What's at stake?

I am reprinting David  Sieber's Op-Ed on Gapers Block just because I think it is so good. David is a CPS teacher, and is currently completing a Masters degree in Urban Education Policy Studies.

Op-Ed Fri Sep 07 2012
What's At Stake for Chicago Public Educators?

By David Stieber

You have undoubtedly heard the news reports, radio attack ads, CPS representatives, the "CEO" of Chicago Public Schools, and the Mayor saying how teachers are walking out on the students if we strike. Parents, students, residents of this city, as a teacher let me tell you, comments like that rip teachers to our core. As cliché as it sounds teaching is a calling. It's not as if one day we just said, "I guess I'll just be a teacher." It takes skill and dedication to stand in front of 30 (sometimes more) young people in a classroom and truly care and be able to teach every one of them. It is not possible to just be mediocre when it comes to teaching students. A young person is the first to let you know if you aren't doing a good job at teaching the lesson, not getting graded work passed back quickly enough, heck, they will even let you know if you look bad that day.

Teachers just can't punch in, start thinking about kids then punch out and stop. Teachers are always trying to improve our lesson plans, grade, figure out ways to reach the students who are withdrawn, quiet, confrontational or disrupting class. We just can't shut our students out of our lives when the bell rings.

Unless you are a teacher you have no idea the pain, frustration and intrinsic anger we feel when some paid radio ad claims, that "teachers are walking out on students." Some days after teaching, I honestly wish I could walk out on my students and never come back. But no matter how frustrating our day may have been, it is the kids that always bring us back. Teachers spend our lunch periods, before and after school helping, coaching, and listening to our students.

After days of teaching, we spend nights in grad school, trying to make ourselves better teachers. We raise children and think about how we want our own child to be like __(insert name here)__ who we taught a few years back.

There is nothing about our careers, our schools, and our students that we take lightly.
So please understand, teachers are trying to teach you that our careers and professions are under attack. Please understand we are trying to teach you about how your child's education is under attack.

You may find this dramatic, but education is at a crossroads in our country and our neighborhood, our city is right at the intersection of these crossroads. There is an attempt to make schooling privatized, charter-ized, and more inequitable than it already is. There is an attempt to get rid of experienced teachers who have built relationships with families, who truly know how to teach and replace them with less expensive, inexperienced teachers who likely will only be at the school for two years.

There is an attempt to teach through testing, to make your child so bored in school from over-standardized testing that students aren't excited for school anymore. There is an attempt to further cut librarians, counselors, nurses, PE, World Language, Art and now classroom teachers, in order to "save" money. A budget is a political document, not a financial one, it's about priorities. Some priorities obviously need to be re-evaluated.

Teachers in no way shape or form want to strike, we want to be working with and educating your children. The CTU, which represents and is elected by 26,000 educators across this city has had over 50 negotiation meetings with CPS since November 2011. In all of that time "CEO" Brizard has attended zero of those meetings, which means there was no one from CPS at the bargaining table with any educational experience.

So I ask, how do you bargain on what is best for students with people who have never taught students?

At stake is way more than pay. At stake for us is doing what is right for our community, our city, and yes our students, because as teachers it is always about the kids. ~*~

Rahm's quickie guide for non-teachers

At Peet's this morning, I'm practically choking on my coffee while reading, "CPS’s How To Guide for workers at strike contingency school" in  the Sun-Times.

The guide is supposed to be a quickie preparation handbook (are you watching, TFA?)  for the gaggle of principals, assistant principals, Central Office Staff and non-CTU employees, as well as yet-to-be-approved scab vendors. Also, anyone else Brizard can scrape up to man his 144 (don't-call-them-schools) "holding centers". I call them scab schools. CTU Pres. Karen Lewis calls them, "a train wreck" waiting to happen.

Among the suggestions on “how to prepare” for classroom duties:

• “Wear a watch — your room may not have a functioning clock.’’

• Dress comfortably as “many schools are NOT air-conditioned.’’

• “You will need to bring your own breakfast and lunch. Please note that you cannot rely on access to refrigerators or microwaves.’’

• “Keep personal items to a minimum.’’

• Sessions for kids run from 8:30 to 12:30 but “you should arrive as early as possible” and be prepared to stay late.

• Bring 30 sharpened pencils, 30 pens and a personal pencil sharpener.

