It's day five of the teachers’ strike in Chicago, which has become THE national education story of the week. Here are some of the perspectives generating a lot of buzz:
First off, Marilyn Rhames blogs about being both a teacher and a mother in Chicago, and why she's chosen to be a “student advocate.”
Several New York Times columnists have addressed the situation, too. Nick Kristof calls education "the most important civil rights battleground today." David Brooks says Chicago has the potential to “move toward the forefront of the reform movement.” And Joe Nocera laments the any outcome from the “hot, buttery mess” in Chicago is “unlikely to change much.”
Photo credit: Jean-Christian Bourcart
Some prominent voices in education have been trying to make sense of what’s happening in Chicago, too. Rick Hess says teachers strikes can actually be a “healthy sign.” Andy Rotherham sees a “clash of values” at the core of the conflict. And Diane Ravitch says Chicago has national implications because it “concerns policies endorsed by the Obama administration.”
Over at The Huffington Post, corps member Alyssa Granacki (Houston Corps ‘11), shares her views as a teacher and worries that union leaders “have broken their commitments to students and families.”
And last but not least, in case you need a break from reading (it‘s Friday, it happens!), check out this HuffPo video forum, including TFA alumna Dr. Camika Royal (Baltimore Corps ‘99), on the role of unions in education reform.
If there’s one thing we all have in common, it’s that we care about our children, our students, and the future we’re helping build for them. Our hearts are with all Chicagoans this week, and our hopes are for a resolution that gets CPS teachers and their students back in their classrooms on Monday morning.
Have a good weekend, everyone.
