CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
What seemed like a remote possibility months ago has now come to pass – the public school teachers of Chicago have walked out on their students just as the school year is beginning.
Thousands of school children have been cast adrift and sent to babysitters, daycare and relief centers, and countless places of worship who have opened their doors.
FOX Chicago news has been reporting that the difficult issues that remain, including who controls the hiring of teachers and teacher evaluations tied to academic performance. Not surprising, teacher pay continues to be a roadblock too.
What really surprises me is the lack of outrage coming from the parents of children that are in the CPS system – why aren't they in the streets asking the teachers these questions?
1) Why are our kids going to school for the least amount of time of any big city school system in the country?
2) Why is our graduation rate at 60% one of the worst in the nation??
3) Why aren't the 20% raises and 10% cost of living increases from the 2007-12 contract good enough to allow for more modest increases in this contract??
4) Why are there long waiting lists of Chicago parents who are trying desperately to get their kids into a charter school??
5) Why are the Chicago school teachers already among the highest paid in the nation in a system that is clearly struggling with huge deficits???
Now that this strike has taken place there is a chance for the public schools of Chicago to take some major steps on the road to reform.
I call on Mayor Emanuel and the Board of Education to:
Hold firm on the ability for principals to hire the best available teacher and not call back poor or average teachers that have been laid off.
Hold firm on the teacher evaluations that are tied to student academic growth – there must be a benchmark for improvement.
Hold firm on pay increases that reflect the dire financial situation facing this school system.
Hold firm Mayor Emanuel on your call to put the school children of Chicago first.
Chicago kids deserve better – we'd like to hear from you. Please e-mail your comments to editorial@myfoxchicago.com.
