While the Chicago Teachers’ Strike has made national news, there has been a shortage of critical perspectives on the events that led to the strike or about its significance in the national context. Below is a collection of alternative news and information resources that might help those unfamiliar with the strike become better informed. If you have additional resources, please add them as comments.
Thanks to Mary Horsley of G.H. Reid Elementary for compiling this list. - Democracy Now!“Phil Cantor, a teacher and strike captain at Chicago’s North-Grand High School and member of Teachers for Social Justice, and Rhoda Rae Gutierrez, the mother of two public school students in Chicago” speak eloquently about the issues. http://www.democracynow.org/2012/9/10/striking_teachers_parents_join_forces_to?autostart=true&get_clicky_key=suggested_next_story
- Democracy Now! “We’re joined by Pauline Lipman, professor of education and policy studies at the University of Illinois-Chicago, director of the Collaborative for Equity and Justice in Education and member of Teachers for Social Justice.” http://www.democracynow.org/2012/9/10/chicago_teachers_strike_could_portend_referendum
- Democracy Now! “School is out in Chicago for a second day, as public school teachers continue their first strike in 25 years. Almost 30,000 teachers and their support staff have walked out over reforms sought by the city’s powerful mayor, Rahm Emanuel, who is President Obama’s former chief of staff. On Monday, tens of thousands teachers, parents and students marched in the streets of President Obama’s adopted hometown. We go to Chicago to speak with Democracy Now! correspondent Jaisal Noor.” http://www.democracynow.org/2012/9/11/thousands_rally_in_chicago_teachers_strikehttp
- CTU Strike, Day One: Two Reports
- Statement by NEA President Van Roekel
- Statement by AFT President Randi Weingarten
- CTU backgrounder on “Why we are on Strike”
- Statement from IEA President Cinda Klickna
- Post and tweet messages of support to CTU members. On Twitter: www.twitter.com/CTULocal1.
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Chicago-Teachers-Union/137764189586887
- http://www.facebook.com/ChicagoTeachersSolidarity#!/ChicagoTeachersSolidarity
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/10/rahm-emanuel-chicago-mayo_2_n_1870185.html
- On the right to strike: The fact of the matter is that over 90 percent of CTU members voted to take action. This level of participation illustrates how deeply your membership cares about providing the best possible atmosphere for learning and student development, and we applaud them for standing up for their students.
- From the Save our Schools (SOS) Coalition: Many excellent articles and videos are coming out of Chicago. Here are some great links. Please pass them along. Keep talking about why the Chicago teachers strike. They strike for students around the country who deserve better learning environments. They strike to improve public education. Thanks for your support around the country. They have lit the fire; we must carry the smoldering flame.
