Solidarity with the Chicago Teachers Union Planning Meeting.

[Michael Shallal]

Hello Occupiers and fellow activist.

This is a last minute reminder about a planning meeting that is focused on the Chicago Teachers Union and how we can show solidarity with their struggle against Rahm Emmanuel and the 1% of Chicago.

The meeting is taking place at the Anchor Bar 

450 West Fort Street  Detroit, MI 48226 At 6pm Tonight September 6th.

Things we will discuss tonight:

- Local Solidarity events

- Caravan to Chicago to join the picket lines during the strike, or big day of action possibly going to be Sept 14th. 

- Any other ideas about Education Solidarity either Nationally or Locally. 

CTU's fight has the potential to electrify the fight for education across the country. A victory for them means a victory for everybody across the country who are fed up with the false solutions being pursued across the country that ignore the problems central in education and take control of education out of the hands of the public.

It's important that people across the country show other people the kind of struggle CTU is putting forward. Already, the Chicago Public Schools district have agreed to rehire 500 laid off teachers in neglected areas like arts, languages and physical education.

Below is a one page stating the CTU's program and demands. For the full 40 page platform click this link: http://www.ctunet.com/quest-center/research/the-schools-chicagos-students-deserve

The Schools Chicago’s Students Deserve

Research-based Proposals to Strengthen Elementary

and Secondary Education in the Chicago Public Schools

he Schools Chicago’s Students Deserve is a new Chicago Teachers Union 

study which argues in favor of proven educational reforms to dramatically 

improve the education of more than 400,000 students in a district of 675 schools.

These reforms are desperately needed and can lead Chicago towards the worldclass educational system its students deserve.  Our study presents 46 pages of 

research-based details on the following 10 essential recommendations:

1. Recognize That Class Size Matters:  Drastically reduce class size.  We currently have one of the largest class sizes in 

the state.  This greatly inhibits the ability of our students to learn and thrive.

2. Educate The Whole Child:  Invest to ensure that all schools have recess and physical education equipment, healthy 

food offerings, and classes in art, theater, dance, and music in every school.  Offer world languages and a variety of 

subject choices.  Provide every school with a library and assign the commensurate number of librarians to staff 

them.

3. Create More Robust Wrap-around Services:  The Chicago Public Schools system (CPS) is far behind recommended 

staffing levels suggested by national professional associations.  The number of school counselors, nurses, social 

workers, and psychologists must increase dramatically to serve Chicago’s population of low-income students.  

Additionally, students who cannot afford transportation costs need free fares.

4. Address Inequities In Our System:  Students and their families recognize 

the apartheid-like system managed by CPS.  It denies resources to the 

neediest schools, uses discipline policies with a disproportionate harm on

students of color, and enacts policies that increase the concentrations of 

students in high poverty and racially segregated schools.

5. Help Students Get Off To A Good Start:  We need to provide ageappropriate (not test-driven) education in the early grades.  All students 

should have access to pre-kindergarten and to full-day kindergarten.

6. Respect And Develop The Professionals:  Teachers need salaries 

comparable to others with their education and experience.  They need 

time to adequately plan their lessons and collaborate with colleagues, as 

well as the autonomy and shared decision-making to encourage 

professional judgment.  CPS needs to hire more teaching assistants so 

that no students fall through the cracks.

7. Teach All Students:  We need stronger commitments to address the disparities that exist due to our lack of robust 

programs for emergent bilingual students and services for students faced with a variety of special needs.

8. Provide Quality School Facilities:  No more leaky roofs, asbestos-lined bathrooms, or windows that refuse to shut.  

Students need to be taught in facilities that are well-maintained and show respect for those who work and go to 

school there.  

9. Partner With Parents:  Parents are an integral part of a child’s education.  They need to be encouraged and helped 

in that role.

10. Fully Fund Education:  A country and city that can afford to take care of its affluent citizens can afford to take care 

of those on the other end of the income scale.  There is no excuse for denying students the essential services they 

deserve.

--
Michael Shallal
2014 Wabash
Detroit, MI
(313) 903-2298