Leave Children Behind

The Rahm Emanuel alternative to "No child left behind."

[Chicago teachers union president Karen]Lewis said she got her answer about Emanuel’s character rather quickly.

“In that conversation he did say to me that 25 percent of the students in this city are never going to be anything, never going to amount to anything and he was never going to throw money at them.”

She said the comment took her aback, and she looked at him askance.

“Even if you feel that way, you can’t say that to me,” she said. “And he sort of poo-pooed it and we moved on.”

The Mayor’s Office said Lewis made up the anecdote.

“That’s simply false,” said Emanuel Press Secretary Sarah Hamilton. “The Mayor is committed to making sure that every single child in Chicago has access to an excellent education, which is why he is fighting so hard to transform the Chicago public schools that have failed our children year after year.”

Actually, I kind of hope that Emanuel did say that. At some point we have to start focusing our educational resources on those kids who want to learn instead of holding everyone up so that those who don't give a shit don't fall behind.