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* With the ongoing hostilities over funding for Chicago Public Schools, I thought it might be a good time to re-watch an interview of private citizen Bruce Rauner not long after the last city teachers’ strike ended.
I think there’s little doubt that the successful CTU strike was a big factor behind Rauner’s decision to run for governor. And during that 2012 interview, Rauner explained some of his long-held philosophies. As he still does to this day, Rauner stressed that he is “pro-teacher,” and then candidly added…
What I’m strongly against is the teachers union. They are not about quality students and the taxpayers. They’re about their own political power. They are about bribing our politicians with their taxpayer-funded union dues to get themselves outrageously generous pensions, to protect incompetent teachers to keep their membership ranks swelled beyond reasonable levels.
And we’ve got to fight them hard.
He also said the education reform community and the CTU “share almost no common ground.”
* Rauner also rightly predicted that CPS would soon face an enormous financial crisis and offered up his own prescription…
I’ve been advocating for a long time to break the system up, blow up the bureaucracy, take it down to a competing network of a smaller number of schools, competing for resources and driving better outcomes, through charters, contracts, independent providers, rather than one monolithic monopoly.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:06 pm
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This has always been his view and agenda. It took a brief respite in the summer and fall of 2014 but has never changed.
Comment by pundent Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:14 pm
Wow, look at that. Look at that.
I don’t understand how a school like East St. Louis, whose girls cross country team wore white t-shirts this year or last (the year is a blur) because they couldn’t afford jerseys, supposed to compete for resources? How in the world does that drive better outcomes? Wow, there it is.
Perfidy hiding
Malignant callousness
Born of Privilege
Blind to consequences.
Comment by Honeybear Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:16 pm
Very Hunger Game-esque.
Comment by Name Withheld Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:18 pm
He’s not wrong that CTU wants what it wants, and doesn’t really care what you have to say about it. CTU is solely focused on the well-being of it’s members. Just as AFSCME and SEIU do the same thing. Rauner also has said before that he doesn’t believe in a minimum wage, which is despicable and completely out of touch with Illinois and the rest of America. So, let’s have that debate, Governor. Don’t be shy about it. Just own it, and advocate for it. Let’s see who wins.
Comment by Curious Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:18 pm
Oligarchs like Rauner are the central argument FOR teachers unions and unions in general. People band together to protect themselves from his need to “dominate to win” and his vast sums of money. Unions aren’t perfect, but they are one of the only defenses available.
Comment by James Knell Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:18 pm
There have been moments here and there where he has said what he wants. During the general campaign and since being elected he’s done a brilliantly effective job deflecting attention from how is actions are following his goals.
Comment by Earnest Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:20 pm
==I’ve been advocating for a long time to break the system up, blow up the bureaucracy, take it down to a competing network of a smaller number of schools, competing for resources and driving better outcomes, through charters, contracts, independent providers, rather than one monolithic monopoly.==
Why should the public get to monopolize their kids education?
We can run the schools just like a business!
Cut losses: “counsel” out all the discipline problems, learning disabled, nonEnglish-speaking kids and watch our scores rise.
Add layers of administrators and pay them $250.000 each!
Do everything in secrecy -
we’re public/private -the money comes in on the public side, but but we can deny FOIA requests on the private side!
Comment by TinyDance (FKA Sue) Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:20 pm
His advisors need to tell him its teachers who are the teachers union.
Comment by Augie Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:21 pm
Assuming this really is what he wants, I’d say his ends do not justify his means.
It’s one thing to predict a financial crisis, quite another to actively contribute to making it happen, like a self-fulfilling prophesy.
Make your case governor. Tell us how you’ll end the status quo and achieve your goals. But if your answer is by letting CPS fail, I’m sorry, but that’s not acceptable. In fact, it’s borderline criminal.
Your job is to improve education in Illinois, not destroy it, even temporarily, to get what you want. Try another course, and for once, be honest about your intentions. Enough with the fruit loops.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:21 pm
Maybe a Hunger Games style funding plan is what he wants? Cannibalism, err I mean capitalism, at it’s finest!