• Bring “stickers or other small inexpensive incentive items.’’

• Bring old magazines and newspapers, puzzles and games.

There's one other tip the guide could have included: Don't drink too much coffee or water before school and be prepared to hold it in because there won't be anyone to relieve you (pun intended).

I can't imagine these poor suits from Clark Street still favoring a longer school day after this experience. But maybe they will gain a little respect for teachers once this is over.

A panicky Brizard sent Lewis a letter Friday, asking the union to voluntarily forgo picketing the 144 “Children First’’scab sites. He claims that he has “deep concerns’’ about forcing “impressionable” kids to “walk through a picket line with their parents.’’ He's also going to have to find a way to slip his forced-labor principals and A.P.s in through the back door to keep them from crossing picket lines. Remember, at some point they will have to go back and work with their teachers again and try to rebuild the trust that Rahm has shattered.

Of the 144 school sites offering half-day sessions, Lewis said, “They are going to be a mess. I wouldn’t send my children [there].’’ So if Brizard wanted to avoid picketers, she said, “I think he should shut them down.’’

Knowles wants Chicago to be "Silicon Valley of education"

Rahm's vision, building on the legacy of the Daley regime, includes the privatization of everything public. Take away the last vestiges of democratic public decision making, weaken the labor unions and put everything into the hands of his corporate patrons. But Rahm's vision would remain unframed and unfocused without the help of his academic brain-trust.

One of Rahm's closest such academic confidants, especially on ed policy -- read privately-managed charter schools and union busting -- is U of C' prof Timothy Knowles. He's definitely a guy you won't find walking the picket lines with striking teachers next week.

It's not that there's anything new or original in what Knowles espouses. Rather his role is to flavor Rahm's vulgar frat-boy language with hip acky-talk. Knowles, like Arne Duncan,  who brought him into town, is a Harvard grad so you know he's smart -- or at least clever.

For example, just check out Knowles latest contribution to Chicago Mag's quest for "6 Big Ideas to Make Chicago Better." His Idea #6 is called: Turn Chicago into the Silicon Valley of education. You see what I mean? Where Rahm might have resorted to middle-finger language, Knowles deftly turns the privatization of Chicago schools into a sunny, pleasant and well-heeled metaphor for rich and teckie. You know about Silicon Valley right? White-only gated communities where even millionaires don't feel rich. Why is this a good metaphor for Chicago's public education system? I have no idea.

What would it take to turn Chicago in the Silicon Valley of education? Easy, says Knowles. Just a couple of charter school chains like Aspire and Rocketship, plus "a couple hundred million."

Knowles writes:

“No other U.S. city holds this mantle of education innovation. It would cost a couple hundred million. But Rahm, working together with the local education talent and the business and philanthropic communities, could make this happen in 12 months."

Damn Timothy. If your pal Rahm can raise $200 million that easily, why can't he use it to hire back some of those laid-off art teachers for those 400,000 kids who just go to -- you know, school. Some of them may not even be interested in Aspira or Rocket Ship?

I knew this wasn't a money problem. It's all about "innovation," says Knowles.

"Yeah, innovation," I can hear Rahm saying. "That's what I meant to say -- innovation."

Rahm giddy in Charlotte as strike nears

As the strike deadline draws near, I'm taken with image of Rahm Emanuel, last night, still in Charlotte, giggling like a little boy in front of the TV cameras and clapping wildly as his patron Clinton lectures the eager crowd. For a moment I thought he was going to pee himself.

Meanwhile back home, the CTU was not impressed. The union upped the ante yesterday, filing a charge with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board accusing CPS, among other things, of unfairly denying CTU members “step” increases for additional years of experience. CTU officials contended the board must honor the step increases in the current contract until a new contract replaces it. 

In response to the charges and feeling the stress of mounting public pressure and possible damage to the Obama campaign, CPS made a concession. While they refused to move off of their measly 2% pay increase offer, the board did move away from its "merit pay" demand -- a major concession. Previously, CPS had proposed that CTU members would get a tiny fourth-year raise only if they had agreed to a “differentiated compensation plan’’ that year.
Back home, CPS' attack dog, Becky Carroll continues to jeopardize the negotiations with her anti-union outbursts. Here's Sun-Times reporters account:

Asked for comment, CPS spokeswoman Becky Carroll said by email, “It is unfortunate that the union continues to mischaracterize the proposals made during negotiations. Their insistence on regularly misleading the public and their own membership is appalling and does a disservice to students.’’ Carroll did not immediately explain how the union had mischaracterized talks.

