* Sun-Times…
Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday accepted Gov. Bruce Rauner’s apology for branding half of all Chicago Public Schools principals “managerially incompetent” and half its teachers “virtually illiterate,” but questioned whether teachers will forgive the insult.
“I’m gonna accept him at his word. More important is, will the teachers?” the mayor said. […]
If the governor is truly sorry for what he said, the mayor wants Rauner to prove it by putting the state’s money where his mouth is.
“The state finally leveled the pension inequity that existed where our taxpayers were taxed twice for pensions for teachers that don’t teach our children. I want to see that not only this year. I want to see it continue,” Emanuel.
“I accept that, sincerely, the governor apologizes. … I accept it because I want to move on and turn the page. [But] I want him to be a champion of the academic gains that the children of Chicago are making — not just against themselves, but against their national peers. … He should hold ’em up as an example of what you can do if you pull together principals, parents and teachers. … The governor of the state of Illinois should embrace the children of Chicago.”
Discuss.
…Adding… Rauner replies, via the Tribune…
Rauner countered that he has long worked to improve schools in Chicago, but said districts across the state need help too.
“You know, I have worked for 25 years to improve the quality of the public schools in Chicago. And I passionately, I ran for governor so we could have outstanding schools in every community, not just Chicago,” Rauner said Tuesday during a term limits event at a central Illinois farm.
“Every school district needs more money, every teacher needs more support.”
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 2:50 pm:
The governor apologized because his true thoughts were going to overshadow his messaging/sales campaign.
- Ole' Nelson - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 2:50 pm:
The mayor should not hold his breath. His wishes seem to run contrary to Rauner’s worldview.
- Nobody - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 2:52 pm:
This is funny considering both knew about this email for well over a year. Check the date of the initial FOIA request. Rahm and Bruce were on better terms then.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 2:53 pm:
The Governor is sorry, but “that sorry”?
- Huh? - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 2:55 pm:
“If the governor is truly sorry for what he said,…”
Yeah right. We all know how tone deaf 1.4% really is when he is talking in front of groups. 1.4% mouthed some words that didn’t mean a thing.
“… the mayor wants Rauner to prove it by putting the state’s money where his mouth is.”
Won’t ever happen because 1.4% would see that as a bailout of the CPS. 1.4% wants to see CPS go bankrupt so why should he give them a dime?
- Mama - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 3:04 pm:
“The governor of the state of Illinois should embrace the children of Chicago.”
The governor of Illinois should embrace all children - even children from poor families.
- Doug Simpson - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 3:05 pm:
The Governor meant it.
This is the kind of stuff they laugh about over wine, on the deck, in Winnetkastan.
- Doug Simpson - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 3:06 pm:
Couldnt agree more Mama. He is Governor of the entire state, not just his cul-de-sac on the North Shore.
- cdog - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 3:12 pm:
Someone or something has gotten to Rauner. He seems to be a New Man with teleprompter discipline, apologies, and fewer insults.
Did he get a visit from the Ebeneezer’s ghost of Christmas Future? Was it a threat of widespread Administration or Party mutiny?
It is more likely that the polling that feeds the message machine mandated a change of tone.
I find the new tone completely unnatural and disingenuous. Yuck.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 3:17 pm:
He’s paying attention to the polls in preparation for his next run. Hasn’t changed a thing about what he really feels but you know…… appearances mean everything.
- Anon - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 3:30 pm:
This reminds me of Jerry Maguire:
“It’s the family motto. Are you ready Jerry? I want to make sure you’re ready, brother. Here it is:
Show me the money.”
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 3:37 pm:
I don’t think the teachers need nor want Rahm on their side.
- Anon - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 3:38 pm:
This is an example of excellent messaging. Someone deserves a steak dinner.
- sal-says - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 3:39 pm:
== “The governor of the state of Illinois should embrace…” ==
…many things in IL if he actually WAS governor raunner instead of what he is: governor ruined.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 3:54 pm:
Words just do not come to mind for the 1.4% update.
- Wensicia - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 3:58 pm:
“Every school district needs more money, every teacher needs more support.”
Then, why the recent attacks on CPS, including schools compared to prisons, in an effort to pit Chicago’s needs against the rest of the state? This is as false as his apology to maligned teachers.
- Chicago Taxpayer - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 3:59 pm:
The irony is the governor was a champion of public education in Chicago until he became governor and then became the “anti-champion” in order to leverage the CPS crisis for his labor reform agenda.
He should have stuck with being the education champion. Leave education alone. Pick your fights elsewhere.
- PublicServant - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 4:02 pm:
===Every school district needs more money, every teacher needs more support.===
Some, more than others. Maybe like ones with a student population that has 85% of its students at or below the poverty line. Just sayin.
- PublicServant - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 4:06 pm:
===Did he get a visit from the Ebeneezer’s ghost of Christmas Future?===
More like a vision of Madigan in the electoral future.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 4:09 pm:
The Chicago Public Schools have some excellent teachers if your parents can pull strings for a student to attend one of its select privilege academies like Rauner’s daughter.
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 4:19 pm:
The governor’s idea of support for teachers is interesting. I generally don’t blast people as “incompetent” and “illiterate” when I’m trying to give them support.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 4:22 pm:
When you and your buddies are in the charter school business, it only makes business sense to put the public schools out of business.
- Corporate Thug - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 4:27 pm:
Whatever.The Mayors office didn’t want to let go of the information. It shouldn’t be his call. He should ask/talk to a group of CPS teachers instead of his vacation buddy.
- Filmmaker Professor - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 4:36 pm:
Powerless Bruce Rauner
- Sue - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 5:08 pm:
Hey Rahm- I am not 200 million sorry. You and your cohorts spent the money over the last 15 years. Not my problem so good luck with your pensions which by the way probably earned under 1 percent last FY. Have a great time at the convention. Maybe HRC will bail you out. Best Bruce
- Sue - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 5:16 pm:
PS. Sorry Rahm- forgot HRC won’t be seen with you
- peon - Tuesday, Jul 26, 16 @ 10:14 pm:
This email summarizes the problems of CEOs as politicians - not enough humility to know what they don’t know fully. It takes supreme confidence to unequivocally state that a significant fraction of teachers are “virtually illiterate” and principals are “managerially incompetent”. The Governor is not a trained educator - he is a highly talented venture capitalist. This is not the same thing. He approaches politics the same way. With supreme confidence in his strategy but blind to what he does not know about politics - it’s extraordinary. The outcome is predictable though.
- Delimma - Wednesday, Jul 27, 16 @ 8:50 am:
Forgive my ignorance, but what has our governor done in the last 25 years that could be considered “improv(ing) the quality of the public schools in Chicago.”
This isn’t an insult or a critique, I just don’t know.