Troy LaRaviere is rallying the troops, that is, other Chicago Public Schools principals critical of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s treatment of Chicago educators. In a Letter to the Editor published in the Chicago Sun-Times Friday, the principal of Blaine Elementary and former serviceman said he feels the Emanuel administration has “ignored and even suppressed principals’ voices in order to push City Hall’s political agenda for Chicago’s schools.” He called on CPS principals to stop fearing losing their jobs and try to voice their opinions.
Since then, other CPS principals have sent response letters to LaRaviere, which he has been posting to a special blog.
The notes, some anonymous, agree with LaRaviere’s claims that since 2011 Board of Education officials seem to micromanage and put the lid on principals’ ideas. They also applaud LaRaviere for writing the piece.
“Thank you for speaking up. Things are more profoundly backwards than parents realize and only truth will set us free. I admire your bravery,” one anonymous principal wrote.
In the op-ed, LaRaviere added that since 2011 teachers “felt publicly maligned and disrespected by the mayor, leading to the historic strike of 2012.”
Chicago Teachers Union president Karen Lewis told reporters last week the union plans to target Emanuel and other elected officials during next year’s city elections, when the current union contract expires.
Meanwhile LaRaviere’s blog calls for more responses from frustrated principals.
