Listening to coverage of the now-concluded teachers' strike in Chicago
on NPR on my way back to the 5 boroughs from the hinterlands yesterday, one thing really struck me in how the Chicago teachers discussed the CTU: the openness with which CTU members discussed Karen Lewis, President of the CTU. There is far from a universal opinion on how Lewis has handled the breakdown in contract negotiations and the strike, even though the CTU delegates have voted to approve the framework for a new contract and end the strike effective today.
Members of the CTU frankly discussed Lewis's leadership in this time of what must be called a crisis. Several bluntly questioned her ability to lead following the drastic measure of a teachers' strike. Others called her too confrontational, while yet others defended her as tough yet pragmatic. This will clearly be a discussion in the CTU for the coming days, but
