As CPS prepares to close a record number of schools, the fate of students and communities is in question.
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Parents, clergy ask teachers to call off strike
By: Rebecca Harris / September 07, 2012
Community members at a press conference asking the Chicago Teachers Union to call off the planned Monday strike. Wilfredo de Jesus, the pastor of New Life Covenant Church, said he worried that a strike would lower students' morale by telling them that “if you don't get along with your teacher, just go on strike, don't come to school.”
Community members from Bronzeville, Pilsen and Humboldt Park gathered outside the Chicago Teachers Union's Merchandise Mart headquarters Friday afternoon to teachers to call off Monday's strike.
The press conference was organized by Democrats for Education Reform/Education Reform Now.
Corey Brown, a 17-year-old senior at Clemente High School in Humboldt Park, said the strike would have a negative impact on the football season.
“Football, for some of us, is the only way we can get into college, other than academically,” he said. “Either reach an agreement, or the teachers (should) not strike at all... I don't know if it's worth letting these kids miss days of school.”
Norma Cotto, the mother of a sophomore at Schurz High School, said the strike “shows a lack of respect for our community.” But she said she was not taking sides. To Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard, she sad, “we don't want a safety net or alternative options for our students. We want education."
Just an hour later, Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis said there had been “very little progress” in negotiations. “We had been told we would get a proposal that would answer some of our biggest issues. It did not,” Lewis said. Negotiations start again at noon Saturday, and the union said it would stay at the table through late Sunday night.
David Vitale, president of the Chicago Board of Education, said there had been “some progress,” but also announced that parents should start making arrangements for child care for Monday. Vitale said CPS is now formally launching its contingency plan to open 144 schools. “We continue to be optimistic that schools will open Monday morning,” Vitale said. “It's not a statement that we are not going to get there.”
To n Norma Cotto, the mother
To n Norma Cotto, the mother of a sophomore at Schurz High School, said the strike “shows a lack of respect for our community.” Really?!? Where is the teacher's respect? How dare you say we don't respect the community! Do you know how hard teachers try to get the community to come into the school to meet us? We have to bribe ”the community” with food or giveaways...so what kind of respect is that to the teachers from the community?!
Why dont you go to the source? --Why dont you go to Rahm?
In the wide wide world of whoppers, the big big fibs of politics, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has just gone way way over the top — telling us he’s leaving the Democratic National Convention early to come home to host a party, because President Barack has asked him to host it, for some Democrats in Chicago to watch the convention on TV.
"Our famous mayor is cutting short his Rahmbo role at the convention; his big Rahmbo splash in Charlotte to host a little TV party in Chicago, because the president has asked him to?
"That’s what he says, and his press office says to believe him.
"Sorry, sir. No way.
"My guess is you told the president you have to get to Chicago to avoid a disaster in the public schools, that it’s better for you to prevent a strike in Chicago than to strike a pose in Charlotte.
"That, your honor is the truth. Why’s it so hard for you to tell it?..."
The Public Supports Teachers!
The teachers from my school stood outside today with students, parents, community members, and LSC members. We received positive feedback from parents and the motorists that drove by. They honked their horns and cheered from their cars along the Kennedy Expressway and the side streets. These people are the true champions of reform. They support teachers. They support the funding of neighborhood schools. They know that we were right all along with the length of the school year and day. They know that we deserve better facilities. They are on our side. They are the reason we need to keep moving foward. With support like this, we can win and give the students better schools! We have thousands on our side. GO CTU!!!! GO KAREN!!!!!!!
All of this could have been prevented with a common sense
approach, relying on educators who actually know what they're doing to supply answers to difficult problems in the system, rather than the force of the dictatorial Mayor Emanuel trying to shove a longer school day, merit pay, and other so-called reforms down the throats of already choking teachers.
It took five seconds to see
It took five seconds to see the Norma Cotto was formerly the Office Manager at Chicago Bulls College Prep (Noble.)
So she's a good choice for the "independent" voice of the parents. (Its as if the reporters actively search out these biased individuals since most parents truly support the teachers.)
Look honest, independent parents fully support the CTU's want of a fair contract, better resources, and a safer city which to raise our children in.
I hope the CTU (& the CPS) understands this...
Irrelevant
Where ever she "used to work" she has a student at a traditional CPS school NOW and she's concerned about how the strike impacts families like hers and students like her daughter. Maybe you should at least show an ounce of concern about those people?
Go Karen?
This woman just wants her big mouth to be plastered all over the news. If she was truly concerned for children's education, she would do a better job to negotiate a FAIR raise to get teachers to stay in the classroom. Karen Lewis is just a lot of hot air.
