I woke up this morning to two stories dominating my news feed. First, the sudden death of the beloved Black congressman and justice fighter from Baltimore, Elijah Cummings. Second, enthusiastic support for the Chicago Teachers Union strike. I saw the face of their campaign, Stacy Davis Gates, fiercely handling the media and countering Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. To many of…
Tag: Rahm Emanuel
Christopher House Breaks Ground on Innovative Middle School
As a toddler, Camilla Ruelas had a life-saving liver transplant. She’s now a sixth-grader at Christopher House Charter School, with her sights set on college at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana and later, medical school. “I hope to learn more about the human body and anatomy to become a doctor someday,” and perform those lifesaving transplants herself, she told a…
This Week in CPS: New School Year, New Mayor
Jaws dropped all over the city this morning when Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced he will not run for re-election. You can watch his full announcement here. (Video starts at 7:34) Emanuel pointed to schools as a keystone of his legacy to the city. He noted his accomplishments in establishing a plan for universal, full-day pre-K in Chicago by the year…
Donald Trump, Please Come to Chicago
Donald Trump has had plenty to say about the Windy City lately, which is strange, because this is the same city that shut down his rally in March. The presidential candidate confidently said he could cure violence in Chicago in one week. He also went on to say African Americans will vote for him after the fatal shooting of Chicago…
Rahm Promises Schools Will Open on Time, Dismisses CPS Strike Talk
SOUTH SHORE — Insisting Chicago Public Schools “are going to open up on time,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel dismissed strike threats Monday and defended a $250 million property-tax increase as “what’s right” to fund education. Speaking in South Shore, where he touted the completion of a district-wide air-conditioning program this school year, Emanuel assured parents the fall term would start as scheduled…
Why Aren’t Education Reform Leaders in Chicago Stepping Up?
Here’s a fact: education reform (school choice, teacher accountability, high expectations and school autonomy) is the not the cause of the impending teacher strike in Chicago. Here’s another fact: it is becoming increasingly difficult for the public to perceive that the first fact is true. That’s because there is a sad juxtaposition playing out in Chicago today. On one hand,…