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Chicago Teachers Strike 2012

Nobody is disputing that the system needs change. I spent countless hours working to change the system from the inside and came up against a solid administrative wall of HELL NO. So what system do you want and why don't we do it?

I want a system in which teachers are a LOT more autonomous. I want teachers to be free to teach.


How can a teacher, someone who's job it is to inspire their students to think about a particular subject, be happy about their job, when any inspiration THEY have about is, more or less, strictly forbidden? All think all this stink about pay is actually more about job satisfaction, which is lacking, because, frankly, how COULD anyone, working in such an environment, be happy about it?
 
Would you call THAT school district successful? You know...the one we're all debating about?

Many students are indeed successful. Some are not. That is the way the system is set up to be.
 
I want a system in which teachers are a LOT more autonomous. I want teachers to be free to teach.


How can a teacher, someone who's job it is to inspire their students to think about a particular subject, be happy about their job, when any inspiration THEY have about is, more or less, strictly forbidden? All think all this stink about pay is actually more about job satisfaction, which is lacking, because, frankly, how COULD anyone, working in such an environment, be happy about it?

Everything in education over the last decade has been to do the opposite of what you want to do.
 
I agree, not being able to read curtails one's ability to learn anything else in life. However, just because 20% of the students in school can't read, is no reason to strip away the learning opportunities of the other 80%.

See above, at $21,024 per student ther is no reason for them to not have EVERY educational opportunity in the world given to them.

An in state college tuition averages just $423.00 more than that ... you cannot tell me that it is a lack of funding.
 
Many students are indeed successful. Some are not. That is the way the system is set up to be.

Define "some". As it pertains to the chicago schools.
 
I agree, not being able to read curtails one's ability to learn anything else in life. However, just because 20% of the students in school can't read, is no reason to strip away the learning opportunities of the other 80%.

Who said 20% couldn't read?Only 20% of 8th Graders test at grade level for reading . . . only 21% of 8th Graders test at grade level for math.
 
Many students are indeed successful. Some are not. That is the way the system is set up to be.

I once had a conversation with a Martial Arts Teacher. Who taught more than just the Physical Aspect of the Art. His concept was.....there wasn't any he could not teach!

He was also a Phys Ed Teacher! Perhaps it begins in Concept. Just Sayin!
 
See above, at $21,024 per student ther is no reason for them to not have EVERY educational opportunity in the world given to them.

An in state college tuition averages just $423.00 more than that ... you cannot tell me that it is a lack of funding.

I'm not. I believe for that kind of money, I can hire a private teacher to come to my HOUSE, and teach my kids, on MY schedule.
 
Who said 20% couldn't read?Only 20% of 8th Graders test at grade level for reading . . . only 21% of 8th Graders test at grade level for math.

and the bottom 20% are functionally illiterate.
 
Who said 20% couldn't read?Only 20% of 8th Graders test at grade level for reading . . . only 21% of 8th Graders test at grade level for math.

For the nation, or for chicago?


That seems awfully bad, and I'm from South Carolina....which is not noted for educational excellence, lol.


My point remains, however. We should NOT force our better students to step down a peg, just because they are surrounded by idiots....be those idiots bad teachers, or illiterate 8th graders. That hurts us just as bad, or worse.
 
I'm not. I believe for that kind of money, I can hire a private teacher to come to my HOUSE, and teach my kids, on MY schedule.

That has always been my take on vouchers, they take SOME but not all of the money for a student, and you create a market in which competition improves outcomes, and there is money left over to apply to the broken schools.

until they can compete with the private ones.
 
So then you have no idea of chicago school teachers are successful, by any measure, or not.

If the rate for those failing to graduate is 40% as some have cited that must mean that 60% are indeed graduating. That is a clear majority.
 
That has always been my take on vouchers, they take SOME but not all of the money for a student, and you create a market in which competition improves outcomes, and there is money left over to apply to the broken schools.

until they can compete with the private ones.

Crazy talk.
 
If the rate for those failing to graduate is 40% as some have cited that must mean that 60% are indeed graduating. That is a clear majority.

So, then...success, in your eyes?
 
For the nation, or for chicago?


That seems awfully bad, and I'm from South Carolina....which is not noted for educational excellence, lol.


My point remains, however. We should NOT force our better students to step down a peg, just because they are surrounded by idiots....be those idiots bad teachers, or illiterate 8th graders. That hurts us just as bad, or worse.

Which is why vouchers are a great idea.
 
It is as I described. Many are successful and graduate - a minority does not.

Maybe that's the problem right there, lol. Apparently, that equals success.
 
It is as I described. Many are successful and graduate - a minority does not.

A minority true... but that minority is a minority almost in name only a 40% drop out rate is staggering.
 
Which is why vouchers are a great idea.

Crazy libertarians and their crazy, non viable ideas about how to run a functional society....jeeze....why I gotta put up with all this crazy talk!
 
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