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Opinions

Teach social-emotional learning for better schools, safer neighborhoods

May 16, 2013

When I was introduced to the term “social-emotional learning” and began to understand its meaning I recognized it as a ray of hope. Hope for my community, which, seemingly unbeknownst to me, had changed dramatically over the years.

Tags: safety, social-emotional learning

Catalyst In Focus

Early childhood teachers adapt to Common Core

May 06, 2013

By: Rebecca Harris

Many early childhood teachers have long resisted efforts to impose academic expectations on young children. The Common Core standards have re-ignited the debate, and the fear that tasks meant for older students will be “pushed down” to younger children.

Tags: Common Core, early childhood education

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Catalyst Notebook

Friday, May. 17, 2013 9:45 PM

Karen Lewis wins second term as CTU president

By: Rebecca Harris

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis has announced that she won a second term in Friday's election, garnering 80 percent of the votes in preliminary results.

The election was a referendum on how well Lewis' leadership and the Caucus of Rank and File Educators handled the fall's teacher strike and contract negotiations.

The opposition caucus, Coalition to Save Our Union, charged that Lewis put style and big-picture promises over substance and results.

Union election: Karen Lewis vs. challenger, strike gains vs. contract losses

By: Rebecca Harris

Almost buried in the whirlwind of news on school closings is the Chicago Teachers Union election, in which challenger Tanya Saunders-Wolffe is seeking to oust current President Karen Lewis.

In the News: CPS' use of selective data questioned

By: Cassandra West

A Chicago Tribune review of documents related to Chicago Public Schools closings raises questions about how district officials used information to promote and defend its plan. In many cases, the district appears to have selectively highlighted data to stress shortcomings at schools to be closed, while not pointing out what was lacking at the receiving schools.

Lawsuits filed over school closings

By: Sarah Karp

In the two lawsuits filed in federal court Wednesday to try to slow down or stop school closings, the central charge is that special education students will be disproportionately hurt by the actions.

This, according to the lawsuits, is a violation of the American Disabilities Act. More than 5,000 students are enrolled in either the 53 schools slated for closure or the ones set to receive them.