Illinoisans are fleeing public schools. 218,000 kids have left the school system since 2010. – Wirepoints on AM 560 Chicago’s Morning Answer

Ted was on Chicago’s Morning Answer with Dan and Amy to talk about Mayor Lightfoot’s attempt to sell ‘social bonds’ while sacrificing the city’s future sales tax revenues, Chicago mayoral candidate Brandon Johnson’s long list of proposed tax hikes, why companies continue to leave Illinois, the 218,000 enrollment drop in public schools, and the potential for school choice and Education Savings Accounts in Illinois.

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The Paraclete
1 year ago

I think people are too hard on CPS teachers, they’re very productive at producing criminals. The elementary/high school to prison pipeline.

Aaron
1 year ago

When I was in an IL HS in the early 90’s, the taught that the poles would be ice free and NYC under water by 2020. The famous “hockey stick” graph was used to brainwash those foolish enough to believe it.

Riverbender
1 year ago

They all want to increase spending even though the student population is dropping. The power of the voting teacher’s unions is evident here and it would be fruitless for any candidate to even suggest that funding be cut. Like it or not that is the way it is

Pensions Paid First
1 year ago
Reply to  Riverbender

It’s not just the teachers that support more funding. The average voter in the city doesn’t believe we’ve invested too much into schools. Around 80% of the students qualify for free and reduced lunch. Their parents are poor and the schools are known to provide for their kids. It’s why you won’t see some school “reformer” win the mayoral race unless that reform includes more funding.

Waggs
1 year ago

While the „free or reduced lunch” program is just one of many, many, many things wrong in public ed (especially CPS), tossing around the „80% qualify” number is a big, fat lie. A.) even though CPS sitll asks families to fill out an income form to see who „qualifies”, which incidentally is tied to funding (more forms = more money), fewer than 1% of those forms get audited, and 60-80% of those forms are dishinestly filled out. Very few people report their true income or the actual number of people in the household, on the form, lest it be used… Read more »

Pensions Paid First
1 year ago
Reply to  Waggs

I appreciate your perspective as to the “lie” perpetuated by families of CPS. However, this lie proves my point even more. Whether those families are truly in need or “lying” to say they are need, those families clearly demonstrate that they want more benefits from the school system not less.

Does this group sound like people that would voter for a “reformer” to provide less benefits? What you see as “just one of many, many, many things wrong with public ed” is exactly what these voters want. These voters support this system.

Tom Paine's Ghost
1 year ago

So where is the commensurate mass firings of the worst of the public school teachers? This is a chance to cull the ranks of the most worthless teachers in Illinois. The students win. The taxpayers win. Right? Or do the slimy Teachers Unions simply fight tooth and nail for each source of union dues?

Last edited 1 year ago by Tom Paine's Ghost
Pensions Paid First
1 year ago

Why would there be mass firings? Most teachers don’t work the full “career” and stay in teaching. Even if they were all teaching the maximum number of years to cap out their pension, about 3% of the teaching force would retire every year. That means since 2010, 36% of all teachers would have retired. Since we know most teachers don’t max out, the turnover rate is much higher. No need to fire any teachers. If anything, CPS and CTU have agreed to hire more professionals because of the students needs. Which students are leaving? The ones with the most potential… Read more »

jajujon
1 year ago

Of course nobody is getting fired. They’re all performing at such an exemplary level. Here’s the proof: https://wirepoints.org/no-chicago-sun-times-there-is-no-silver-lining-to-chicago-public-schools-shrinking-enrollment-wirepoints/100-cps-teachers-were-evaluated-as-excellent-or-proficient-in-2021/

Seriously, there is simply no accountability and the students continue to be educationally abused. Sickening.

Poor Taxpayer
1 year ago

Teachers or No teachers the end result is the same. No education for students. The system is set up as welfare for adults. No one cares about education, least of all the teachers. I think it should be pay for performance. If this was a private sector business, it would have bankrupted years ago.

Poor Taxpayer
1 year ago

Only the ones that want their children to get an education. Some of the highest costs per student and worst performance. This system is so broken it cannot be fixed.

Old Joe
1 year ago

When will property taxes apportioned to public education go down?

Aaron
1 year ago
Reply to  Old Joe

Never. You will own nothing.

Honest Jerk
1 year ago

If Chicago and Illinois want to commit suicide, there is only one meaningful question. “Do I want to commit suicide with my beloved city/state, or do I want to continue to live?” A few years ago, it wasn’t clear if the city/state actually had the will to cut its own throat. Now there is clarity. It is really going to cut its own throat. If you want to live, you must leave.

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WIREPOINTS ORIGINAL STORIES

A statewide concern: Illinois’ population decline outpaces neighboring states – Wirepoints on ABC20 Champaign

“We are not in good shape” Wirepoints’ Ted Dabrowski told ABC 20 Champaign during a segment on Illinois’ latest population losses. Illinois was one of just three states to shrink in the 2010-2020 period and has lost another 300,000 people since then. Ted says things need to change. “It’s too expensive to live here, there aren’t enough good jobs and nobody trusts the government anymore. There’s just other places to go where you can be more satisfied.”

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