Asserts the moderate-liberal commentator: "It is time for all Americans, Democrats and Republicans, to stand up and fight for children desperate for good schools. The beachhead in this war is in Chicago. Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) risked his political neck in a heroic fight to reform the nation’s third largest school system. The political risk is great because of the money the teachers’ union has invested in Democratic politicians. Add
to the drama the fact that the nation is weeks from a presidential
election. President Obama is another Democrat from Chicago. Emanuel is
his former chief of staff. Obama’s Secretary of Education, Arne
Duncan, used to be the CEO of the Chicago Public Schools. The Chicago
trio has risked alienating the unions by championing national school
reform."
He continues: "Since he took office in May 2011,
Emanuel has tried his best to work with the union to change the system
so that it actually educates its 414,000 students. The Chicago
Teachers Union has battled him every step of the way — fighting his
efforts to increase the length of the school day and to expand charter
schools. In the first year of Emanuel’s leadership, 2012, the
Chicago Public Schools had a record high graduation rate of 60 percent.
Yes, 40 percent still don’t graduate, but given the circumstances, this
is clearly improvement. Under Emanuel, the average ACT
standardized test score for Chicago high school students has risen to
17.6, the highest in a decade. That, too, is still not great. A student
has to score 18 out of 36 on the ACT to be considered college ready."
Juan Williams: "Mayor Rahm Emanuel Is Fighting A Just Battle For The Future Of Chicago Public Schools"
