Chicago DUers: Come protest the firing of 1100 teachers (I'm one of them!)

[iconoclastic cat]

To all Chicago area DUers:

As you may have heard, the Chicago Public Schools summarily fired 1,100 new teachers two weeks ago. I am one of those teachers. We were never given any warning, and due to the awful contract that our former union president ratified, we have no rights to due process or recourse. This action by the Chicago Public Schools shows blatant disregard for the students and community at large who deserve a stable, politics-free environment in which to learn and grow. I, like many other teachers, believe that this is just one more phase in Mayor Daley's plan to convert all CPS schools into "contract" (code for "for-profit charter") and charter schools which are not obligated to hire union members.

This is a very serious situation. I urge anyone concerned about public education in Chicago to join me at the rally tomorrow morning at the Operation Push headquarters (930 East 50th Street).

Here is the Chicago Teachers Union press release:
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http://www.ctunet.com/ctunet/sub/news/Operation_Push_Rally.html

President Stewart and the CTU officers would like to invite you to attend a rally at the Operation Push Headquarters (930 E. 50th Street) on Saturday, May 28th at 9:30 a.m.

The rally is being organized by Reverend Jesse Jackson to help the union bring attention to the dismissals of 1100 non-tenured teachers. Also in attendance will be Senator James T. Meeks who will talk about the issue of school funding. We are encouraging anyone who can attend, particularly those PATs who were not reappointed, to join us at the rally. We expect a strong showing from the media and your participation will help us tremendously.
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In addition, here is a good article on this whole problem:
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http://www.suntimes.com/output/education/cst-nws-skul15.html

1,116 city teachers flunk out

April 15, 2005

BY ROSALIND ROSSI Education Reporter

More than 1,100 nontenured Chicago teachers -- including many who struggle to control their classrooms -- are being kicked out of their schools under a new procedure that lets principals dump teachers with the mere push of a computer button.

Chicago public school principals last month finally got to drop nontenured teachers the way their suburban counterparts do -- without any hearings or due process.

They merely had to sit at their computers, pick one of six reasons from a drop-down menu -- including the kitchen-sink category of "other'' -- and press a button to "not renew" the job of any nontenured teachers they chose.

As a result, some 1,116 teachers -- more than one of every 10 now working toward tenure -- will get letters next month telling them not to return to their schools this fall, Chicago public school officials said Thursday. However, they are free to apply elsewhere in the system.

(more)
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If any of my fellow DUers feel strongly about the quality of public education, please come out and support the teachers. Contact me if you have any questions.

Thanks, everyone!

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Go ye hence.

Sit down in the streets. Organize. For every Chichago kid has just been made poorer, and by extension, America.

Give it up for the USA. Give yourselves up. That's patriotism.

[iconoclastic cat]

2. Damn right.

[seriousstan]

3. I thought they had organized...."due to the awful contract that our

former union president ratified".