Clemente is a neighborhood
Clemente is a neighborhood high school ravaged by Corporate Education Reformers like DFER.
It's especially ironic that they would select a student from there.
I wish that we didn't have to strike, but it's because of DFER and Stand for Children and other astroturf groups from outside the state that we have such terrible conditions both for bargaining and education itself.
What a Joke!!
"The press conference was organized by Democrats for Education Reform/Education Reform Now."
I stopped reading the article once I found out who organized the protest. That group is a joke. Not one democrat will stand up and publically associate themselves with Dems for Education. The mayor and Buzzard are at the end of their ropes. Parents overwhelmingly support what we are doing, make no mistake about it.
DFER
Yes, and there were only 50 people there, supported by DFER (a group of hedge fund managers). Hardly a groudswell. Also, how many of these "parents" were paid to attend?
If you don't want a strike..............
phone Rham. Notice all the years Daley was in, no strikes. Crimanuel takes over and there is strife everywhere in the city.
I support the teachers
After watching this year long spectacle, there is no way I can believe Mr. Brizard or the mayor. This mayor seems to be sending money and power to non-Chicagoans. I understand why teachers are angry: the mayor pick pocketed them last year and berates them this year. CTU, you have my support.
Thinks the students should strike
The only people that benefit from schools in this city are the adults. Maybe students should strike because, depending on where they live, the schools are crap, the education is crap. The adults suck all around. And to those who accuse communities of not being involved, depending on who you ask, there are different definitions of community or parental involvement (teachers, administrators, parents, and students). I can attest to stories of parents (with children in multiple schools in the Austin and North Lawndale neighborhoods) who were deeply involved in their children's education and were met with vicious and retaliatory responses by teacher and administrators because they asked questions about the level of the curriculum and the pedagogy. Teachers and administrators want parents who will volunteer, chaperone, monitor, pick-up report cards and listen, and not to learn about or question their content and pedagogical knowledge. Make no mistake, there is plenty of blame to go around in regards to the state of schools. There's a lot of fiscal mismanagement on the side of school administration, but there is also a culture of teacher low performance in many schools because of poor teacher training or people who have ended up in this profession who do not want to be, or no longer want to be. In either case, we cannot pretend that the union does not have a progressive response on how to deal with members who are a drain on their image, the profession, but most of all, due to their presence in some of the lowest performing, highest need schools, are damaging the education opportunities of students in those communities.
To CPS Graduate
You may get your teaching certificate at any time to improve our schools.
We need innovative union teachers
I am glad my child does not have to be a student in a class with a teacher who cannot respond to a parent with a thoughtful comment, or innovative plan to improve their profession. You just proved that the attacks on teachers and public education are true. I happen to believe in neighborhood schools, and prefer to have teachers on the front lines define the education strategies of the future. Also, I am thoughtful enough to know that I am not special enough to do what it takes to educate kids well. Perhaps some of your peers should reflect on their reasons for being teachers at this cross road for US public education in the 21st century.
Thank you
Thank you to all of the parents who have taken to time to investigate the issues at hand. We have real problem when the CTU has to spend its time fighting to get books on the first day of class. How can we discuss a teacher evaluation which is based on student achievement and CPS is not sure if they should provide books and other related items student services. It is my sincere hope that we don't have a strike, but if we do, then it becomes the responsibility of this city to keep its children safe. It is the responsibility of all parents to watch out and protect the children of this city. If teachers are the educators, the protectors, baby sitters, etc. then you should be willing to be respectful of our fight and our right to protest unfair labor conditions which are impacting us as profession and our students.
When we discuss good/bad
When we discuss good/bad teaching, good/bad teachers and end results we must look at who decides what is taught, how it is taught, and how much. Teachers for most part are not making those decisions. We need to look at who is purchasing textbooks, products and services. We need to look at the decision makers. Now if the outcome has not been satisfactory, why would a school district continue to purchase from the same vendors, makers of curriculum, etc? These are the questions that parents and the general public must begin to ask. I do believe that we are on the eve of having some of those difficult conversations.
Did this distrub anyone else?
From the article: “Football, for some of us, is the only way we can get into college, other than academically,”
Seriously? If you can't get into college based on your brains, you shouldn't be there. End of story.
Football might get you into the college, but if you don't have the brains and work ethic, you'll never get OUT of college. I wish our country wouldn't allow sports to trump academics. I remember being in college and sitting next to some meat head jock in English class; it drove me nuts to know he was there on a full ride scholarship and could barely string together a coherent sentence, while I worked my butt off and paid my own way.
Sounds like that anti union movie
Sounds like the plot of a fictional movie that was highlighted at the DNC...Are you sure you are a former Chicago student? Lies are cheap these days...