Comment by Harvest76 Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:23 pm
One can envision the BigBrain sittin’ around the club spewing this C* to the fellows, but it is always stunning to see them say it out loud.
BTW BigBrain was part of the group who thought th surest path makin’ kids smarter was a higher vote count for a strike. Hey dopes that was like wavin’ the red cape. Very dumb. Very destructive.
We always assume the BigBrain superstars proposed this item to verify the “tough guy” persona
Comment by Annonin' Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:25 pm
–What does he want?–
LOL, he’s not hiding his light under a bushel in the quotes provided.
And his actions to date certainly support his clearly stated objectives.
Louis, are you going to give us your “Rauner isn’t trying to destroy unions” fan-fiction today?
Make sure you have a lot of exclamation points and straw men. You’ll need them.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:27 pm
Rauner has wanted the following…
Chaos
Destruction
Collapse
Ashes
Rebirth
Rebirth without unions, low taxes, less governmental responsibility, “taxpaers” saved from saving society, and people to keep quiet about how Rauner is going about starting the purposeful chaos, destruction, and collapse… but if they’d echo “Madigan’s fault” that would be helpful.
That’s 2 in 5 Union household voters that voted Rauner, and district after State House House and Senate districts went with Rauner, while sending Democrats to Springfield.
Many wanted Quinn gone.
Congratulations, this is your reward.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:31 pm
Just as revealing is the section that starts at 5:10 where Rauner four times ducks and dodges Carol Marin’s question, “Is that your view on all unions?” and “Is this a question of collective bargaining being a problem systemically?”
Finally she turns to Jesse Sharkey who says, “Mr. Rauner isn’t answering the question because he is ideologically committed to a right-wing program that basically sees unions as an impediment”.
Amen to that.
Comment by Reality Check Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:32 pm
“They are about bribing our politicians with their taxpayer-funded union dues to get themselves outrageously generous pensions”
Says the guy who bought the Illinois GOP and who gorged himself and his company on public employee pensions–not to mention clouting his child into CPS and giving the school a huge donation.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:32 pm
Charter schools allow families an escape hatch if they have an underperforming school in their neighborhood. Families who can afford an alternative school have been doing that already.
Every child regardless of income deserves a chance at a quality education. Hard to defend the lack of accountability for poor performance in the teachers union. They pretend it’s all about the kids but their actions speak otherwise.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:33 pm
@Lucky Pierre: Um, no. Try facts. “Study: Chicago charter schools lag traditional ones,” from that leftist rag the Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagotribune.com/chicago-charter-schools-study-met-20141013-story.html
Comment by Reality Check Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:35 pm
Obviously, Rauner misses the delicious irony that AFSCME and CTU are doing their jobs better — much better — than he’s doing his.
Comment by Formerly Known as Frenchie M Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:37 pm
Reality Check one article from 2014 does not seem to influence the families seeking out a better school for their children in 2016.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:39 pm
How about some talk of the educational outcomes of students who are products of Chicago Public Schools… Has the Chicago Teachers Union proven itself worthy enough to the citizens of Chicago to have the privilege of collective bargaining?
Comment by Chairman McBroom Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:39 pm
Big Brain Bruce visited the high school that I teach in, and he illegally park in handicap, would not say hello to any teacher nor even give eye contact with us. He even informed his subordinates to inform the classroom teacher below the room that he was in too stop moving student desks around because it was too loud. He shook a minority student hand as she received a free Comcast internet modem and smiled for the news camera. After talking with our Superintendent he bolted out of our school like he hated being here. I did not feel his visit projected a pro-teacher type of guy.
or shake hands with anyone but our Superintendent.
