"How is that even possible?"
The title of this entry is the question that laid before me.I was sitting in an Argo Tea, one that I actually frequent. I like the atmosphere, the drinks aren't too expensive, and I can get work done, or thinking done, it's an all around good place to be in my opinion.I was sitting with an acquaintance, sipping my Green Tea Ginger Twist, talking about my joys of teaching when I expressed a sentiment that has gained traction in my mind in the last few days,"I've worked for a plethora of companies and employers, and CPS is probably the most f***ed up boss I've ever had!"and my acquaintance, Jules, whom I was actually on a date with, asked me, "Why is that the case?"to which I replied, "because the school system is ran by people who have no background in education.""How is that even possible...Arne Duncan was in charge at one point right?"Oh yeah, that's right....Arne Duncan, the current Secretary of Education under Barack Obama. Right...surely he has a background in education.Well, before we address Arne Duncan, let's take a quick trip down memory lane that will help us better understand the now...
DALEY TAKES CONTROL OF CPS
In 1995, the Republican-controlled legislature, with the support of Mayor Richard Daley, the business community, and the governor of Illinois, passed the Chicago School Reform Amendatory Act. This act reversed the decentralized, local governance trend of the 1988 law. It concentrated power in the office of the mayor, giving him/her sole authority over CPS including:* Eliminated the School Finance Authority (SFA) and the School Board Nominating Commission* Mayoral appointment of Board members and top administrators.* Mayor, rather than the Board, selects the Board president* Created position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to oversee CPS administration.The 1995 law gave the mayor sole authority to appoint a five-member School Reform Board of Trustees to serve through 1999. Thereafter, the mayor was to appoint a seven- member board with staggered, four-year terms. That’s what we have today.Source: A Brief History of the Chicago School Board - CODE Chicago
DALEY APPOINTS PAUL VALLAS FIRST CEO OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Prior to being appointed CEO of Chicago Public Schools, Paul Vallas previously directed the budget arm of the Illinois State Legislature and served as budget director for Daley.Vallas had previously directed the budget arm of the Illinois State Legislature and served as budget director for Daley.So how exactly does being a budget director, with no teaching experience, prepare you to take over the 3rd largest school district in the United States, with an approximate constituency of 400,000+?It's important to note that Paul Vallas has NEVER been certified to either teach, or to be a school administrator....NEVER. While he does have a Masters, I was unable to find out exactly what that Masters is in, however, he has not completed any official coursework following that Masters that he received over 30 years ago, which is leading to quite a few problems for him right now in Connecticut.In addition, a few years later, Vallas was appointed the CEO of the School District of Philadelphia, In this capacity, he presided over the nation's largest experiment in privatized management of schools, with the management of over 40 schools turned over to outside for-profits, nonprofits, and universities beginning in Fall 2002.
ENTER ARNE DUNCAN
So, yeah, this guy must have been highly qualified for the job of CEO of the 3rd largest school district in the United States, not even to mention Secretary of Education for the President of the United States. Well, let's cut to the chase. I, as a 3rd year teacher, with a bachelors in Social Sciences and a minor in Secondary Education, with an endorsement in Middle School Education is MORE QUALIFIED to be CPS CEO than Arne Duncan.While Duncan has a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from Harvard, he has.....he has....oh wait. He doesn't have a Masters. No Masters??? Really? Really! As for the extent of his education experience prior to being CPS CEO:In 1992 childhood friend and investment banker John W. Rogers, Jr., appointed Duncan director of the Ariel Education Initiative, a program mentoring children at one of the city's worst-performing elementary schools and then assisting them as they proceeded further in the education system. After the school closed in 1996, Duncan and Rogers were instrumental in re-opening it as a charter school, Ariel Community Academy. In 1999, Duncan was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff for former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas. Source: Wikipedia: Arne DuncanSo, let's think about this...men with links to budgeting work, as well as the implication of charter school systems. Coincidence?
LET'S PUT A COP IN CHARGE OF THE SCHOOLS
Ron Huberman...so here's a brief timeline on Ron Huberman
- (1994) Graduate from the University of Wisconsin and join the Chicago Police Department
- (2004) Appointed by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley as the Executive Director of the city's Office of Emergency Management and Communication
- (2005) Appointed Mayor Daley's Chief of Staff
- (2007) Appointed by Mayor Daley as President of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
- (2009) Appointed by Mayor Daley as CEO of Chicago Public Schools
HUH?!?!?!?
FINALLY, REAL EDUCATORS: JEAN-CLAUDE BRIZARD AND BARBARA BYRD-BENNETT
I don't even know what to say about these two, other than they should hang their heads in shame. Why? Because by they have taken part in what I feel is the destruction of the Chicago school system, ala The Philadelphia school district, which was privatized by Paul Vallas. They've done nothing to improve the school system, and has actually broken it further down under their tenures. At this juncture I don't have the energy to dig into their backgrounds...but do your own homework.Barbara Byrd recently pushed forward on a plan to close down 50 Chicago Public Schools year due to underutilization, while Chicago also has severe overcrowding in at least 50 schools. Now, please allow me to say....I think Chicago is a great city. I also think Chicago Public Schools is full of great teachers, and students. I have some of the most charismatic, intelligent, and talented kids I've ever had the pleasure to work with. The problem with the school system is the leadership, and that means the CEO, as well as the MAYORAL APPOINTED SCHOOL BOARD, and of course, the Mayor himself, Rahm Emanuel, as well as the previous Mayor Richard M. Daley. Chicagoans need to become more active participants in the fates of their schools, not by protesting, not by discussing, but by making demands of THEIR elected officials. Our kids deserve that much, don't they? Daily Post Weekly Writing Challenge