Irony has escaped thais teacher
When you exclaim that you have to "bribe" the community to get them involved is rich in its irony as you meant this to show how you "respect" the community. Yes teachers work hard and deserve better compensation, but resorting to blaming parents (largely, poor, immigrant/minority in CPS) who also work hard and care about their kids as best they can in spite of numerous societal and institutional challenges will hardly win supporters because it reinforces the view that teachers are putting themselves above the kids. Teaching in urban districts is hard, and if you're not willing to meet families at least 3/4 of the way to join with them, then it's not just you who are being disrespected.
It' already happening
Sadly, students do "strike," by voting with their feet-skipping classes and dropping out because they see firsthand the state of urban schools and the ineptitude of those responsible for serving them.
Tenure doesn't keep bad teachers in the classroom
People complain about bad teachers in CPS. It is NOT impossible to get rid of bad teachers simply because they've gained tenure. The only thing the contract demands is that if a principal fires an unsatisfactory teacher, it is done so after observation, documentation and an opportunity for that teacher to improve. If the process is followed, unsatisfactory teachers can be fired regardless of how long they have worked in CPS. If CPS has even a few terrible teachers, look to the administration and ask them why.
Stop putting down people that
Stop putting down people that are against your strike - of course parents are against your strike -- and taxpayers.... despite the news because of your sheer numbers ---- CTU is compensated more than enough -- stop whining while the rest of Chicago is out of work. Take a paycut so the city can afford books or a/c or whatever you want in the budget -- then, we will know you are seriously doing it "for the children"... but we all know you aren't -- you are holding their education hostage. Parents - Norma Cotta, whoever she is -- she has a right to speak -- CTU pays dues of +-$1000/yr to have someone speak for you... some dont have that luxury... using the taxpayers money for such representation. SHAMEFUL -- LOOK AT THESE SALARIES! FOR 9 MONTHS OF WORK -- CITY MIGHT GO BANKRUPT AND NONE OF THIS WILL MATTER! (but you were doing it "for the children") It is likely we will all push for legislation so this NEVER happens again. This is NOTabout our children or you would be at school today! http://www.cps.edu/About_CPS/At-a-glance/Documents/EmployeePositionRoste...
to putting down
I agree with you. You deserve a voice, and we must respect it! But...please remember teachers can't just teach for the love of the job. In the old days nuns and priests used to teacher for little compensation. However, how can you expect to find 40k altruistic people to run a school system. It's not realistic. Only rich people can teach for the love of it. Do we want teachers only to be the rich and connected or martyred. Should we be expected to volunteer our time more than anyone else. Honestly, should the state of education be funded by the teachers only!
"realistic"
Hope this is over -- but it wont be "over" ... yes, i think people would do it for $40k -those in the unemployment line would gladly do it -- that is the current economic crisis we are facing... it is VERY realistic ... especially with the amazing benefit package. Why will teachers at Charter schools will teach for $51k? ... i get the issues with those but it will be interesting to see as time goes on, if charter schools do perform better - for less $ -- because at the end of the day, performance does matter as does the $ it costs... http://www.sfgate.com/business/bloomberg/article/Charter-School-Growth-F...
Charters over time will fail!
Please use peer reviewed research to back your claims. Deformers can't! You are spouting drivel. Charters will fail because the operators usually let go of their teachers after 2 or 3 years.
charters
Question : If all schools are charters..will there be enough corporate sponsership to go around?
Question: If Rangle makes 230k with his few schools will he be making a million
Question: Who will be responsible for the insane web of buses?
Question When the Charter CIty fails to overcome poverty? Who will come to the rescue????
Right now - they are
Right now - they are performing slightly better. only time will tell for all of it. the other schools are failing with no real solutions and ctu and cps overkill on salaries/pensions/benefits are breaking the city with no resources left "for the children"-- so other than give more money to ctu... no real solutions so??? again, solutions from teachers would have been better than asking for raises and wayyyy more beneficial to the city and the profession's staying power in the long run and the "respect" they demand - but that is not how it went down... so issues will not get resolved. blindly following a leader is never good. All the BS and really came down to $ for ctu as we all see now. Personally, i think the city should give the city the whole budget for chicago education but nothing more - cant beg for more --- and let ctu deal with it -- "vote" on who gets what within the union-- salaries, pensions, how many teachers, etc - all of it - then they can strike against themselves but not the students-- let Karen handle their stuff - they all love her so much.
ctu
ctu
ctu
Are you aware state law prohibits ctu from striking over almost anything but money. Please read sb7 law. Especially Chicago ctu,s additional limitations
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