Comment by Gary from Chicagoland Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:40 pm
Rauner has said pretty much the same thing to education maven Diane Ravitch. It’s been reported before, but it’s worth repeating in this context — the man is an elitist free-market ideologue with limited understanding of public education. Ravitch said in 2014:
I had a personal encounter with Bruce Rauner. Two years ago [in 2012], I received the Kohl Education Award from Dolores Kohl, the woman who created it, a great philanthropist who cares deeply about the forgotten children and annually honors outstanding teachers. After the awards ceremony, Ms. Kohl held a small dinner at the exclusive Chicago Club. There were two tables, 8 people at each table. I sat across from Bruce and of course, we got into a lively discussion about charter schools, a subject on which he is passionate.
As might be expected, he celebrated their high test scores, and I responded that they get those scores by excluding students with serious disabilities and English language learners, as well as pushing out those whose scores are not good enough. Surprisingly, he didn’t disagree. His reaction: so what? “They are not my problem. Charters exist to save those few who can be saved, not to serve all kinds of kids.” My response: What should our society do about the kids your charters don’t want? His response: I don’t know and I don’t care. They are not my problem.
https://dianeravitch.net/2014/01/16/candidate-rauner-in-illinois-supports-charters-lower-minimum-wage/
Comment by olddog Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:40 pm
== I’ve been advocating for a long time to break the system up, blow up the bureaucracy, take it down to a competing network of a smaller number of schools, competing for resources and driving better outcomes, through charters, contracts, independent providers, rather than one monolithic monopoly. ==
More privatization is Governor Rauner’s answer to everything. After all, nothing EVER goes wrong with such arrangements.
I have significant issues with CPS (mis)management, and with CTU’s contributions to CPS red ink. Encouraging more cherry-picking charters which can kick less-than-desirable students out with impunity — and they can, and they do — is not something I consider a reasonable, worthwhile solution to those issues.
Comment by thunderspirit Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:42 pm
$250,000.
Two hundred fifty THOUSAND - sorry.
I believe that’s the going rate.
For the “best” people, of course.
Comment by TinyDancer(FKA Sue) Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:43 pm
Reality Check +1
Rauner said, “They need to perform.” around the 9 minute mark. What he totally misses is what the commenter Bob Hartley posted on the Chicago Tonight comments.
Children do not live in a vacuum of a school. They have so many outside forces pushing and pulling, and sometimes physically and mentally beating them down, that it is hard to actually learn anything when your daily survival of yourself and your family is at risk.
Rauner continues to hold the bill on his desk that would help, even that little bit, the social service providers who have not been paid. But, that bill is hostage status now. I do not believe that he, his wife, or the “Reform Group” can see past their own dollar signs and “philantrophies” (Not a misspelling!), and realize that life is very complicated and interconnected. They are doing NO service to all the kids. Only service to some. And, that my friends, is the epitome of selfishness.
Comment by Anon221 Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 12:45 pm
Ugh. None of this is leadership. Good teachers matter. They matter a ton: http://www.rand.org/education/projects/measuring-teacher-effectiveness/teachers-matter.html
School choice, testing, pensions, seniority rules…none of that gets us to better teaching. Not even more “money in the classroom” gets us better teaching. These are all just blanket policies that have plenty of anecdotal successes and failures. Good teachers exist in all those policies. None of them make for more good teachers.
Rauner is right that the CTU isn’t interested in differentiating their members in any way that gets great teachers in front of all students. The CTU is right that Rauner has no real solutions of his own and is destroying communities in the meantime.
No one in leadership is suggesting a real solution. It’s just a matter of whether you prefer the slow burn destruction of generational poverty, or a quick-flash “disruption” to let yourself feel like you’re doing something.
The CTU’s obstructionism has always made me angry and frustrated. But Rauner’s “let them all burn” strategy is literally making me sick. For the first time I’m beginning to truly worry that this isn’t a solvable problem and that I need to cut my losses on my community and find a sheltered, privileged option for my kids (because I can afford to). I put that failure squarely on Rauner. Whatever parts of his argument I agree with — I don’t see how this whole thing ends up with a healthier community.
Comment by Lurker Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 1:16 pm
>protect incompetent teachers to keep their membership ranks swelled beyond reasonable levels.
