You can now listen to Fox News articles! In a surprising revelation, Stacy Davis Gates, the president of the Chicago Teachers Union and executive vice president of the American Federation of Teachers, has confirmed that she has chosen to send her eldest son to a private school. The news was first reported by local journalists who discovered that her son was listed on the soccer team roster of De La Salle Institute, a prestigious private Catholic school known for its high college attendance rate among former students.
Members of a private Facebook group for Chicago Teachers Union also discussed the news, expressing their dissatisfaction with the apparent hypocrisy of the union leadership. It’s worth noting that Mrs. Gates has been a vocal critic of school choice, claiming that it has racist origins and is only favored by racists. Her union has consistently opposed private school choice programs.
Most recently, the Chicago Teachers Union actively campaigned against the state’s Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship Program for low-income students, which was later killed by Illinois Democrats. The fact that Mrs. Gates has made the same choice that she fights against is seen as a slap in the face to families who don’t have the means to afford private school tuition.
In a previous interview with Chicago Magazine, Mrs. Gates stated that she couldn’t advocate for public education without it being reflected in her own household. At that time, she sent all of her children to Chicago Public Schools, but it seems that her stance has changed.
Last year, Mrs. Gates received a total compensation of around $150,000 as the vice president of the Chicago Teachers Union. As the new president, she likely earns more and can afford to pay the $14,750 private school tuition for her son.
While it’s commendable that Mrs. Gates has provided this opportunity for her family, the question arises as to why all families don’t have access to the same educational options. If the Chicago Teachers Union is truly committed to ensuring a good education for all children in public schools, shouldn’t they be advocating for school choice instead of fighting against it?
According to WBEZ Chicago, a mere 17% of Chicago Public School students are proficient in math, and only 26% are proficient in reading. This dismal performance raises concerns about the quality of education provided by government schools in the city.
In her defense, Mrs. Gates claimed that her decision to send her son to a private school reflects the disinvestment in public schools. However, this defense falls flat when considering the fact that Chicago Public Schools spend over $29,000 per student per year, almost twice the cost of her son’s private school tuition.
Mrs. Gates has issued a statement in an attempt to defend her actions, acknowledging that high-quality neighborhood schools have been a dream rather than a reality for many Black families. She blames the government schools’ poor quality for forcing her to choose a private school.
However, Mrs. Gates fails to recognize that her decision to send her son to a private school diverts resources away from the government school he was assigned to, just like a school choice voucher program allegedly does. This is because government schools receive funding based on enrollment counts.
Ironically, Mrs. Gates concludes her statement by vowing to fight against school choice programs that she claims siphon resources away from public schools. She fails to see the hypocrisy in her own actions.
This hypocritical behavior is not unique to Mrs. Gates or the Chicago Teachers Union. Many progressive leaders, including President Joe Biden, Governor Gavin Newsom of California, and Governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, demonstrate similar hypocrisy despite the majority of their constituents supporting school choice. This is because they are beholden to the teachers’ unions, which overwhelmingly support Democratic candidates.
All families, regardless of income, should have the power to choose the best education for their children, whether that be a public or private school. This opportunity, at a fraction of the cost of government schools, could be a game changer and provide children from low-income families with a real chance at success.
Corey DeAngelis is a senior fellow at the American Federation for Children.
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