Chicago Teach Strike

[DJofSD]

Originally Posted by Actor

Where did you get that figure?

Likely from testing that comes from the Bush era Leave No Kids Behind -- or whatever they call it.

If you don't have any kids or they've been out of school for 5 to 10 years, there are annual tests. Very likely those results are posted on the school districts web site for your location. They'll be an amalgamation of the district's performance and broken down by school.

[Tom]

The education of our children once again takes a back seat to the greed of the union boys and girls.

[DJofSD]

Originally Posted by Tom

The education of our children once again takes a back seat to the greed of the union boys and girls.

What? You mean they're not all like the teacher in "Mr. Holland's Opus?"

[Capper Al]

Originally Posted by JustRalph

Only one problem with your point. Police are held accountable for crime rates. Everywhere. He is not scape goating anyone. He is using facts applicable to every other job in the country to form a valid conclusion. Teachers unions are the worst thing to happen to public education.

These are the same people Who demand tenure and use union money to pay for Occupy Wall Street.

Do police lose income if the crime rate goes up? I don't think so. Your unions being the worst is an opinion not a fact.

[thaskalos]

Originally Posted by Capper Al

Do police lose income if the crime rate goes up? I don't think so.

You can't blame increasing crime rates on the policemen, Al...because the policemen are not the cause of it.

But when students are allowed to graduate while being unable to read and write at an appropriate level...then whom can you blame but the teachers?

Why should a student be allowed in the 8th grade, if his reading and writing skills are at the 5th grade level?

What do teachers think that their job entails; just to tell the kids what they have to tell them...without worrying about whether the kids learn anything or not?

Why can't our kids compete with those of other countries, when it comes to school learning?

Why do we call them "teachers"...if they are incapable or unwilling to "teach"?

[FantasticDan]

[porchy44]

All big city school systems have 40-60% dropout rate, low test scores and illiterate kids. Then you go to suburbs and see 96% graduation rate with above average or excellent test scores.
What a coincidence. The best teachers are at the suburbs teaching and the worst teachers are teaching at the inner city public schools.
Why are the teachers so great at Upper Arlington Ohio suburb of Columbus Ohio and so bad at Columbus Public schools.
We should hold people accountable for others actions. If your kid does a crime, the parent does the time. All coaches with a sports team with a under .500 record should immediately be fired because you win with O's not Joes.

[porchy44]

[QUOTE=thaskalos]
Why should a student be allowed in the 8th grade, if his reading and writing skills are at the 5th grade level?
QUOTE]

Because in a lot of states it is against the law to hold a child back without the parents permission.

[newtothegame]

[QUOTE=porchy44]

Originally Posted by thaskalos

Why should a student be allowed in the 8th grade, if his reading and writing skills are at the 5th grade level?
QUOTE]

Because in a lot of states it is against the law to hold a child back without the parents permission.

Well hell, in that case what is the need for teachers anyway???? I mean after all if they are not going to be held to a standard, and they are just pushing the dimploma mill theory through anyways, why in the hell are we paying them huge salaries and benefits to basically do nothing??
Either argument....teachers lose....!!!!!

[mostpost]

Originally Posted by pandy

I believe they are also striking because of new laws that will force teachers to be evaluated. Do they really make $76,000 a year? And did they really turn down a 4% raise per year for the next 4 years?

There is some question as to the accuracy of that $76,000. That is the figure being given out by CPS. CTU says it is more like $71,000.

As for the 4% a year raise each of the next four years, that is the same percentage as they received in the last contract. So why is it not reasonable that they receive the same raise this time? Because the Chicago Public school system has increased its school day from five hours and forty five minutes to seven hours. A 22% increase in classroom time for those teachers. Teachers do not stop working when that dismissal bell rings. There are papers to grade. Lesson plans to write or update. Reports to write. I know several teachers. None of them spend less than three hours out of classroom time working on their lessons and corresponding items.

[DJofSD]

5H 45M -> 7H school day: is every day M-F?

[newtothegame]

Damn DJ, I need a job where I can work 5 hours and 45 mins a day, lets say they work an extra 2 hours a day...That's still less then 8 hours a day. Weekends off, summer off, huge pensions at end of tenure.....
Don't have to do a good job as no accountability...(look at reading levels)
And be able to demand more money when I want......
Negotiate with those that are NOT responsble for paying my salary.....
Ummm yeah, chit I understand why unions are fighting so hard to hold on to those gigs......

[mostpost]

Originally Posted by Tom

39% of the Chicago teachers sent their kids to private schools.
Two things come to mind:

1. They think THEIR schools suck
2. They can afford private schools. How bad can it be there?

How many of those teachers send their kids to non public schools for religious reasons. I personally know the former principal of one Chicago elementary school
(Since retired) who sent his children to the parochial school near his home because he wanted them to receive a Catholic education.

Chicago school teachers do not have to live in Chicago, so in many cases their sending their children to private schools is irrelevant to their opinion of Chicago schools.

You said:

2. They can afford private schools. How bad can it be there?

[/QUOTE]
First you say that Chicago schools are so bad that even their own teachers will not send their children to them. Then you ask how bad can it be there.

How do you know what those teachers had to do to send their kids to private schools. How many of them took second jobs. How many had spouses working full time. What they sacrificed in terms of housing, vacations etc.

[dartman51]

CHICAGO

AVERAGE SALARY TEACHER $76000
AVERAGE SALARY FIREFIGHTER $65000
AVERAGE SALARY POLICE OFFICER $47000

What's wrong with this picture?

[bigmack]

Originally Posted by mostpost

As for the 4% a year raise each of the next four years, that is the same percentage as they received in the last contract. So why is it not reasonable that they receive the same raise this time?

According to one senior Chicago official with direct knowledge of the negotiations with the union reps, “Their public rhetoric has almost nothing to do with what’s happening at the table.” Media accounts indicate that the city’s latest offer was to raise teacher pay 16% over the next four years, but the senior city official and other sources with knowledge of the negotiations say the union demanded raises that would amount to at least a 35% salary increase over three years as well as guaranteed jobs for any teachers who get laid off as Chicago’s schools downsize. The city does not have that kind of money, and other changes the union is demanding would essentially render meaningless a new law in Illinois that mandates improved teacher evaluations there.

http://ideas.time.com/2012/09/10/chi...to-the-public/

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