"Allow us today to come to the defense of the striking Chicago teachers in a way that will fully please almost nobody, certainly not the teachers."
Teachers aren't greedy, it said. They're not striking for themselves alone. Sure they want better pay, good benefits, and job security. "Who doesn't? No apologies necessary."
They also want justifiable school improvements "so they can do their jobs right".These are not faked-up issues." They're real. Kids can't learn properly in classrooms too cold or hot to learn.
Up-to-date textbooks are essential. So are manageable class sizes. Striking teachers aren't "aliens dropped among us, selfish and dumb and duped by their union bosses. They're hardworking Chicagoans"" They take great pride in their work.
They want and deserve "schools they can believe in and be proud of, schools where they can do their job right. They want it for themselves and for their students."
Now the part they won't like. "They have to call of this strike." It's baked in the cake, of course. Unless grassroots displeasure balks its sellout terms, classes will resume Monday.
"They've already gained" enough, said the Sun Times. "There are serious doubts as to whether the city can even afford" concessions made.
What's lost matters most. No matter. The "city must hold the line""
"As we said, this is an editorial sure to please almost no one".we believe this strike is wrong."Sun Times editorial writers don't care about what's most important. Nor do Tribune bosses. Neither mentioned public education, its importance, and how Emanuel plans destroying a societal bedrock.
Remember those teachers "who made us what we are today," said the Sun Times. At the same time, it forgot what's most important and why it matters.
A Final Comment
Jerry White is the Socialist Equality Party's presidential candidate. At a Saturday rally, he'll distribute a supportive statement. In part, it says:
"The truth is that the CTU and the AFT (American Federal of Teachers) are preparing a betrayal of the strike and the imposition of a sellout contract that will have devastating consequences for teachers and the future of public education in Chicago and across the country."CTU agreed on terms reportedly let school officials fire non-tenured teachers immediately. Others can be dismissed after a year. Teacher evaluations will depend on teaching to the test, standardized scores, and principles having diktat authority to decide if its done their way.
Dozens of schools will be closed. Poor and low income neighborhoods will lose theirs. Quasi-private charter schools will proliferate. They prioritize profits over teaching and learning.
