CHICAGO - On Wednesday John Russell, President of Freedom to Learn-Illinois, a non-profit school reform advocacy and philanthropic organization in Chicago, released the following statement on the possibility of a Chicago Teachers' Union strike,
"The looming teachers’ strike serves as another reminder of the need for fundamental reform of a K-12 public school system in Chicago where the adults in charge of our schools are focused on playing politics instead of educating children.
"Freedom to Learn-Illinois believes now is the time to change how we fund education. Instead of subsidizing education bureaucracies, we should directly support CPS families whose children are otherwise relegated to failing schools with the resources that will give those children access to quality schools.
"We need schools that are child-centered and output-focused. We recognize that great schools are only made great with superior teachers. Thus, Freedom to Learn-Illinois believes teachers should be paid handsomely for their artistry in developing our most precious commodities.
"A system predicated on choice in education for all families—not just the affluent and the politically-connected—will be a system where schools compete for the best teachers. That competition will mean a better education for our children and better salaries for our teachers.
"Freedom to Learn-Illinois has backed its demand for reform with scholarship dollars for elementary school children in some of Chicago’s most violent, depredated neighborhoods such as Englewood.
"We know of what we speak. At our most recent lottery, more than 200 families applied for a chance to win one of 15 full-ride K-8elementary school scholarships. Despite already having access to a free public education, hundreds of families turnedout for a 1 in 15 chance to access a better free education.
"The debate over K-12 education in Chicago needs to be expanded well beyond the parameters established by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Teachers’ Union President Karen Lewis and involve a much wider range of issues than simply the longer school day.
"With the city’s attention focused on the Chicago Public School system and those responsible for its operation, now is the time for a more responsible conversation about the nearly 400,000 children who are being cheated by the current debate and left unprepared to compete in our global,digital economy by the current school system."
Freedom to Learn-Illinois empowers at-risk Illinois families to determine the best K-12 education for their children. We cultivate private philanthropy and advance public policy that expand educational options for children in need. For more information, please visit www.FreedomtoLearnIL.org
