Comments on: Responses to the Chicago Teacher Strike http://mccormick.edu/wordpress/cure/2012/09/14/responses-to-the-chicago-teacher-strike/ Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.2 By: Ron Barnes http://mccormick.edu/wordpress/cure/2012/09/14/responses-to-the-chicago-teacher-strike/#comment-17348 Ron Barnes Sat, 15 Sep 2012 18:40:43 +0000 http://mccormick.edu/wordpress/cure/?p=1315#comment-17348 This strike and the children being out of school is not an ideal situation but the commendable thing about this strike is that money (for teachers) is not the major issue. I used to be a public school teacher so I know the challenges teachers face: hot uncomfortable classrooms, books in unreadable condition, large classroom sizes making teaching and learning difficult, lack of materials necessary to teach and learn, old out of date classrooms and more. The learning environment in our schools needs to be improved. I applaud the teachers for taking stepping up at this time to make the education environment better for students in the future. If the teachers did not stand up then no doubt the School Board Administration would have let things go on in an undesirable state for God knows how long. That our teachers are truly taking up this cause for the children is a good thing. Their unselfish actions and desire to give our kids a better education speaks to the dedication and commitment teachers have for the kids they teach. The optimum situation would be for the School Board to share the same level of dedication and commitment. It does not make sense for people who have no involvement in the classroom to make policy for the classroom. This strike and the children being out of school is not an ideal situation but the commendable thing about this strike is that money (for teachers) is not the major issue. I used to be a public school teacher so I know the challenges teachers face: hot uncomfortable classrooms, books in unreadable condition, large classroom sizes making teaching and learning difficult, lack of materials necessary to teach and learn, old out of date classrooms and more. The learning environment in our schools needs to be improved. I applaud the teachers for taking stepping up at this time to make the education environment better for students in the future. If the teachers did not stand up then no doubt the School Board Administration would have let things go on in an undesirable state for God knows how long. That our teachers are truly taking up this cause for the children is a good thing. Their unselfish actions and desire to give our kids a better education speaks to the dedication and commitment teachers have for the kids they teach. The optimum situation would be for the School Board to share the same level of dedication and commitment. It does not make sense for people who have no involvement in the classroom to make policy for the classroom.

]]> By: Jean Garrison http://mccormick.edu/wordpress/cure/2012/09/14/responses-to-the-chicago-teacher-strike/#comment-17338 Jean Garrison Fri, 14 Sep 2012 21:06:43 +0000 http://mccormick.edu/wordpress/cure/?p=1315#comment-17338 This is actually a post my sister Stephanie Garrison, a CPS teacher, placed on FaceBook. "Thanks to all of you who are giving your support to me and all teachers...We are serious about our jobs and only want the best for all children...I know it's frustrating but I'm concerned when I see parents walking with their children pass me and "ROLL THEIR EYES" or mouth nasty words after I say good morning...I wonder why they don't understand that the big things we are asking for are updated books, computers, smaller classes (under 35), air conditioning, roach and rat free spaces, clean drinking water, more assistance for students with social & emotional problems (stemming from poverty, daily shootings, even gunfire while we are teaching, gang harassment...how many times have I been kicked and punched trying to protect one student from another student...some children have even attempted suicide...too many have not received proper help)....I KNOW WHAT I SIGNED ON FOR... but when your answer to my "occupational realities" is a skewed evaluation process that includes student test scores and eventually student evaluation of the teacher, a "No Re-Hire" list for teachers caught up in school closings, a whole school year without professional development and next to no updated resources, am I really just suppose to take that and accept the implied comment of "Be Lucky You Still Have A Job"....No one wanted a strike but we were left with no choice...I'm passionate about working with kids BUT I refuse to continue being bullied and disrespected by people who should really spend at least a whole day (not a photo "op") in REAL classrooms..." This is actually a post my sister Stephanie Garrison, a CPS teacher, placed on FaceBook.
“Thanks to all of you who are giving your support to me and all teachers…We are serious about our jobs and only want the best for all children…I know it’s frustrating but I’m concerned when I see parents walking with their children pass me and “ROLL THEIR EYES” or mouth nasty words after I say good morning…I wonder why they don’t understand that the big things we are asking for are updated books, computers, smaller classes (under 35), air conditioning, roach and rat free spaces, clean drinking water, more assistance for students with social & emotional problems (stemming from poverty, daily shootings, even gunfire while we are teaching, gang harassment…how many times have I been kicked and punched trying to protect one student from another student…some children have even attempted suicide…too many have not received proper help)….I KNOW WHAT I SIGNED ON FOR… but when your answer to my “occupational realities” is a skewed evaluation process that includes student test scores and eventually student evaluation of the teacher, a “No Re-Hire” list for teachers caught up in school closings, a whole school year without professional development and next to no updated resources, am I really just suppose to take that and accept the implied comment of “Be Lucky You Still Have A Job”….No one wanted a strike but we were left with no choice…I’m passionate about working with kids BUT I refuse to continue being bullied and disrespected by people who should really spend at least a whole day (not a photo “op”) in REAL classrooms…”

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