Today I was asked by my 401/402 professor to write to her
class about this past week’s events regarding the strike. I was honored and excited to share my
experience, but as I sat down to write about it, I found it so hard to put
everything I had witnessed, seen and heard into words. These past six days of striking have been
weird, eerie, exciting and informative to say the least.
When I
attended my first Union meeting during the week of professional development, I
was shocked to hear the teachers were encouraged to actually picket and protest
working until a fair contract was written.
I imagined the strike to be a silent one, where the teachers just would
not show up and things would be resolved in a day or two. Boy, was I wrong. I asked my teacher if she was planning on
picketing, and she gave me this look that showed fear, determination and hope. This past week I have realized how strong and
motivating the teacher’s union is when everyone participates and works
together. The union representative who
led the meeting was right when he said the whole union would need to stand
strong in order to get the ball rolling.
I am proud of the teachers because I believe it takes a lot of courage
to stand for fair rights and face opposition thousands of people.
I am saddened by the media’s
portrayal of the strike. To me, the
media makes the teachers look happy about the whole situation when obviously
this is not the case. I know they have been rallying with song, dance, and
creative signs, but I think these tactics make the strike more of a big deal or
spectacle. The whole point is to gain
support and to stir the pot full of contracts that are up in the air. It is
ridiculous that people think the teachers do not care or the union is using the
children as pawns in this game of negotiations.
I personally do not understand how anyone can think this when the
teachers have been without a contract and working without pay since the school
year has started. How can these people
not care? Obviously this is not the
ideal situation, but I honestly do not think a contract would even be close to
being finished right now if the teachers had not gone on strike. This democratic movement has given the Union
the upper hand in the matter and has caused the CPS board to move their feet to
an agreeable contract. I am proud of the
Chicago teachers because I think they are definitely standing for what they
deserve. Not only are they negotiating
things that will benefit their working conditions and pay, but they are also
fighting for those students as well. The
students deserve specials classes, full time counselors and social workers,
small class sizes, and safe learning environments.
As much as
I support the strike, I wish I were back in the classroom! I have been
constantly thinking about my students, mentor teacher, and the rest of the
staff at Pershing West. This past week I
have taken time to explore the city and immerse myself in the culture of
Chicago. I have traveled on many
different bus and train routes, which have given me perspective on the public
transit system many of my students are familiar with. The museums offer free days to Illinois
residents, so I have gone to a handful and learned a ton about what the city
has to offer! I feel like I have a better idea of where the students come from,
and I cannot wait to go back an get to know the children even more than I already do.
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