Emanuel Won't Say If It's Public Or Private School For His Kids
CHICAGO (CBS) -- There's one question Mayor Rahm Emanuel doesn't want to answer yet: where will his kids attend school in two months?
Even though he ran for public office while pushing the need for public school reform, Emanuel has not yet said whether his own children will be enrolled in the Chicago Public Schools.
As CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports, Emanuel said Tuesday that not every decision he makes should be political and he was very adamant about that after being asked where his kids would go to school.
But some education watchdogs – and Chicago parents – say that no matter what he and his wife decide, there's no escaping the reality that the decision – whether for public or private school – will send a message.
It's clear that Emanuel is fiercely protective of his family.
When asked Tuesday if he will announce where his kids will go to school, Emanuel said, "No, it's my children, they're private."
That begs this question: will the man now in charge of making sure education officials improve the Chicago Public Schools choose a private education for his own kids?
"I live in public life as mayor. I'm a father to three great children, and that's a private life," Emanuel said.
If the Emanuels choose private schools, it wouldn't be a mayoral first. Former Mayor Richard M. Daley sent his kids to private, Catholic schools.
"His first responsibility, of course, is to his children and to get them the best education that he can," Julie Woestehoff, executive director of Parents United for Responsible Education, said of Emanuel's decision about where his kids will go to school. "That's what every parent would do. But he also has a responsibility to 400,000 children as well."
Woestehoff said that for Emanuel to opt for a private school would send a very public message.
"I think that parents will get the message that the public schools are not good enough for his children, but are good enough for the rest of us," she said.
Parent reaction has been mixed.
"I think it's his choice. … Simple as that, it's his choice," said Chicago mom Mary Horvat.
But another Chicago mother disagreed. Casandra Townsend said she expects Emanuel will probably send his kids to private school, but "as a politician in the city, it would be a good example if they did send their kids to public school, because then, as parents, it gives us something to follow."
Woestehoff brought up another point, from a policy perspective: being a public school parent would give Emanuel unique insight into the issues the schools are facing.
