CTA Statement of Solidarity With Striking Chicago Educators
Contact: Mike Myslinski at 650-552-5324
BURLINGAME – Dean E. Vogel, president of the 325,000-member California Teachers Association, issued this statement of solidarity today as CTA’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to support striking Chicago educators in the nation’s third-largest public school district:
“California’s educators stand in solidarity with the 30,000 striking Chicago Teachers Union members and their goals. What teachers want in Chicago for their school district’s 400,000 students is the same as what California’s teachers want for our 6.2 million students -- adequate resources for our students to succeed, a say in the education reform, evaluations that are focused on improving student learning and the practice of teaching, and to be treated and compensated like the professionals we are.
“So-called education reformers in Chicago are seeking policy changes that aren’t in the best interest of students and leave classroom experts out of the discussion. All educators deserve a respectful, collaborative approach to teacher evaluation that uses multiple measures and collective bargaining to meet local needs. It’s a hopeful sign that both sides in Chicago are still talking at the bargaining table as the strike continues after more than a year of negotiations. California’s educators are watching, and hoping for the best results possible for the students and our profession.”
“California’s educators stand in solidarity with the 30,000 striking Chicago Teachers Union members and their goals. What teachers want in Chicago for their school district’s 400,000 students is the same as what California’s teachers want for our 6.2 million students -- adequate resources for our students to succeed, a say in the education reform, evaluations that are focused on improving student learning and the practice of teaching, and to be treated and compensated like the professionals we are.
“So-called education reformers in Chicago are seeking policy changes that aren’t in the best interest of students and leave classroom experts out of the discussion. All educators deserve a respectful, collaborative approach to teacher evaluation that uses multiple measures and collective bargaining to meet local needs. It’s a hopeful sign that both sides in Chicago are still talking at the bargaining table as the strike continues after more than a year of negotiations. California’s educators are watching, and hoping for the best results possible for the students and our profession.”
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The 325,000-member CTA is affiliated with the 3.2 million-member National Education Association.