I’ve been advocating for a long time to break the system up, blow up the bureaucracy, take it down to a competing network of a smaller number of schools, competing for resources and driving better outcomes, through charters, contracts, independent providers, rather than one monolithic monopoly.
Agree or disagree, Rauner is letting us down by not creating a strong public debate on his issues. Strong leaders may dictate at times, but they fail if they don’t build a vision in their employees.
Comment by Earnest Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 1:35 pm
There was a time when schools were often a natural monopoly. There are two men on my street who went to a one room multigrade elementary school.
For urban and suburban areas, those days are long gone. Just like the need for children to have the summer to work in the fields.
Give vouchers to parents and let parents pick schools. Use the GI bill as the model. Fund this with revenue from a graduated in income tax with dedicated revenue and a maintenance of effort requirement for other state funds.
Add details and put it in a Constitutional Amendment.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 1:36 pm
I found this incredibly scary! This isn’t Rauner and Madigan having a disagreement.
Rauner isn’t just trying to destroy the middle class. He’s trying to destroy everything and everyone who isn’t part of the 1.4% elite! Union workers, schools, hospitals, health care providers, the social safety net, minimum wage, state workers … everyone who isn’t in the 1.4% gang. Get everything privatized – that is his ultimate goal and the prize he wants. He’s doing a great job so far of destroying Illinois!
I hope there is something left to save before the next election.
Comment by BBG Watch Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 1:38 pm
Curious tweet from the governor:
–Bruce Rauner@GovRauner
Wishing all those who observe a meaningful #Ramadan–
That is not a complete or coherent thought. But it got sent out, anyway.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 1:48 pm
…and that’s the story of how IllinoisGO came to be. The end.
Comment by Get Serious Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 1:56 pm
wordslinger- maybe the Supes need to consult
http://uncova.com/tech-and-religion-how-to-use-twitter-during-the-Ramadan ??? As far as coherence or completeness for the Supes, why start now??? /s
Comment by Anon221 Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 2:04 pm
Support Charter schools that are 100% privately funded. Don’t take pubic dollars to fund them.
Comment by Square Pegs Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 2:09 pm
Unions don’t negoitiate municipal pensions; that benefit is a statute and law trumps negotiations. Rauner knows this. This is all the more reason that education ought to be listed as an obligation of the state in the constitution.
Comment by Union Man Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 2:28 pm
=Support Charter schools that are 100% privately funded. Don’t take pubic dollars to fund them.==
Um….we already have those.
They’re called private schools.
(I’m assuming you meant public…but ya never know.)
Comment by TinyDancer(FKA Sue) Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 2:30 pm
Chicago is spending $700 million annually on charters. In some cases charter schools are located right next to or even inside the neighborhood school. In some cases, they’re opening charters in the very areas where they closed a neighborhood school. The result is that in the last ten years we’ve had a huge increase in the number of schools even as the number of students shrinks. We have a half-filled charter sharing a building with a half-filled neighborhood school far too often. CPS can’t afford to fund two separate but equal school systems.
Comment by Carhartt Representative Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 2:33 pm
==Give vouchers to parents and let parents pick schools. Use the GI bill as the model.==
And how has that privatization model been working for us and our tax dollars?
The for-profit universities have frequently taken their money and given them worthless degrees.
Google it.
Comment by TinyDancer(FKA Sue) Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 2:39 pm
When you have more money than you could ever spend; and your primary worry is how to avoid prison; and you have a truckload of lacky’s; and you don’t really have to work much; and you get to wear old clothes and cheap watches…….this governin’ can be fun.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 2:47 pm
@square pegs:
The former nursing home manager, now Governor would also like to OWN the Charter Schools too.
And to tie him to the titular head of the Republican Party….there would only be certain *acceptable* groups admitted.
Comment by John Reynolds Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 3:08 pm
Lets go to a voucher system and let the families choose where to send their children to school. I can tell you private Catholic schools do a lot better job of educating students at a lower costs.