Someone over there at Clark St. should yank on her leash.

Best headline comes from The Chicagoist: 

Rahm Applauds Unions As He Tries To Bust One At Home

 Emanuel, his voice cracking like Peter Brady entering puberty, listed the achievements of Obama's first term and, notably, spoke of the importance of listening to labor unions in bailing out the auto industry, the highest of ironies given how he's trying to bust the Chicago Teachers Union at home. "Unions are great, as long as they aren't teaching your kids."

Charles Pierce at Esquire had this to say about Rahm in Charlotte:

So to hell with all of you squalling hippies. Rahm was in the room, beeyotches. He was there when the president "made the right choice" on the auto industry, so forget Rattner's book where he's quoted as saying, "Fuck the UAW." (Rahm says "fuck" a lot. He likes to make waitresses cry.) 

Duncan -- the less said the better

Many of last night's speakers at the DNC were over the top. Arne Duncan wasn't. I actually missed his speech. I was too busy teaching my class of future teachers. From what I heard, Duncan's ratings were pretty low and there was hardly a mention of his speech, or of education issues at the DNC, in this morning's news. I had to watch the video of Duncan's speech this morning on WSJ's website.

Duncan: "Education is about jobs." 

What? Really?

Leaving aside for a moment whether or not education should really be about filling corporate job slots (my students are reading Dewey's Experience and Education and discussing what ed is really about) Duncan's Race To The Top doesn't fill the bill. It requires districts to fire teachers in mass, without due process or any regard to experience, qualifications, or evaluations. Remember, he cheered on the firing of each and every teacher and school staff person at Central Falls, H.S. Did he think we'd forget? There are 300,000 teachers that have lost their jobs in the past two years, due at least in part to Duncan's policies.

Duncan: "If countries like China out-educate us today, they will out-compete us tomorrow?"

What? In the measly 3 minutes Axelrod gave him to try and rally the base of disgruntled public school teachers and parents, Duncan spends a good part of it raising that old yellow-peril argument?

Fortunately for Obama and the party, no one was really listening to Arne's gobbledy-guck. It took a few union folks, victims of Romney/Bain, Elizabeth Warren, Sandra Fluke and the irrepressible Bill Clinton to get the job done. As for positives, Duncan did admit that "teachers matter." And at least he didn't go off about the benefits of larger class size or Hurricane Issac being the best thing ever for the school children in Plaquemines Parish.

Afterwards, someone asks him about Chicago and Rahm's war with the CTU.

Duncan: “I don’t know all the details."

What?

Thanks to SOS

Kudos to Save Our Schools (SOS). They just wrote a check for $1,000 to the CTU Solidarity Fund. BTW, for those organizations or individuals who want to follow SOS' lead on this or top them, CTU's Michael Harrington tells me you can mail your checks to:

CTU Solidarity Fund
222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza
Suite 400
Chicago, IL 60654

Also, those planning on attending Jonathan Kozol's Chicago lecture on Sept. 27th, you can get your free tickets at the CTU website to guarantee yourself a seat. The event should sell out early so get your tickets now.

Rahm dumped as Obama campaign chair

No wait, the headline is wrong. The latest from Charlotte is that Rahm Emanuel hasn't been dumped. He's been promoted. Yes, that's right. He's moving up the party ladder from campaign chair to fundraiser. If you read the Washington Post (and who doesn't these days?) that's the story line behind Rahm being dropped as honorary chairman of the Obama campaign. You see, he was removed so he could "help raise big-dollar contributions so that Democrats can compete with what is emerging as a clear GOP fundraising advantage this election cycle." This according to unnamed "campaign and fundraising individuals."

As we all know, campaign chairs can't fund-raise. Right? They're too busy doing, ummm, other things or something. And of course this promotion has nothing to do with the fact that Rahm's name has become toxic, synonymous with anti-teacher anti-unionism , much like Wisconsin's Gov. Walker on the Republican side. We know this because the unnamed "campaign and fundraising individuals" in the Post story never mention it.

That's their story and they're sticking with it.

