URBAN POLITICS 101

Monday, September 10, 2012

Chicago Teachers strike for the first time in 25 years.

No school for Chicago Public School kids today. The teachers union decided to strike for the first time in 25 years. Growing up in Chicago schools this has been an issue for as long as I can remember. What’s wrong with our society that every year teachers need to fight for the tools they need to teach our kids? Oddly enough this is not an issue in suburban public schools. Whether these teachers are fighting for more money, smaller classes, air conditioned rooms, more security or simply their respect; give it to them. Making the issue of education about politics is plain wrong. The children of Chicago should not have to wonder year after year if they will be in school on the first day. It is after all teachers that aid in producing our doctors, lawyers, scientist, and athletes. That is not to say that CPS should give in to every demand of the teachers union because clearly some changes need to be made within the entire school system. If all they’re asking for are better working conditions which include: better pay, smaller classes, more social workers and a safe place for kids to learn those things should be afforded to them.

I hope that the bad blood between Mayor Rahm Emmanuel and Union President Karen Lewis was not a contributing factor in the inability to reach a total compromise. From the start there was a confrontational stance between the two, leaving our kids in middle. Officially, the teachers will strike as of today, which now leaves the ball in the Mayor’s court. As it stands no one knows how long the strike will last. According to the mayor there are still two issues remaining directly related to teacher evaluations. Let’s hope an agreement is reached soon so that these kids can get their heads in those books.