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Chicago teachers are striking

WFFaithful said:
Disgusting. Charter schools are just a way for people to get rich off of the government. Similar to what has happened with standardized tests and quick fixes.
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Yep. Heard a story today that there is an investigation into Bill Bennett's (former Secretary of Education in Reagan's 2nd term) online public education company (K12) that they're using uncertified teachers to teach their courses. FL has a law that every student has to take at least one online course to graduate HS and K12 is making bank off that. This goes along with their laws that encourage students to take AP tests and the prevalence and important of the FCAT end of course tests. They're just handouts to private industry. The same people who complain about education spending and take away from teachers pour millions of dollars into private sector education industries who only care about student performance to the point that it affects the bottom line. Sadly, we're headed in this direction as a country. If it doesn't make money, then it's worthless. That and 2 + 2 = Jesus education are killing us.
 
Have the teachers released the hostages...er.. I mean, are the kids back in the classrooms yet?
 
More on the strike from The Atlantic: http://www.theatlantic.com/business...hicago-teacher-strike-is-really-about/262286/

It's not a long read, but here are the cliff notes: The true sticking points are about who controls the classrooms, the district or the union. Public opinion favors the district on these points. If the labor dispute was about traditional issues such as pay and benefits, public opinion would favor the teachers. When it comes to hiring, firing, and evaluations, public opinion rests firmly with the school district.
 
TexasDeac10 said:
More on the strike from The Atlantic: http://www.theatlantic.com/business...hicago-teacher-strike-is-really-about/262286/

It's not a long read, but here are the cliff notes: The true sticking points are about who controls the classrooms, the district or the union. Public opinion favors the district on these points. If the labor dispute was about traditional issues such as pay and benefits, public opinion would favor the teachers. When it comes to hiring, firing, and evaluations, public opinion rests firmly with the school district.
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I don't really think some of these studies are particularly relevant to the situation in Chicago. Maybe with regard to national public perception, but I wonder how many of the parents and general population that were surveyed have kids that attend inner-city schools or have much familiarity with what goes on. Not to sound like a broken record, but most people don't have the slightest idea what the job is like.

And with regard to protecting seniority, it absolutely is an important issue. In places where principals have tight budgets and there is weak job protection for long-time teachers (such as the turnaround schools in Chicago), principals repeatedly lay off the more senior members and hire the cheaper inexperienced teacher. Job security is absolutely an issue and the contracts that protect senior members are needed, especially as these education "reformers" keep pushing for charter schools and shit like that.
 
Surprised conservatives on here are opposed to the teachers exercising their free will and going on strike.
 
Ball State Deac said:
Surprised conservatives on here are opposed to the teachers exercising their free will and going on strike.
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I got no problem with it, as long as they admit that its nothing more than a power play to keep their failed and outdated system in control. The kids be damned.
 
Ball State Deac said:
Surprised conservatives on here are opposed to the teachers exercising their free will and going on strike.
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Silly argument. They're only able to exercise their free will because the other side of the equation is legally obligated to negotiate with them rather than terminate them and hire replacements.
 
ibleedgoldandblack said:
Silly argument. They're only able to exercise their free will because the other side of the equation is legally obligated to negotiate with them rather than terminate them and hire replacements.
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Ram needs to channel his inner-Reagen and fire them.
 
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