Comment by Dandy Edward Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 3:09 pm
Finally Bruce said something (his prescription quote about blowing up bureaucracy) we can use in deciding what to do about CMS! Hooray. And i did notice he has cleared up his wording on his personal feelings about taxes. That helped
Seriously though, i wish i could pour my insights about the the successes and failings of bureacracy into his head. I think sometimes he only see the good of something, or the bad of something, without a sense of art appreciation for balance
Comment by Team Warwick Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 3:16 pm
==I can tell you private Catholic schools do a lot better job of educating students at a lower costs.==
From what I’ve heard about Catholic schools, you better behave, etc. or you’ll be booted out.
Just like charters, it’s easier to get better results when you get to pick the students.
Comment by TinyDancer(FKA Sue) Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 3:52 pm
–Lets go to a voucher system and let the families choose where to send their children to school.–
Let’s.
Kids from Waukegan can go to New Trier, kids from Austin can go to Oak Park and kids from Maywood can go to Hinsdale Central.
Easy-peasy, lemon-squeezy Sell it, baby.
But be prepared for your dorm-room ideology to crash on on the reefs of real-estate reality.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 3:55 pm
Tiny Dancer. Schools should be certified to participate. We want Notre Dame not Trump University.
Home schooling would need particular attention as would special education.
Most parents in good school districts would continue to send their children to local public schools. Our four kids in Naperville would not have switched.
The big change in the real estate market would be in areas where poor schools depress housing prices. Years ago when I lived in Connecticut the same house in West Hartford would sell for more than twice the price of its Hartford counterpart. The difference was schools.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 4:51 pm
The last time I was in a dorm room I was picking my daughter up at U of I.
If wanting people to have choices instead of being limited by politically created monopolies makes me an ideologue, then I must be one.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 5:03 pm
== I’ve been advocating for a long time to break the system up, blow up the bureaucracy, take it down to a competing network of a smaller number of schools, competing for resources and driving better outcomes, through charters, contracts, independent providers, rather than one monolithic monopoly. ==
Many, many private companies has been taken through such a process, if financially distressed enough.
But you just cannot do this to a major school system or state - when you get to the “blow up, break down” phase you lose control of the process due to societal backlash and multiple actors who you cannot control in a complex political system.
Comment by peon Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 5:43 pm
–If wanting people to have choices instead of being limited by politically created monopolies makes me an ideologue, then I must be one.–
LOL, so sell it, True Believer.
Go to Winnetka, go to Hinsdale, go to Barrington, go to Oak Park and River Forest and tell them about your exciting open enrollment idea, in which children from outside their communities will soon be enrolled in their schools carrying that big hefty voucher that the State of Illinois will provide for every student in the state.
Or, even better, about a taxpayer-funded voucher system for faith-based schools — I presume all faiths will be treated equally? Christian (all kinds?), Muslim (Wahhabism?), Jewish, Zorastrian, Scientoligist, etc?
Then, after you’ve done all that, go home and get your shine box.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 6:31 pm
Local public schools would still have local enrollment and the ability to limit enrollment to residents. That should keep stability in the system. The State voucher does not replace local funds.
The sectarian school argument does raise a real concern. How do we maintain cultural cohesion? The Catholic school system in Chicago was once very large. Somehow those graduates blended into the fabric of America.
My main worry is that we may create a permanent underclass of the uneducated and unskilled. I welcome solutions.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Jun 6, 16 @ 9:49 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD32bfYKTRM
Well, I’m mighty proud of one thing I did
Tryin’ to educate my suburban kid
I had Arne Duncan lend me a helping hand
He took my call without hesitatin’
Then my kid got a spot at Walter Payton
And I gave that school 250 grand
I want charter schools in every town
where the kids are poor and black or brown
You know I’ve even got a school named after me
And I could have sent my own kid there
But I’m a wealthy man, and it’s only fair
That her school be largely white and bourgeoisie
Comment by Blue State Cowboys Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 6:27 am