A little bright spot: the teachers' rally in chicago (10,000 in the street)

[HiPointDem]

http://www.substancenews.net/articles.php?page=3275§ion=Article

I was reading this about the recent teacher's rally in chicago & the strike talk. What impressed me wasn't the article, but the comments. substance normally doesn't get a lot of comments, but this article did (compared to usual), and they were all like this:

By: Anthony Smith

The rally — proudest moment of my teaching career

This is the proudest moment of my teaching career. I have taught for 26 years at Sullivan High School on the north side. (I graduated from Sullivan in 1980). I am so proud of the 6,000-plus members who were in the auditorium and outside waiting. And I am proud of the members who put all there energies into making this happen.

Our fellow Chicagoans were so supportive it was and is amazing. The people in their vehicles were supportive and patient (thank you!) and the passers by waved on the street and at the CTA, gave thumbs up and shouts of approval! The people in the buildings we passed did the same from the upper floors, while many others walked outside to do the same.

It was a glorious moment that we need to share with our colleagues as an inspiration and message of hope. The nurses, Chicago's Finest men and women in blue, the bus drivers, men in suits and ties, and working class people from all walks of life, came together on May 23rd! We are one.

Our perseverance, strength in numbers, diversity, common goals and desires, our dignified yet resilient show of solidarity and strength, and our faith in what is right and good, will overcome their money and dictatorial and divisive tactics. We have proven that their divide-and-conquer strategy will not work against us. They can no longer neglect, exploit, manipulate, and intimidate us. Of course they will continue to try. It is, after all, their approach to life, but they will not succeed.....


Let it be so.


http://www.wgntv.com/videogallery/70109021/News/Thousands-of-teachers-march-in-the-Loop

PS: This chicago news report says there were about 10,000 teachers marching in the street, = 1/3 of the membership.

[OnlinePoker]

1. Shouldn't the proudest moment in a teacher's career...

... have something to do with teaching and not labor relations?

[Magoo48]

3. Labor relations has everything to do with teaching and our ability to do it well.

Healthcare, class size, financial security and a say in curriculum decisions are all part of labor relations.

[OnlinePoker]

4. That's not what I meant

In 26 years he feels a labor rally is the proudest moment in his career? I would think there must have been students of his he mentored who excelled out of hardship, or someone who came back and said "Thanks...you made a difference". I would have a hard time after 26 years in my career to look back and see that the best thing I achieved was to march in a protest.

[Beowulf]

5. Wow!

Would that be your career as a poker player?

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. The last strike in my district

resulted in Art and P.E. classes for every child in the district, a more equitable budget that allowed every teacher to purchase classroom supplies and repairs to dated schools, especially in science labs.

There isn't a teacher who participated in that strike who wouldn't say they walked that picket line to improve education for children in our community.

If I had been a part of it (it was before I came to work in the district) I would say it was the best thing I ever did to help my students. And that would definitely be my proudest moment.

[AnneD]

7. As a school nurse....

I am proud that I have saved several lives. That means I did my job well.

But my greatest accomplishments of my professional live has been on the legislative front. We altered some badly written laws, we got Nurses on the same pay scale as teachers (they were paid less-how can you attract the best and brightest or any Nurse). We corrected some retirement issue wrongs that cheated some Nurses out of justly earned retirement year credits.

I will not rest until there is a Nurse in every school in Texas-fully funded by the state! Because I know that I was there to save several peoples lives and I want other Nurses to be there for the children of Texas. That will be the proudest day in MY career.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. I couldn't do my job without the school nurse.

My kids are frequent flyers

Here's to all the school nurses out there!

[AnneD]

9. It is challenging....

but worth it. I have a soft spot in my heart for my SpEd kids, preK, and Kinders.

[chervilant]

2. SO important to support teachers!

Our perseverance, strength in numbers, diversity, common goals and desires, our dignified yet resilient show of solidarity and strength, and our faith in what is right and good, will overcome their money and dictatorial and divisive tactics. We have proven that their divide-and-conquer strategy will not work against us. They can no longer neglect, exploit, manipulate, and intimidate us. Of course they will continue to try. It is, after all, their approach to life, but they will not succeed.....

Reminds me of one of my fave Gandhi quotes:

"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall - think of it, always."