When Chicago teachers struck in '73

This from a yellowed copy of The Call I found, from back in March, 1973:

CHICAGO

For the third time in four years, Chicago teachers have shut down that city's school system -- the nation's third largest. About...25,000 teachers struck for decent wages and smaller classes as well as a shorter school year with no resulting pay cuts or lay-offs. The striking teachers also asked for more free preparation time for elementary school teachers, so that teachers would not have to act as hall and lunchroom monitors...

Unlike previous strikes in the Chicago school system, this one received massive support from the black and Latino communities. This year, the new union leadership [Pres. Robert Healey and V.P Jacqueline Vaughn, who would later become the union's first female black president--mk]  formed alliances with groups in the community like PUSH. 95% of the teachers supported the strike and the result was that nearly all of the demands were won.

In the Chicago strike, custodians (mostly black) refused to heat the school buildings, in support of the striking  teachers...

The 'Elephant in the Room' at the DNC

Rahm: "Unions are trouble."  IEA: "Unions don't want to cause trouble." ( Fred Klonsky)

Which side are you on? Which side are you on?

This is the question tearing at the very fabric of the Democratic Party as tonight's DNC opens up with Rahm Emanuel at the speaker's podium. 

"The threat of a Chicago teachers strike is the elephant in the room at delegation meetings," write S-T staff reporters Natasha Korecki and Fran Spielman. "Everybody is aware of it and concerned about it. Nobody knows how to avert it. And nobody wants to cross Emanuel, who is known for his long memory and take-no-prisoners politics." 

AFT prez Randi Weingarten tilts slightly to the side of the teachers as she calls on both sides to find "common ground."

"We are Democrats, we are people who know how to build. The teachers of Chicago feel deeply disrespected and deeply disenfranchised and that’s what this struggle is about. Now I know the struggle can be settled and I know we can move forward, but we need to find common ground and as Democrats we have to deal with each other.”

Dan Montgomery, president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, is only a little less timid, asking Dems for a little more in the way of labor support and painfully explaining that teachers in Chicago have already made numerous concessions.

“You’ll see smaller class sizes and better learning conditions, something we all want for our kids,” he said of teachers getting their way.

As you might expect, IEA leaders were nowhere to be found, either speaking out at the DNC or at yesterday's solidarity rally. I'll leave that one to brother Fred and other NEA activists who've had it up to here. His toon above says it all.

Other local Dems, like Gov. Quinn, and Cook County Board Pres. Preckwinkle are either keeping their mouths shut or trying and walk that fine line so as not to offend Chicago machine bosses, Rahm and Madigan.

Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th) is pretty forthright as usual in her support for the teacher.  

Asked whether she believes Emanuel has “deeply disrespected” Chicago teachers, Hairston said without hesitation, “Yes.”

But the worst of all at the DNC was horseshit Democrat, mayor of Boston who seems to be echoing Gov. Romney in his hatred for unions.

Emanuel found a welcome ally in Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. “I’m facing the same thing that he’s facing,” Menino said. “It’s not the teachers, it’s the union leadership that wants too much. … I’m looking for longer school days.

Like Rahm, Newark's Mayor Booker, L.A.'s Villaraigosa, and other Democratic pols whose campaign war chests are filled with Wall Street money and who don't face much of a Republican challenge, Menino isn't worried about the union vote. Not yet anyway. But Obama sure is. Or at least he should be. And that's why Rahm is leaving the convention early.

You bet they heard us

 This morning's front page headline in the Sun-Times print edition reads:  

DO YOU HEAR US, RAHM? 

Teachers Show Strength in Numbers, Mayor Cuts DNC Visit Short

In this rare case, the headlines told the real story. Yesterday's Labor Day Solidarity Rally in Daley Plaza was a powerful expression of the anger and frustration felt by thousands of Chicago teachers in reaction to the debasement and the disrespect shown them and their profession by Rahm Emanuel's administration.

Tactically, it was a risk to hold a Labor Day rally in the Loop, where there was no audience of office workers to influence and the targeted decision makers were absent. But with a potential teachers strike approaching, the Chicago Teachers Union and its friends among public employee unions put on an impressive show of strength Monday, drawing thousands of red-shirted supporters to a Daley Plaza rally that turned into a protest march around City Hall and outside the Clark Street headquarters of the Chicago Public Schools.

