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Subscribe to RSSTODAY's Natalie Morales reports on the latest in the teachers' strike in Chicago, where the union and school district say they're making progress as talks resume on the fourth day of the walk-out.
The week-long teachers’ strike in Chicago has drawn national attention because it affects 350,000 children and pits two Democratic forces -- a new generation of political leaders and teacher unions -- against each other.
But it also represents a broader struggle over education reform and union power, and the results could reverberate elsewhere.
If the Chicago Teachers Union wins enough concessions, then it’s a victory for the labor movement and a potential guide for similar battles underway in other parts of the country.
If Mayor Rahm Emanuel emerges with enough of his demands intact, then it’s another setback for labor and validates the push to impose stricter measures of teacher accountability.
More strike coverage from NBCChicago.com
“This is being looked at very carefully by school districts across the country,” said Kathleen Hirsman, who teaches education and labor law at the Loyola University School of Law. “There’s the issue of the diminishing strength of teachers unions and who is going to come out the winner. And how the Chicago Public Schools resolves this will be very instructive to other school districts now looking at implementation of state laws requiring teacher evaluation based on student performance.”
All over America, states and cities are trying to figure out how to respond to federal initiatives aimed at improving public schools. The initiatives employ a series of carrots and sticks: There’s money for districts that implement the Obama administration’s ideas on teacher evaluations and testing, and there’s the threat of closure or other sanctions for underperforming schools.
Scott Olson / Getty Images file
Mayor Rahm Emanuel could help decide the future of education reform across the U.S.
That challenge has resulted in elected officials trying to impose new standards for teachers, who resist having to give up control over their work.
“It comes down to who’s going to decide how kids are educated,” said James Wolfinger, an associate professor of history and education at DePaul University. “Who is the expert? Who should have the greatest voice?”
Chicago is just the latest of several big cities -- including New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Cleveland -- where that tension has come to a head.
Chicago strike talks on the brink of a deal
How do you measure teacher performance?
Illinois lawmakers have set a schedule to implement new teacher evaluation methods, and Chicago must start making those changes this year. Illinois also happens to be a state that allows teachers to strike.
That makes the five-day-old walkout, which has captivated the country and could impact the presidential election, an ideal opportunity for labor to show that it’s no pushover.
“This is a very important strike for the teachers union,” said Richard Kearney, a political scientist at North Carolina State University. “If they can come out of this thinking they’ve made up some ground, that should give some encouragement to teacher’s unions elsewhere who are facing similar situations.”
Then again, Emanuel could end up on top.
Or: each side will concede, ending the strike in a draw.
What then?
“Then the fight just goes on elsewhere,” Kearney said. “And none of this meant a great deal.”
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Leave a Comment:
Not that he should be actively involved, but I find it interesting that President Obama sits on the sidelines as usual. He never ceases to mention his hometown when it suits his purpose. I suspect as usual, he will come into the game after it has been decided ... and claim credit or at least support how things were resolved.
I would bet almost anything that when resolution becomes imminent, we will hear from him -- if the resolution is CPS moving ahead with teacher evaluation he will be the biggest supporter of that premise because "it's good for education." If the teachers succeed in watering this down, he'll be all for the "working man" and the need to have more productive discussions on how to improve schools. I wish I had the luxury of not having to commit on a decision/judgment until after I knew how it was going to turn out.
I'm waiting to see how this plays out. Kudos to Mayor Emmanuel for truly looking out for the kids, unlike some of the teachers who are walking the line.
Hey green dummy, Emmanuel is not looking out for the kids, he's trying to take from the kids. Why Should Obama get invovlved in a local strike in Chicago??? That shows that you are indeed A DUMMY!!
The President of the United States does NOT get involved in local school issues. What's wrong with you?
The President only gets involved when it is politically expedient for him. The issue is irrelevant, only the photo op or points he can muster out of the event. Case in point, a Harvard Professor and our old friend Trayvon Martin. With no information at all, Obama jumped into the fray
Of course he will only get involved when it is beneficial to his reelection, he is a politician. That is standard procedure for any politician who wants to be elected/reelected, regardless of party affiliation.
