Back in school with heads held high

Chicago Teachers Union delegates embrace after voting to end their strike. (Scott Olson, Getty Images / 

Who won?

They put on their red T-shirts and commanded the attention of the nation and the admiration of millions of teachers. Powerless no more, they showed that unity made them strong. Ninety-eight percent voted to authorize the strike, and 98% voted to end it... Regardless of the terms of the contract, the teachers won. -- Diane Ravitch, Washington Post

We won so much more than a contract says TSJ

In this strike, so much more was won than a contract. After 17 punishing years of corporate, neoliberal policies, Chicago teachers stood up, and they stood up for the whole country. This courageous strike was born of a new kind of teacher unionism - democratic, activist, allied with parents, and fighting not only for fair compensation but for a richer, more humane and just education. -- Teachers for Social Justice

The Monitor

The strike focused attention on a national debate over how to improve failing schools. Emanuel, backed by a powerful reform movement, believes poorly performing schools should be closed and reopened with new staff or converted to "charter" schools that often are non-union and run by private groups. -- CSM

Delegate Haley Underwood, a physical education teacher. 

"I am jumping up and down," she said. "I'm so excited, excited to see my kids. I feel we won. ... We'll continue to fight for the soul of public education." -- L.A. Times

Rauner

Rahm's billionaire Republican pal Bruce Rauner

Rauner, a wealthy venture capitalist who is helping lead a drive for more charter schools in the city, predicted the final details of a new contract would not "end well" for critics of the teachers union because "I think we've given in on a fair number of critical issues." But he called the intense contract negotiations "one battle in a very long-term fight." -- Tribune

At least he got that last point right.