COMMENTARY | I do not have children in the Chicago Public School system, but that doesn't mean I, like thousands of other Chicagoans, don't care about the city's second teachers strike in 25 years. The teachers strike affects us all, from the teachers on the picket line to the students forced to stay home to the companies scrambling to make due without their parents.
Parents and non-parents alike agree that a child (whether urban or suburban) with nothing to do all day is never a good thing. In a recent news report, several kids reported that they planned to hang out in a park or watch TV or play video games today, while others decided to volunteer at safe havens, churches, and other places some parents are allowed to take their children while they work. Most Chicagoans are pleased that CPS has budgeted some $25 million to provide the city's neediest children with shelter, meals, and organized activities. A total of 144 schools participate in the strike contingency program and doors are open from 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. But is this enough? Many Chicagoans say of course not.
What the city wants and what parents want is an end to the strike so their kids can return to school and begin, once again, to reap the benefits of an education. While the organized activities and games offered for four hours a day are designed to keep kids thinking, multiple news agencies (and plenty of parents) report that eventually, kids will get bored -- then what? Well, everyone hopes that the two sides will reach an agreement before this happens. And what about that agreement?
Contrary to what the media has been relentless about discussing (all the teachers want is money), what Chicago teachers really want is respect. They want respect for their extraordinary effort under often impossible conditions. They want respect for having an advanced education, experience, and the special skills needed to be a Chicago Public Schools teacher in 2012. They also want other seemingly simple things such as books on the first day of school (instead of the sixth week) and air conditioning. They want security, they want a fairer evaluation system for teacher performance, they want class sizes reduced, and they want to be fairly compensated for extended school days. Let's hope an agreement is reached soon and the Chicago teachers' strike isn't extended any longer than those 19 historic days back in 1987.
To obtain extensive information about the Chicago teachers strike, visit the Chicago Teachers Union website or the Chicago Public Schools website.
SourcesChicago Public Schools, News Section, http://www.ctunet.com/
Chicago Teachers Union, http://www.cps.edu/Pages/home.aspxwant
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chicago-teachers-strike-affects-214000080.html
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