It's Republican kool-aid dummy day here. Most Americans are going to get what they deserve. Low pay, few benefits and a employer health plan were you pay 75%. This is what all these idiots want for American workers. Unions give us a higher standard of living and safety on the job. These teachers want better schools for the kids. Rahm has always been a jerk. Why is nobody talking about having a National standard for education in America. A kid in Missisppi should have just as good an education as a kid in Oregon. Wake up you republican whiners...Republicans will destroy our lives and our freedoms if you let them. Remember Poland.... a Union set them Free!!
How do you get "better schools" with poorer teachers? That's stupid. Our kids are already in trouble with the lazy overpaid slobs "teaching" in many of our schools. We need to weed them out, or abandon the unions altogether. (my preference.) All professionals outside unions get pay for performance. Teachers are no longer professionals in unions. Just look at the riffraff on the picket lines. Professionals???
I worked at a unionized job and as an employee I hated it. I worked with people who got away with everything and anything and management couldn't touch them. Unions were a good idea when they were formed, but like government, welfare, and entitlements, they are now corrupted, taken advantage-of, and cause as many or more problems than they solve.
K:
Re: "A kid in Missisppi should have just as good an education as a kid in Oregon."
TOO FUNNY!!!!!!!
The largest school district in Oregon, PPS, barely graduates 60% of the students. And of the kids that do graduate, only 66% can read and write. Forget aboout math and science- the teachers are too ignorant to teach math because they don't know math. And the teachers give themselves raises, EVERY SINGLE CONTRACT. Seniority rules. Lifetime job security and it is not based on performance.
PPS placed 7th WORST in their first attempt at the Race to the Top funds. Zero dollars for Oregon. They just keep raising our taxes to pay for more of a completely failing agenda. But those teachers, they live very well.
PPS keeps lowering the bar; pushing back a 10th grade test to 11th grade so more pass. Allowing "Spell Check" on READING COMPREHENSION TESTS. All of this 'DUMBING DOWN" MADE TO MAKE THE TEACHERS LOOK BETTER AND FAILING THE STUDENTS COMPLETELY.
Even though kids haven't been needed to bring the crops in for 200 years, they still don't teach in the summer. Even though they know seniority rules does not work, they teachers union insist on that out-dated joke.
Thousands of us in Oregon have lost all respect for the eduaction contingent. It is just a huge conglomerate whose sole mission is to get more money for the education contingent, but has nothing to do with imporving the quality of teaching.
Where's Feisty ? Not commenting on reality?
Shhhhhhh, it's the holy week of Ram-o-bama....
She's coducting worship services on all the other forums....
Teachers unions in most states pushed to get continuing education laws passed for engineers, nurses, doctors, and other professionals. Why do they now not want to have to perform to stay employed? It is time to hire real teachers and just drop the unions. Unions have destroyed airlines, trucking lines and other large businesses already. When will they learn that destroying their hiring organization destroys their jobs? They once owned United Airlines, but could not manage it. Unionism is communism, and sank the USSR.
Rahm is just another Blue Dog Democrat and will do almost anything to show he is in charge. He will do almost anything to further his political career. Chicago is not the only State with poor education and handing out vouchers for a few to go to non-profit or for profit schools is only a band-aid approach to improving the education of our children.
We are talking about a teachers union. Teachers teach. They serve as role models for students. And yet look at the image that is being projected by them as they strike: they are degrading and demeaning to anyone who disagrees; they disrupt traffic; they close streets; they use angry slogans; they have a 20 foot inflatable rat outside of school headquarters; look at and listen to their spokespersons. Mercy! Maybe it is that teachers unions have devolved and descended into that disappointing realm of some entertainers and professional athletes who simply "don't care" that they are role models to young people. That's pretty sad. Is it now too late to ask even the teachers to behave?
Abuelito:
Reynolds School District just went on strike and we saw the same behavior here in Portland, OR. The teachers hit cars trying to go in and out of the school with their picket signs. They wrecked the graduation for all graduating seniors, who did not get to go through a ceremony, but had to go to the school to get a little card that said they graduated.
