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Chicago Teachers Strike 2012

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.

Yeah, but how much of that is where kids are passed that are borderline Special Ed? Then Passed and even for the same for graduation. So those Public Schools can make those Numbers and or quotas for AYP. Average yearly Progress.
 
This is a key point in the strike: Chicago Teachers Strike: Union, Emanuel Disagree On Bottom Line

The move is an act of defiance against education reform groups whose policies have angered the union -- last year, the state legislature, led by the national advocacy group Stand for Children, passed a law that mandated specific teacher evaluations that count students' standardized test scores for 25 percent initially, and that specifically required that CTU have 75 percent of its membership agree to any strike. Months later, the group's leader Jonah Edelman was caught on tape boasting about how he outsmarted the unions in negotiating the bill.

I underlined a key point.

It is that attitude that drives unions to do what they do. Secondly, this standardized test business is coming from private companies selling "success" to districts, and such "success" is implimented into contracts. The state of Alabama got caught up in one of these "success" schemes and then opted to drop out.

Drop out rates are a dynamic based on the local culture. There is always about 30% that fades in and out form time to time and that dynamic cannot be blamed on teachers.
 
It is as I described. Many are successful and graduate - a minority does not.

Really, Haymarket. Where is your fairness? Must you always defend the system? The system in the City of Chicago is broken. Can you not even acknowledge that a 40% dropout rate is abominable? Or is it because they're inner-city kids, and that's all you expect of them? It's got to be one or the other.
 
Really, Haymarket. Where is your fairness? Must you always defend the system? The system in the City of Chicago is broken. Can you not even acknowledge that a 40% dropout rate is abominable? Or is it because they're inner-city kids, and that's all you expect of them? It's got to be one or the other.

I want to change the system. As you know from our previous conversation Maggie, I would completely and utterly scrap the entire system and start over from scratch.
 
Yeah, but how much of that is where kids are passed that are borderline Special Ed? Then Passed and even for the same for graduation. So those Public Schools can make those Numbers and or quotas for AYP. Average yearly Progress.

AYP is a fraud. It concerns me not in the least. If people knew how it really worked and the assumptions built into it they would trash it.
 
A minority true... but that minority is a minority almost in name only a 40% drop out rate is staggering.

It could be. It could also be very rational and understandable.
 
Not proficient at reading at an 8th grade level =/= functionally illiterate.

What is 8th grade reading level, out of curiosity?


I remember, in the 8th grade, I read the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I was also big into the Dragon Lance books, in those days. I was a tiny bit of a nerd.
 
Really, Haymarket. Where is your fairness? Must you always defend the system? The system in the City of Chicago is broken. Can you not even acknowledge that a 40% dropout rate is abominable? Or is it because they're inner-city kids, and that's all you expect of them? It's got to be one or the other.

I think it's neither with him...though, i feel that, with SOME people in our education system...it's the latter.
 
AYP is a fraud. It concerns me not in the least. If people knew how it really worked and the assumptions built into it they would trash it.

Then educate them. Us. That's the job of someone in the education system, wouldn't you say?
 
There are lots of problems. Public sector unions are a major source of problems-especially when they are major contributors to the politicians in charge. Incompetent people having children is another-and the public schools are forced to deal with the problems created by stupid, uncaring, drug addicted or irresponsible parents. This is compounded by the fact that kids who come from supportive backgrounds can often escape the lowest common denominator classes and go to private or magnet schools meaning that the teachers in many public schools are stuck with the incapable and the unteachable
 
A 40% drop out rate, and a 20% functional illiteracy rate to start with.

You cannot blame the failures of parents on that of educators. About 1/3 of high school drop outs occur in 9th grade!¡!
 
What is 8th grade reading level, out of curiosity?


I remember, in the 8th grade, I read the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I was also big into the Dragon Lance books, in those days. I was a tiny bit of a nerd.

Most novels, newspapers, magazines are written below an 8th grade level. I remember reading an article once talking about the scripts of sitcoms and how they're written on about a 3rd grade reading level (The Big Bang Theory excluded... :) ). 8th grade level would be like The Call of the Wild, Across Five Aprils, Heidi. The Lord of the Rings trilogy was probably written on a 5th - 6th grade level.
 
AYP is a fraud. It concerns me not in the least. If people knew how it really worked and the assumptions built into it they would trash it.

Doesnt matter if you consider this a Fraud or Not. Does this change the way the State looks at it and the City of Chicago?

Because my wifes school made Ayp in Math but not Reading. Plus this does not stop those teachers from passing kids who clearly will be behind going into the next grade!
 
