity: Now Stand Down and Have a Cookie!

Last week,  Governor Pat McCrory (R-North Carolina) signed a draconian anti-abortion bill effectively closing most of the state's  women's health clinics.  Although abortions were targeted in the bill,  because of the manner in which the measure was crafted,  many North Carolina women will be denied basic health-sustaining services well beyond the realm of abortion.  (Incidentally,  during his campaign,  he specifically promised that he would not sign off on any such legislation).

In the wake of his action,  a concerned group of women conducted a 12-hour vigil outside the Governor's Mansion in Raleigh.   The Good Governor responded with what he evidently perceived as a good-will offering:   a plate of chocolate-chip cookies which he personally presented to one of the demonstrators.   Without missing a beat,  the group returned the untouched cookies with a note on the plate reading,  "We want women's health care,  not cookies."

Was there some sort of subliminal message intended,  such as an implication that women should be home baking cookies?   And having babies?   Or was it simply an attempt by the guv to make himself feel good?   Several years ago,  I recall watching a profile of Ronald Reagan;  if my memory serves me,  it was a public television documentary.

Throughout his presidency,  Mr.  Reagan was condemned for promoting mean-spirited economic policies;  in effect punishing the poor for having the temerity to be poor.   His reaction?   He gave an economically-troubled woman $5,000 out of his own pocket,  evidently because he was moved by her story.   The documentary demonstrated just how affected Mr. Reagan was by this woman's plight  ---  on a personal level,  one on one.

Yet many folks like Governor McCrory and President Reagan can't seem to make the logical leap.   Whether in the realm of sexual relations or economic matters,  they preach "personal responsibility".    Yet when faced with personal appeals,  they'll interact on a personal level.   But the unseen millions affected by the same challenging issues seem to be out of sight and out of mind.

Many of McCrory's and Reagan's kindred spirits seem to believe that charities and private largesse can address the nation's ills;  and that folks should stop having sex until they're ready to tie the knot and start making babies.  Don't get me wrong,  charities do yeoman work.   But they've never had the resources to address more than a fraction of the nation's needs,  especially in times of economic distress.  And sexual abstention?   In 2013?   Get real!

In virtually every industrialized society,  government social programs play a significant role.  On this side of the pond,   Social Security and Medicare have proven to be a godsend.   Every mainstream poll validates the popularity of these programs,  despite the rants of the government-hating sour-grapes.   And furthermore,  the vast majority of Americans do not endorse governmental probes of women's vaginas    --- or the denial of basic health services.

A personal note to Governor McCrory:  Sharing is virtuous,   but please keep your cookies to yourself!