During this strike, just like all of the many school districts that strike in Oregon, the unions demanded more money and would accept no accountability otherwise.
The unions here in Oregon are dispicable. And the results are evident.
Mr emanuel has just praised the teachers union on Chicago radio and it appears an agreement is near with most of what the Union wanted ! Chicago and the Midwest are union country !And voting for President Obama !
Taxes used for anything other than defense are taxes well spent ! And taxes not given for corporate welfare are also taxes, I will gladly pay !
LOL...these unions and democrats form a criminal alliance to beat republicans and then when they have all the power they fight amongst themselves.
Emanuel shame on you . . . how Romney . . . esk!
When you are trying to save money do something about exceptionally high double dipping political pensions!!!
Instead you target teachers? Who is next the police? Firemen? You half of them off! Now your "kill rate" in Chicago is more than Afghanistan! I guess you had to do it that way since you could not speed up your plans to deport all of those "costly" low income families to the suburbs wasn't working fast enough to meet you scheduled run for governor.
You are a typical carrer politicaian. You can count on me to vote for the other guy no mater who runs against you!
No teacher should feel his or her job is guaranteed; that's wrong and leads to abuses and in many cases poor instruction. No school system should have to cave into a program which allows a teacher to retire at a moderately young age after 25 or 30 years on the job and receive a guaranteed pension approaching 80% of their last 4 or 5 years salaries, partially funded by tax payers. This is rediculous, and it exists in numbers of communities all over the States. Teachers should be evaluated every two or three years and required to take courses in their fields every five years or so to keep up with the latest techniques and information in their fields of expertise. There are evaluation processes which are fair and not based solely on a student's progress, although that needs to be considered a part of the evaluation process. I've taught in the private sector for 52 years; my job was never guaranteed; I was evaluated every four years, and required to take some courses every five years. If one likes to teach, likes young people, likes his or her subject matter, and is passionate about helping young people to learn, then there should not be a problem.
Well spoken. Unbiased and fair to everyone.
Teachers should be evaluated every year. If there is a developing issue an evaluation can catch it, and help the teacher adjust their methods before it becomes a problem that causes them to lose their job. Evaluations are not just to say you are doing a good/bad job, they are a tool both employer and employee can benefit from.
To me it seems the logical (crazy to ever implement logic into a discussion on this site) approach would be that we (the states) model the classroom and the teacher's requirements for teaching to be more inline with those schools and teachers of the top ten nations (with respect to the students level) when leaving the public systems and who are best prepared for college or vocational instruction for their future employment.
That should be our goal, to be teaching for preparedness of life, work and your own well being.
If they keep putting people like Obama in office with there education..You need more than a Crooked Union..
.
We need to push The Tea Party Nuts to the sidelines. They want to bust unions, eliminate worker bargaining rights, fire city employees so they can privatize education, run unregulated business practices that evade employment laws, tax codes. This is happening in Michigan and it's cities. The Koch Bros want to do away with democracy and run America as their own company. Vote for Obama. Romney could care less about mainstream America. He will carry out the Koch Bros. mission of ruining this country, eliminating our basic rights to due process.
Has i have written before the tea-party is nothing less than a treasonous group of anti Americans dedicated to the collapse of our government and the implementation of a corporate controlled country !thiis is extremely dangerous ! these truth can be found in there propaganda !
If I told my employer the same thing these teachers are telling theirs, my employer would be on the floor laughing. After which I would be shown the door.
I think the Union should be grateful the Chicago mayor (including all the taxpayers) isn't laughing in their faces...
Reagan-PATCO
Enough said!
bend over Chicago, you are about to get #**##*
Where is his buddy BHO. He's busy with the middle east problems, No he's campaining or playing golf. No he's making beer today. What a looooser. Don't be a fool again, vote for Romney and let's make America #1 again.