An estimated 18,000 teachers and supporters listened to militant solidarity speeches by leaders of supporting unions and community organizations and a fiery speech by CTU prez Karen Lewis, who drew thunderous applause when she called the mayor, "a liar and a bully." Then the crowd spontaneously poured out onto Washington Blvd. and then marched down Clark St. to CPS headquarters chanting, What do we want? A Fair Contract!" and Hey Hey, Ho Ho, Rahm Emanuel's got to go! [Video]. 

None of Rahm-paid counter-protesters were in sight. But he did drag out a gaggle of faithful like Ald. Carrie Austin (34th) in front of the media, to slam Lewis and the teachers. I hope residents will remember that come council elections.

Not exactly the thing that Obama's people need to be facing as the Democratic National Convention opens today with Rahm scheduled as a keynote speaker. The mayor's assault on Chicago's teachers, plus the DNC taking place in anti-union Charlotte, N.C. brings the party as close to war with it's most reliable base, organized labor, as it's ever been. A Chicago teachers strike in the weeks leading up to election day could pose a real threat to Obama's election chances. And the last thing the Dems need right now is Rahm being confronted by the national media asking him questions about his hostility to organized labor and the mounting child murder rate in the city since he took office. So Rahm will make his remarks brief and then high-tail it back to Chicago to do damage control.

IN THE MAILBOX

From Chicago teacher, Andrew

Dear friends and neighbors,

I write to you because of the possibility that my colleagues and I in
the Chicago Teachers Union may go on strike one week from today. I
want to share with you why I support this strike, and I hope that you
will consider my words as you sort through the media coverage and
other perspectives you hear about the regrettable impasse that the
Board of Education and the CTU have reached. Please feel free to
respond to me, to engage me in conversation personally, and to forward
my message to other people you know in Chicago who may be interested.

I have been a public school teacher ever since I graduated from
college. I've spent the last 10 years of my career in Chicago, and the
last 6 with the Chicago Public Schools. Wherever I've taught, I've
been one of the first teachers to arrive in the morning and, until
parenthood forced me to be reasonable, one of the last to leave. I
approach my career more as a calling --- a democratic obligation to
help level the playing field of our unequal society by working with
young people to create opportunities for themselves. I tell you this
to clarify up front that I am not a member of a union in order to work
less, shield myself from negative evaluations, or otherwise meet my
own needs at the expense of my students, as Mayor Emanuel might
allege. I am a union member because I believe that the union, more
than the Board of Education, will best protect a contract and working
conditions likely to attract and retain a teaching force in Chicago
that can live up to my democratic aspirations.

While there are numerous issues still on the negotiating table, I want
to focus on something that has not received attention in the media.
I'd be happy to discuss the other issues with you as well, but I won't
address them in this message. Please know that I don't agree with
everything that my union leadership is asking for, and I don't claim
to speak for all of my colleagues either.

Learning and working conditions
While a strike would be extraordinarily inconvenient and frustrating
for all parties involved, the district's current contract proposals
are not calculated to retain or attract good teachers or maintain
classroom conditions conducive to learning. In the long run, the
district's proposed contract would thus be more harmful to public
education in Chicago than the brief disturbance of a strike. State law
does not allow us to bargain with the Board about a whole range of
educational issues (like class size and number of courses taught, for
example). So when the Board proposes a contract that makes absolutely
no guarantees about anything besides compensation and evaluation
(which are controversial enough by themselves), the door is left open
to unmanageable, unrealistic learning and working conditions. Since
the Board refuses to negotiate these issues, the only way the Union
can prevent such measures from becoming part of the contract is to
strike.

Here's the language proposed by the Board about their authority; I've
highlighted the parts that most concern me:

Employer Authority. The Board retains the exclusive right, authority
and responsibility to manage its operations, develop its policies,
determine the scope of its operations, adopt a budget and decide the
manner in which it exercises its constitutional and statutory
functions and otherwise fulfills its legal responsibilities. Except as
may be restrained or limited by a specific and express provision of
this Agreement, the Board shall not be required to bargain
collectively over matters of inherent managerial policy as defined by
the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act or the Illinois School
Code, including, but not limited to, the following areas of
discretion: (a) the functions of the Board; (b) the Board’s overall
budget; (c) the Board’s organizational structure, including the
creation, modification or elimination of departments, divisions,
offices, sections and positions and the allocation or reallocation of
the work to be performed therein; (d) decisions to eliminate work or
relocate, subcontract, contract out or transfer work to a third party
for one or more services otherwise performed by bargaining unit
employees and the procedures for obtaining such contract or the
identity of the third party; (e) decisions regarding the
implementation of new technologies and methods of operation and
decisions concerning the use of technology to deliver educational
programs and services and staffing to provide the technology; (f) the
retention of consultants, specialists and other skilled professionals
on a contract or project basis; (g) the size and composition of the
work force; (h) the selection, examination and classification of new
employees and the establishment of hiring standards; (i) the hiring,
evaluation, transfer, promotion, demotion, layoff or
reduction-in-force, reappointment or recall, discipline and discharge
of employees; (j) the educational or training programs provided to
employees; (k) the direction and scheduling of employees; (l) the
assignment of work to employees whether on a straight-time or overtime
basis; (m) production and quality standards, standards of service and
performance expectations of employees; (n) the development and
implementation of rules, regulations, policies and procedures
governing employee conduct, job performance and other conditions of
employment; (o) decisions to determine class size, class staffing and
assignment, class schedules, the academic calendar, the length of the
work and school day, the length of the work and school year, hours and
places of instruction or pupil assessment policies; and (p) decisions
concerning the use and staffing of experimental or pilot programs.

The Board's assertion of "employer authority" threatens to make the
teachers' contract an empty shell of what it once was. It creates the
possibility of a principal assigning me to teach, say, 7 high school
classes instead of 5. It creates the possibility of a principal
assigning me to 40 students per class, or any number at all. Such
working conditions would, of course, be my students' --- and our
children's --- learning conditions. It would be virtually impossible
for a teacher to be effective under these conditions, given the
demands of lesson preparation, photocopying, grading, and building
relationships. It is equally difficult to imagine my own children
achieving their potential under these circumstances.

I refuse to approve a contract that makes these conditions possible.

On this Labor Day, I hope you will take a moment to consider my
perspective on the looming strike. One week from now, I hope to be at
school, working with my students. But I will strike now if I have to
so that I can protect my ability to work effectively with my future
students as well.

Sincerely,

Andrew

CTU President Lewis at today's rally

LABOR DAY WEEKEND QUOTABLES

Social Justice High School firings

“The foundation from which Social Justice High School was built on was from unity and the need to rectify an ongoing injustice. What set SoJo apart was its strong connection between teachers and parents, but now that’s changed.” -- Patricia Buenrostro, original Little Village H.S. hunger striker

As strike approaches in Chicago

"The strike obviously is a big piece of the picture, but it's not the only thing out there. It feels like there's complete chaos across the system." -- Jonathan Goldman, a Local School Council chair at Drummond Elementary

Clint Eastwood

"...we own this country. “We own it." -- Speech at RNC

Ravitch warned White House

 I told them how disheartened teachers were by their whole approach, that they had aligned themselves with the GOP agenda. I warned that they would lose the 2010 elections if they didn’t get a different agenda. I told them that what they were doing would not succeed and would have terrible consequences. They didn’t listen. -- About That Meeting at the White House

Jeb Bush 

Everywhere in our lives, we get the chance to choose. Go down any supermarket aisle - you’ll find an incredible selection of milk. You can get whole milk, 2% milk, low-fat milk or skim milk. Organic milk, and milk with extra Vitamin D. There’s flavored milk — chocolate, strawberry or vanilla — and it doesn’t even taste like milk. They even make milk for people who can’t drink milk. Shouldn’t parents have that kind of choice in schools? -- Washington Post

See you there!

Media's take on CTU strike

"Enough is enough. We're done."

Edweek

CTU President Karen Lewis has become something of a hero to teachers who are frustrated with recent policy directives such as evaluations and pay based partly on student test-score growth, turnarounds based on school closures, and charter conversions. Some of those teachers believe that the national teachers' unions have been too willing to compromise with management and other powerful interests on these issues. -- Stephen Sawchuk

CBS News

As the clock ticks down to a looming Chicago teachers strike, could the man in charge of the school district be on his way out? CPS CEO Jean-Claude Brizard says he's not going anywhere, despite a report that his job may be in jeopardy. -- Ward Room

