Gov. Rauner, Mayor Emanuel admit they're willing to write off school kids as they push corporate school reform agenda

What do charter schools and corporate school reform mean for school children whose daddies can't clout them into elite magnet schools?

Governor Bruce Rauner and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel have both let it slip they don't particularly care and they're willing to write them off. Emanuel let it slip to Chicago Teachers Union leader Karen Lewis, according to a Facebook post put up today by the Firefighters for CHUY Garcia campaign committee:

"KAREN LEWIS: When I first met (Rahm), we had dinner together, and he said, "Well, you know, 25 percent of these kids are never going to be anything. They’re never going to amount to anything. And I’m not throwing money at it."

Apparently not all CPS kids are financially worth it to Mayor Emanuel, and he's only willing to "throw money" at exactly 75% of them.

Vote for Chuy Garcia for Mayor of Chicago on April 7. It's time to stop throwing our money away on Rahms "Problems."

Compare what Governor Rauner told public school advocate Diane Ravitch three years ago. On Jan. 16, 2014, she posted this account to Diane Ravitch's blog: http://dianeravitch.net/2014/01/16/candidate-rauner-in-illinois-supports-charters-lower-minimum-wage/

I had a personal encounter with Bruce Rauner. Two years ago, 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.

This was not a taped conversation. I am paraphrasing. But the gist and the meaning are accurate.