I'm not suggesting that the unions shouldn't be monitored better than they have been, but it was the unions that prevented corporate America from working us under slavery conditions. Without unions, there would be no one to ensure fair wages and safe working conditions. Maybe no one has noticed, but corporate America is behind the idea of destroying unions. Do you think they have your best interest in mind? The problem with America is not the unions, it is the rich who wants us working under conditions similar to that of China. Here's something you should remember, if the Koch brothers and corporate America support an idea, you will not benefit from the outcome. Unions don't need to be destroyed, instead they need to be regulated. If you pay attention, you will see that weakening the unions has caused lower wages and harder work for the people, while the rich are making record profits. This has destroyed the middle class of America. Research and find why unions came into existence, and see if the same is happening today.
Maybe you should blame that on your government who allowing outsourcing without penalties. Wasn't that formulated under Reagan? I believe you have placed blame on the wrong people.
Where's the Prez in all of this?? Can't afford to make teacher's union mad...they Love Obama and he needs their votes. Can't make his buddy Emanual mad...he works with liberal super pack in getting Obama reelected. My, my, my....what to do...what to do!? Must lead from behind!!! Somehow must blame Bush/Romney.
It is pitiful when a person can't have a conversation without condemning President Obama. Were you this critical of Bush? All you are doing is making clear that you are a republican and possibly a bigot. Try saying something relevant.
Make more simple............
1. Teacher's union....proObama
2. Rohm Emanuel....proObama
3. Prez Obama....silent...until proded....then blame others.
4. Me....4 years ago I proved I was gullable.
5. Me....come November will prove I won't make the same mistake twice.
The AFL-CIO, Teachers Union and the Communist Party USA are VERY pro-Obama.
All those complaining that you're paying the teachers, take your kids out of public school and send them to private school, see what that costs. You're getting a bargain.
Unions are necessary, especially in economic conditions like today. Granted, there needs to be reform. Much like the Insurance industry. Unions should be required to spend at least 80% of dues on direct benefits to members and they should not be buddy buddy with polititians. They should not be arguing about teacher evaluations, let their employer evaluate them as they see fit. Corporations and business know they have employees over a barrel. payscale has been stagnate for decades, I drove a truck in the 1980's and was paid $15-20 per hour, anyone want to venture what going rate is now? $15-20 an hour.
If you're a working man or woman, make less than $100,000 and you're in favor of the GOP ideas and path then you should get your head checked.
There's the problem and the cause of all the cities filing bankruptcy. $100,000 to do what?
Clyde, people who insist on dividing the nation along political party lines instead of working collectively to resolve problems are an enemy to the country. No one side is always right. United we can make the country a better place.
Tyrone, collectively? You just outed yourself like your buddy barry does on occasion. Would you care to clarify? I must have taken you out of context.
Public sector Unions are contrary to the basic purpose of government; to provide basic services for the citizenry. You cannot have public employees holding government/citizens hostage for their work. Period.
Banish Public Sector Unions immediately. This is a joke. These people (40%) won't even put their own children into public schools.
Chicago schools face a $667 million shortfall this year, $1 billion shortfall next year. They want a 16% raise, basically free health care, and refuse to be evaluated for the job they are being paid to do. WTF is wrong with these idiots?
Well it's a simple thing to me when I go to a counter to cash out and the casheir there is going to Collage tells me my purchas is say $9.50 and I hand them a $20. they may have hit the wrong button on the register and told the computer that I gave them a $10, they now have to think and what do they do dig out a calculator to figure out my change should be $10.50. I've had this happen more than once and it does make me wonder just what they are teaching now a days. It sure isn't simple math so I don't perceive them as being conprehensive on more complex math either. Just what are these teachers responsible to teach. Near as I can tell they aren't teaching anything. Show me better taught people and I'll consider that pay raise.
I know what you mean. I gave a girl $10 for something that was $7.12. She rang it up before I could give her the .12. And when I did she said, Sorry but I already rang up the $10. She would not or could not figure out the change without the cash regester. Un believeable how stupid peoples are today.
madmax:
Teachers DON'T KNOW MATH. They are completely ignorant of math. They get these worthless "diploma mill" Education degrees that are a joke and the easiest degree to get. Teachers can't teach what they don't know.