A “Thank You Teachers” Message

Thanks to Debbie Rosenquist for passing this on to us…

Public Education Makes for Strange Bedfellows Indeed

While you are deciding who to vote for this fall and public education is an important issue to you, the following story may be of interest to you…

Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Paul Ryan on the CTU’s strike: “we stand with Mayor Rahm Emanuel.”

Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney then lied, that President Obama has taken the side of the union.

President Obama stuck his neck out on the line (sarcasm alert!) by having White House Press Secretary Jay Carney state that, unfathomably, he has no position on the issue…

Diane Ravitch Interview

Former US Assistant Secretary of Education, education policy analyst, education historian, and professor at NYU, Diane Ravitch

Diane Ravitch interviewed by Kathleen Dunn on all things public ed…

Diane Ravitch on Public Ed

 

CTU Strike: Day 2 Update

First and foremost, CTU President Karen Lewis on MSNBC’s The Ed Show:

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/the-ed-show/48996251/#48996251

Some SEIU Local 1 members who work in Chicago schools as custodians are now preparing to go out on strike as a show of solidarity with the teachers

Journalist and author Chris Hedges: “The teachers’ strike in Chicago is arguably one of the most important labor actions in probably decades,” Hedges says. “If it does not prevail, you can be certain that the template for the attack on the union will be carried out across the country against other teachers’ unions and against the last redoubt of union activity, which is in the public sector, of course — firemen and police.”

The AFL-CIO is asking all union members to wear red on Wednesday.

More people in Chicago support the strike than don’t.

An estimated 50,000 (!) people rallied in front of the Chicago Public Schools offices.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants to force more standardized tests and teacher evaluations connected to those tests into Chicago Public Schools.  Interestingly enough, the director of the private school that he sends his own children to opposes testing for teacher evaluations!

More PJSTA solidarity for CTU

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PJSTA President Beth Dimino and 2nd Vice-President Brian St. Pierre show support for the CTU!
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Boyle Teachers in Solidarity with the CTU!