Striking Chicago teachers get support from parents
Chicago — As Chicago teachers walked the picket lines for a second day, they were joined by many of the very people who are most inconvenienced by their walkout: the parents who must now scramble to find a place for children to pass the time or for babysitters.
Mothers and fathers — some with their kids in tow — are marching with the teachers. Other parents are honking their encouragement from cars or planting yard signs that announce their support in English and Spanish.
Unions are still hallowed organizations in Chicago, and the teachers union holds a special place of honor in many households where children often grow up to join the same police, firefighter or trade unions as their parents and grandparents.
"I'm going to stay strong, behind the teachers," said the Rev. Michael Grant, who joined teachers on the picket line Tuesday. "My son says he's
From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120911/NATION/209110372#ixzz26D4b3zcw
Chicago Teachers Union strike news round-up
As most people reading this probably heard by now, the Chicago Teachers Union went on strike on Sunday morning. Which is a pretty big deal in Chicago, but thanks to the ongoing presidential race, it actually made national news. Which is kind of crazy.
But that's not what the post is about. This is my attempt to pull together stories that came from smaller neighborhood newspapers and blogs, stories that might otherwise get lost in the clutter.
And finally, Chicago Reader's Michael Miner offers a detailed analysis of some of the power players behind Mayor Emanuel's school reforms (and catches a Chicago Tribune reporter *gasp!* say something unkind about those reform initiatives)
Me, I'm hoping that this whole thing wraps up before the end of the week. Anything beyond that is only going to damage everybody involved.
Greedy, Overpaid Teachers
But that's not what the post is about. This is my attempt to pull together stories that came from smaller neighborhood newspapers and blogs, stories that might otherwise get lost in the clutter.
- Teachers Walk Picket Lines (Beverly Review, Beverly) - it is worth noting that Beverly and Morgan Park neighborhoods saw some of the strongest opposition to Mayor Emanuel's plans for longer school day - and most of the opposition comes from parents.
- 'We're Out Here for the Kids' (Center Square Journal, North Center/Lincoln Square) - this article has a few interesting details. It showed many teachers' reluctance to be marching and some teachers sending work packets to students so they'll learn something during he strike.
- Local Parents Deal With the Strike (Chicago Journal, South Loop/West Loop/University Village) - Similar story. Municipal unions offering support, underutililized centers and parents trying to figure out what to do.
- Inside the strke contingency center (Chicago Pipeline, Wicker Park) - the centers are meant to provide kids with a place to stay during a school day. As the article suggests, there isn't much going on, but not for the lack of trying
- On Strike: Chicago Teachers Head for the Picket Lines (The Gate, Back of the Yards) - the more general summary.
- Local Teacher Offers Behind the Scenes Look at the Contract Negotiations (Our Urban Times, West Town)
- Striking Teachers Take to Near North Side Streets (Skyline, Near North Side) - Features a discussion of a march, words from supportive students, teachers from different schools pooling together for larger pickets and a bit about local restaurant offering food. Also, it's a shameless plug, since I wrote this article.
And finally, Chicago Reader's Michael Miner offers a detailed analysis of some of the power players behind Mayor Emanuel's school reforms (and catches a Chicago Tribune reporter *gasp!* say something unkind about those reform initiatives)
Me, I'm hoping that this whole thing wraps up before the end of the week. Anything beyond that is only going to damage everybody involved.
Greedy, Overpaid Teachers
A ton of ink and TV time is being used to talk about how much those greedy, greedy Chicago teachers make.Ezra Klein gives us a little more perspective:
A Chicago Teacher: Why I Am Striking
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Under the currently binding contract (pdf), 2010-11 annual teacher salaries ranged from $47,268 for teachers with bachelor’s degree with a year’s experience or less, to $88,680 for those with doctorates who have at least 16 years of experience. Those in schools with longer school years (42.6 weeks or 52 compared to 38.6) make
A Chicago Teacher: Why I Am Striking
Just received this:
Kevin Lee commented onSend a Message of Support to Chicago Teachers
I am one of the teachers in Chicago who is on strike. Education is one of those topics on which very few people actually have knowledge, and those who are least knowledgable seem to have the most say (or yell). The number of people with first-hand knowledge who are engaged in the public discourse is depressingly low.
Teaching in an urban school district is not like what most people think. (It certainly is not like the movies —
Remainders: Salary gap for teachers is higher in the U.S.
Kevin Lee commented onSend a Message of Support to Chicago Teachers
I am one of the teachers in Chicago who is on strike. Education is one of those topics on which very few people actually have knowledge, and those who are least knowledgable seem to have the most say (or yell). The number of people with first-hand knowledge who are engaged in the public discourse is depressingly low.
Teaching in an urban school district is not like what most people think. (It certainly is not like the movies —
Remainders: Salary gap for teachers is higher in the U.S.
- America’s teachers have a lower salary-to-mean earnings ratio than many other countries. (Economix)
- Teachers unions are still stumping for Obama even though they don’t love his ed policies. (Hechinger)
- Though the strike in his adopted hometown is making things awkward for his reelection campaign. (NPR)
- Here’s a fascinating meditation on the socioeconomics implied in classic children’s literature. (The Awl)
- Education technology execs said on a panel that they didn’t want to “replace” anything. (VentureBeat)
- A chat with a former Bloomberg official on the Chicago strike spilled into the comments section. (WNYC)
- A California task force called for more training and limited testing to improve teacher quality. (LA Now)
- The United Federation of Teachers passed a resolution to give $10,000 to the Chicago union. (UFT)
- An advocacy group is offering $500 to teachers for essays about thinking “outside the box.” (NYCAN)
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announcement from California Action for Healthy Kids