Sun-Times

Some 700 Chicago Teachers Union delegates thundered “aye” Thursday after CTU President Karen Lewis put forward a motion to set Monday, Sept. 10 -- the beginning of the second week of school for most kids -- as a strike date. The union hall fell silent as Lewis asked for “nay” votes, observers said.  The sentiment on the floor and in schools, Lewis told reporters afterwards, was: “Enough is enough. We’re done." -- Fran Spielman and Ros Rossi

Dallas Star-Telegram

Much of the teachers' frustration has centered on Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who rescinded a 4 percent raise last year and then tried to go around the union in his push for a longer school day by asking teachers at individual schools to waive the union contract to work more hours. The Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board subsequently blocked Emanuel's negotiations with schools. -- AP Wire

Chicago Tribune 

Mayor Rahm Emanuel is considered a man of iron will who has a deep commitment to reform. He should show it. Push ahead with Chicago Public School reforms and decertify the Chicago Teachers Union if necessary. -- Sean Kennedy

S-T Letters to Editor

Rahm Emanuel and Jean-Claude Brizard. Let me get this right, there has not been a Chicago Public Schools strike in 25 years; so what’s the common denominator here? Rahm Emanuel and Jean-Claude Brizard. Every day I’m rethinking my mayoral vote. It’s time for an elected school board. --  Linda Hudson, Avalon Park

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/08/29/4215589/chicago-teachers-union-gives-10.html#storylink=cpy

Quotable Yong Zhao

Chopsticks

To be globally competitive, we should all begin to use chopsticks because chopsticks produce better education outcomes as measured by the international gold standard of education the OECD’s PISA, which tests 15 year olds in math, reading, and sciences, and TIMSS, which assess 9-10 and 13-14 year olds math and science abilities. The top five performers in the 2009 PISA math (Shanghai, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan) all use chopsticks, so do the top five in TIMSS math in 2007 (Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong), in 2003, and 1999. And PISA and TIMSS scores are what drive nations’ economic growth and back their global competitiveness.  -- Dr.Yong Zhao

Katie Hogan, Founding Teacher at Social Justice HS, speaks at Town Hall in Chicago

"...I'm standing before you unafraid...people who have lost everything, such as ourselves, and have nothing to lose, are really dangerous..." -- Katie Hogan

"Enough is enough..." Strike notice given

Karen Lewis says, "Enough is enough!"

.4 bump in Chicago tests scores 'phenomenal' says Brizard

Dizzy with success

While Rahm and Brizard become delirious over a slight bump in ACT scores, Bob Schaeffer helps us understand why, "the stagnant trend in ACT college readiness scores just released is yet another piece of evidence that test-driven K-12 education in the U.S. is a sweeping, expensive failure."

According to the Sun-Times, Chicago’s average ACT score "soared" to its highest level in at least 11 years, jumping from 17.2 last year to 17.6. That’s still well shy of the 18 generally considered minimally acceptable and the 20 CPS officials have used as a goal.

Emanuel called the scores "great news," while his Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard said the growth was “phenomenal.” Brizard added, “I won’t take credit. It belongs to my teachers and principals.’’ -- Sun-Times

Thanks for reiterating the obvious J.C.

Neither Rahm nor Brizard everr mentioned the widening of the so-called "achievement gap" among white, Hispanic and African-American students. The percentage of white students who met or exceeded standards on the PSAE was 44.6 points higher than African-Americans and 32.2 points higher then Hispanics.

CTU V.P. Jesse Sharkey couldn't resist:

“Wow. If they are getting record success, why do we need a longer day?’’ asked Sharkey, among the CTU officials now negotiating a new contract with the district. “Now it turns out, before we had all these changes, we were actually improving at a record pace."

Schaeffer sums it up nicely:

But ACT averages for the high school class of 2012 (see chart below) show that neither of these predictions is close to becoming true. Overall ACT test scores are unchanged since 2008. Gaps between white and Asian American students, on the one hand, and African American, Hispanic and Native American, on the other, have grown slightly larger. Clearly current K-12 policies are not working. -- The Answer Sheet

Raise your hand

Great fun mixed with some serious politics at last night's Raise Your Hand Coalition fund-raiser at the Heartland Cafe.  (Sarah-Ji Fotógrafa)

Should-be mayor, Miguel del Valle and Don Washington dialogue at Mayoral Tutorial. (Sarah-Ji Fotógrafa)