All the nurses and support staff in the world can’t fix what’s wrong with the Chicago public schools, sadly.
As S21 would say, “facts”. Things are definitely going to get worse before they get better, if they get better. DH and I intend on leaving Illinois when S21 graduates HS.
With the state of human blight, crime and poverty in Chicago for students and their families I say it makes perfect sense for their teachers to be making among the highest teacher salaries in the country.
I get so tired and angry hearing anyone using the “they only work 9 months a year” rationale. Even if you want to look at it that way, why do they not deserve a nice living wage like a computer science person who makes $100K + yearly and weeks of vacation? That would be like me saying “that computer science guy makes $110K a year and gets 5 weeks of vacation and can work from home and sits on his bum all day staring at a computer”. Ugh.
Not trying to make anyone angry, but it’s important to have perspective. $82K median salary plus benefits plus guaranteed pension is certainly a living wage and it is enough to give many teachers the luxury of choosing to work or not during summers…a luxury that many other workers do not have, including many professionals not making close to $82K/year.
The comparison to a CS person’s salary is not meaningful…those two jobs are in different lanes re: average academic achievement, corporate vs. not, perceived benefit to society (which I don’t agree with), and job conditions/opportunities. Do I wish we could pay teachers even more and attract not only more bodies but top notch talent to the profession? Yep. I also wish we could fund the many unfunded pensions, provide good healthcare for children, and the many other things we need to pay for. There are no easy answers.
Yeah I do have perspective. One of my own spent some time teaching for Chicago Public Schools - you?
I could debate much of post #23 but it would get this thread off topic so I won’t.
But keeping it TO the thread, I again stand for the multiple roles a Chicago city teacher has to master and play to “be a teacher” there. I don’t know all the details of what they are asking for but would point out that anyone needs to look not only at the list of requests they have and the day to day environment they face in a school building. It’s not cut and dry.
On the other hand, no extra $ available for the city is no extra $ available for the city.
Just a honk update as they continue to ticket. Almost no support today. I think it’s wearing on people. Want the kids to go to their state meets. Their contract is very improved. Time to go back to work.
I largely stopped paying attention once they started talking about affordable housing and such. Most things in life/business are a negotiation but the union does not seem to realize that. You are never going to get everything you want. They have the monetary win, it sounds like a commitment to the staffing discussion at least, let the housing and such go. If this is really all about the kids as we keep hearing get the kids back in school and on the playing field. This is a key time for seniors and they are missing school, application deadlines, and state tournaments but it is all for their own benefit because it is about the kids.
Heard some insight that Monday they might be back in school. Will see if this pans out
@Publisher Anger? I think you misread my feelings. More like depression, anxiety about the future of our city, and feeling helpless.
Many people don’t have experience with inner city type schools. I grew up in a wealthy school district. Moving here was a shock. When my kids were in the public high school, they loved to tell me about all the things they saw on a daily basis. I finally had to institute a policy at dinner. If it doesn’t affect you directly, or isn’t positive, please don’t tell me. It’s just too upsetting and there’s nothing I can do about it.
Combine that with the daily stories from teacher friends and family, and it is overwhelming. There’s so much broken. They are overwhelmed and beat down. If they can leave, they do. Over the last few years, H’s school has a 25% turnover rate. 3 years after older S graduated, only 2 of his teachers were still there. And, new teachers just aren’t prepared for what they step into. I hate it for them. And I also work closely with our economic development office. Those folks work their tails off every day with little to show for it. For every tiny sliver of something positive, there seems to be 5 negatives. I had lots of hope my first 10-15 years here. I’m afraid over the last decade, I’ve joined the others around me. It takes a lot more than a positive attitude and dogged determination of a teacher to make a difference. It also has to come from the admin, parents, and the entire community.
And while I know what our schools are like, I am certain sections of Chicago are in a different class still.
Sorry, did not mean to offend.
Plus, my comments don’t count anyway as I am not a Chicago Public Schools" parent.
Oh here we go again…some teacher bashing.
If you think it’s such an easy and high paying job, get your certification and join the ranks.
Remember, teachers only get paid for the days they work.
There is a lot more to teacher working conditions than salary and benefits. From what I’ve read, the salary and benefits issues have been resolved. These teachers are advocating for better things for their students.
If Illinois really doesn’t want strikes (and I will add…I am not a fan of teacher strikes). Maybe they should do what CT did and outlaw them…and institute a universal collective bargaining protocol.
It appears affordable housing is the sticking point and the city can not do anything about that right now
I imagine living on 82K in Chicago would not be easy.
Teaching is not 9 months, it’s 10 and there are many days/evening/weekends/summer weeks teachers work outside of their contractual time. At least the good ones do.
I can’t imagine how difficult it would be to teach in the Chicago Public Schools.
With that being said, I don’t think teachers should strike. To me that is like a doctor walking out in the middle of a surgery. Bennington VT teachers went on strike about ten years ago and IMHO it was wrong.
Hopefully students will be back to school Monday.
“We’ve rescheduled our PST and SAT assessments to next week. This cannot go into next week. After next week we have students that will not be able to take the PSAT to qualify for national merit scholarships.” https://wgntv.com/2019/10/24/chicago-teachers-strike-hits-1-week-mark-as-contract-talks-continue/
But, for those seniors who were hoping to get in one more shot at the ACT/SAT before ED deadlines, it doesn’t sound like that’s going to happen. I can’t imagine that this strike is creating a lot of good will.
All indications is that Monday is the day from a “inside” source (hopefully reliable). Really hurtful for the kids that wanted to perform athletically or academically this weekend. Would be awesome if they can just get it over today and make it a win win for everyone especially the students. They “are” close.
If Monday is the day and things are essentially settled I will be very upset if the union goes through with the civil disobedience they have planned for today. Yesterday’s stopping of traffic was a nightmare and today will be much worse. If everything is essentially settled and they go through with causing problems today it will tell me this is all about the union getting their time in the sun and really not about the kids as we have been told from day one.
These issues even impact where young professionals choose to start their careers. I have a son going to college in Chicago who is likely to start in a highly paid professional career. As much as he likes the city, he has said he’d hesitate to stay in the area because not only are the taxes high now, but there appears to be little political will to fix the underlying issues (like underfunding pensions) that will force taxes even higher in the future.
Say what? IMO, Chicago is probably the easiest large city on which to live on that salary. (Don’t forget that is only one salary. A couple of two teachers in Chicago make $164.)
fwiw: My son and his then GF (separate apartments) just moved from Chicago after 3+ years on way less than that in combined income. She was a teacher.
Every school doesn’t need a RN. If a student needs more serious care than basic first aid, they need to see a physician/PA/NP who is qualified to give that care.
So you are advocating for a physician, PA or NP at every school? Or are you saying that children who are tube fed, wear a colostomy bag, have diabetes or have other daily medical needs should not be in public school?