Life in Rahm’s Chicago. But don’t believe the hype. There is no art.

Rahm is so busted.

As part of its arts education plan, for example, the “Arts Abstract 2012-2015” states the first goal of its the CPS District Arts Policy is to “make arts a core subject by dedicating 120 minutes of arts instruction per week for elementary schools.” The plan goes on to set “minimum staffing requirements in the arts at once certified full-time employee per school, or an improved ratio such as one teacher for every 350 students.”

The plan was rolled out with much fanfare, particularly in 2013 when Mayor Emanuel announced total funding for the initiative at $1 million. During a 2013 public event alongside renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and soprano great Renee Fleming, the mayor reiterated the education plan’s goals, saying that every student receives at least two hours of arts education a week, every school has an arts liaison and arts is part of the school’s report card.

Lies.

An arts survey conducted by the parent-based school advocacy group Raise Your Hand shows the reality.

The web-based survey of 444 respondents, conducted in January and February, includes information from parents and teachers representing nearly one-third of CPS schools. The survey found:

• 14 percent have no arts instruction
• 51 percent have less than two hours of arts instruction per week
• 26 percent have two hours of art instruction
• 9 percent have more than two hours of arts instruction
• 31 percent saw a decline in arts instruction this year   

Despite the hype, the Arts continue to be marginal and the first thing cut.

An analysis of the CPS budget by Raise Your Hand in December, for example, found 68 art positions, 47 music positions, 19 performing arts positions and more cut from the budget for 2013.

Thirty years a public school Art teacher, this is not a new story for me.

But the guy blatantly lies about it.

I guess I should be used to that story too.