Responding to a lawsuit seeking to prevent New York City from closing 22 poorly performing schools, Mayor Michael R. Bloombergmade a comment on Friday about parents of children in those schools that immediately prompted outrage.

“Unfortunately there are some parents who just come from — they never had a formal education, and they don’t understand the value of education,” Mr. Bloomberg said during his weekly appearance on WOR-AM (710). “Many of our kids come from families — the old Norman Rockwell family is gone.”

The schools in question are filled with poor, minority and immigrant students, including many who are homeless.

Bill de Blasio, the city’s public advocate, called the mayor’s comments “profoundly