What you read isn't true. The teachers were presented an offer than includes a 3% increase for this year and a 2% increase for each of the next three years -- guaranteed. They also get step/lane increases which don't change from the last contract. Those average about 3.5% a year, as I understand it. Teachers earn an average of $73,351 a year. How Much Do Chicago Public School Teachers Make? « CBS Chicago


This isnt the exact site that I read it from...It might have been drudge this is obviously a right wing site...I saw these figures on a few sites

Humboldt Republicans: CHICAGO TEACHERS WALK OUT, TURN DOWN 16% PAY RAISE
 
I want to change the system. As you know from our previous conversation Maggie, I would completely and utterly scrap the entire system and start over from scratch.

OK, according to their own budget

CPS Budget PDF said:
In addition, the CPS FY2012 operating budget is expected to be $5.11 billion, up from $4.94 billion in FY2011, an
increase of $163 million dollars at a time when revenues are declining.

This is non capital expenditure.

They have 404,151 students...

which means total per student non-capital expenditure is 5,110,000,000/404,151= 12,643.79

This lower expenditure is because of a $712,000,000 deficit... there are still plenty of good schools that can be had with a 10K/student tuition.
 
Most novels, newspapers, magazines are written below an 8th grade level. I remember reading an article once talking about the scripts of sitcoms and how they're written on about a 3rd grade reading level (The Big Bang Theory excluded... :) ). 8th grade level would be like The Call of the Wild, Across Five Aprils, Heidi. The Lord of the Rings trilogy was probably written on a 5th - 6th grade level.

Call of the Wild was definately an easier read than the Rings trilogy, though. Never read Heidi, or Across Five Aprils. I can't remember when I read Call of the Wild...but I CAN remember I had a lot easier time reading it. Not trying to argue, I just would like a few more examples of 8th grade level books. Canticle for Lebowitz? Where does 1984 fall? That one was pretty easy, too. Honestly, I had a harder time with Shakespeare. Required more concentration.
 
Moreover if Schools do not make AYP in consecutive years. Schools end up in school improvement or corrective action. Which means the State or the City can come straight in to straighten things out.

The point is to try and discover those kids that do need help and not just pass them down the line without the understanding they need.
 
Call of the Wild was definately an easier read than the Rings trilogy, though. Never read Heidi, or Across Five Aprils. I can't remember when I read Call of the Wild...but I CAN remember I had a lot easier time reading it. Not trying to argue, I just would like a few more examples of 8th grade level books. Canticle for Lebowitz? Where does 1984 fall? That one was pretty easy, too. Honestly, I had a harder time with Shakespeare. Required more concentration.

1984 would probably be 8-9th. I remember Of Mice and Men is around a 6th grade level. The one author I can think of whose books are most likely 10-11th level is Nathaniel Hawthorne (Scarlet Letter, The House of Seven Gables, etc.) I bet Dickens novels would be 8th or above.
 
You cannot blame the failures of parents on that of educators. About 1/3 of high school drop outs occur in 9th grade!¡!

I see so it is the parents fault then... to a certain extent I agree with that... but a teacher has to be able to motivate their class... and if they cannot dropouts become an issue
 
1984 would probably be 8-9th. I remember Of Mice and Men is around a 6th grade level. The one author I can think of whose books are most likely 10-11th level is Nathaniel Hawthorne (Scarlet Letter, The House of Seven Gables, etc.)

Read Scarlet Letter, didn't much like it. How about Tale of Two Cities? Hated that book, too, though, lol. I liked American Pastoral, though. Actually, I kinda like ALL of Phillip Roth's novels....although I think he's likely a horrible person in real life.
 
OK, according to their own budget



This is non capital expenditure.

They have 404,151 students...

which means total per student non-capital expenditure is 5,110,000,000/404,151= 12,643.79

This lower expenditure is because of a $712,000,000 deficit... there are still plenty of good schools that can be had with a 10K/student tuition.

I imagine ya'll are talking about a voucher system. That would have to pass the state legislature here in Illinois. It's come up twice, I believe, in the past two years. Both times, it's been defeated. The teachers' unions will throw millions toward defeating any voucher program. Since the legislature here in Illinois is Democratic? A voucher system stands a slim-to-none chance of going anywhere.

BTW, just for sake of getting facts out there? 39% of Chicago Public School teachers (who must live in the city of Chicago, by the way) send their children to private schools (as of 2004). But, then, they can afford it.

Public schools no place for teachers' kids - Washington Times
 
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