Disinvestment in the Chicago Public Schools

I opened the Tribune this evening to find the following as today's lead story:

City schools brace for cuts: 800 teaching jobs, programs targeted

Facing a $175 million deficit next year, Chicago schools expect to slash an estimated 800 teaching jobs, cuts that could save the district about $50 million but force most of the system's schools to raise class size and trim programs.

Great. As if teacher morale weren't low enough already. Due to low pay, lack of resources, and poor administration, most Chicago Public Schools (CPS) teachers are only willing to stay in the system a few years before moving on to greener pastures. Now CPS will be even more underfunded.

The vast majority of CPS students are from poor households and therefore have special needs that, if not satisfied by school programs, will hinder their ability to learn. But for some reason, the poor kids get the shaft. They get large class sizes. Bathrooms without working toilets. Leaky roofs. And then the government has the audacity to say their school is "failing."

Right. Failing for lack of investment.