“Their kids, your kids - Chicago Tribune” plus 1 more

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 05:10 PM PST

Nobody has done more to improve Chicago Public Schools than Mayor Richard M. Daley, whose own kids went to parochial schools while he worked to repair a system once branded "worst in the nation." But the job's not finished.

So, no, we're not surprised that Rahm Emanuel hedged when asked if he'd send his kids to CPS if he's elected to replace Daley.

A better question for every mayoral candidate is this: What would you do to make the schools better?

Several of the candidates have offered ideas. Former Board of Education President Gery Chico wants to add two hours to every school day and 25 days to every year; he wants daylong kindergarten and alternative schools for at-risk students.

State Sen. James T. Meeks on Wednesday set out an education agenda that includes his worthy push to give private school vouchers to thousands of students in Chicago's worst-performing schools. He challenged the Chicago Teachers Union to figure out how to weed out bad teachers.

Emanuel wants to give parents at consistently failing schools the power to petition for changes such as bringing in a charter school operator or closing the school. He was explaining his plan to double the number of teacher training academies when the conversation was hijacked by a question about where he planned to send his three children. (They now attend private schools in Washington.)

Middle-class parents started bailing out of Chicago's failing schools decades ago, enrolling their kids in private schools or moving to the suburbs. As recently as 2004, a Thomas B. Fordham Institute study found that 39 percent of CPS teachers sent their own kids to private schools.

But public officials who opt out of public schools are a particularly sore subject. "There's something to be said for leading by example and having a personal stake in the system you seek to reform," said Chico, a CPS alum whose two daughters also graduated from Chicago schools. (Then again, Chico's personal stake led to claims that he'd pushed for the elite Northside Prep to be built near his home in time for his daughter to attend. He denies that.) Chico deserves real credit for launching a reform effort when Daley made him school board president in 1995.

City Clerk Miguel del Valle, also a mayoral candidate, says his experience as a CPS student and parent gives him "an important perspective on Chicago's public education climate." We think Meeks has a pretty good perspective, too — though he sent his kids to parochial high schools.

Charting the future of the schools is one of the next mayor's biggest priorities. It doesn't matter if the mayor has kids in the public schools. It doesn't matter if the mayor has kids at all. If Chicago is to grow and thrive, it must do a better job of educating its children. Failing schools drive families and businesses away and keep new ones from coming.

So let's stop asking if the schools are (or were) good enough for the candidates' kids. Ask instead what they'll be looking for in naming a new schools CEO. Ask what they'll do to attract and keep the best and brightest teachers, and what they'll do to get rid of the ones who aren't getting the job done. Ask what kind of concessions they'll seek next year in contract negotiations with the CTU and how far they're willing to go to get the necessary changes. Ask if they support options that would allow all parents to opt out of failing schools.

Are Chicago's schools good enough for your kids? Everyone knows that in far too many neighborhoods, the answer is no. We need a mayor who understands the schools are struggling and who has an aggressive plan to fix them.

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Louisiana Kids Extravaganza is Saturday in Westwego - New Orleans Times-Picayune

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:01 AM PST

Published: Thursday, December 16, 2010, 6:00 AM

Get your lawn chairs and dancing shoes ready for the third annual Louisiana Kids Holiday Extravaganza, to be held Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Westwego Farmers and Fisheries Market.

Pony rides will be available, and Santa will make a guest appearance.

••••••••

As the cold weather whipped outside, Westwego seniors enjoyed a heartwarming Thanksgiving celebration at the Ernest J. Tassin Senior Center. The party also included the center's monthly birthday party.

Guests went all out with their attire, dressing as pilgrims and Indians. Police Chief Dwayne "Poncho" Munch and Larry Vedros showed up dressed as turkeys.

Seniors enjoyed a delicious meal of turkey, dressing and salad. After dinner was served, they enjoyed tunes played by the Paw-Paws Band.

This was the first time Thanksgiving was celebrated at the center. Catherine and Clifton Abadie sponsored the event..

Everyone had a great time!

Gina Rivere is a Westwego resident who writes about people and events of community interest. She can be reached at ginarivere@cox.net or 504.450.6517.

Kids Shoes

Thursday, December 16, 2010