tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post8196750468476758674..comments2023-07-06T03:24:58.768-04:00Comments on Your Big Girl Pants: Episode V: The Teachers Strike BackEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-88478134265485325382012-09-15T15:43:05.296-04:002012-09-15T15:43:05.296-04:00I read the article, Sara, and while I suppose ther...I read the article, Sara, and while I suppose there might be some who think that way, I have a hard time believing most people hate teachers for that reason (or for your second reason). <br /><br />That said, I have encountered (online if not in real life) people who think teachers are the enemies, making their children mediocre and conventional and imposing their own horrible values on them. I wonder how much of this has to do with modern parenting, which especially among the upper-middle classes and higher is getting ridiculous. My parenting style could best be described as lackadaisical, but some of my friends and acquaintances are borderline tiger parents or are over-privileged, and they certainly get far more worked up about the flaws in our schools than I do.<br /><br />I was raised to respect and admire teaching as a profession, so I am puzzled by the fact that it is the subject of such contempt.beadgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04545183481263349646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-57777765836933255542012-09-13T12:19:02.552-04:002012-09-13T12:19:02.552-04:00I have the same blinders - I did have some great, ...I have the same blinders - I did have some great, some not-so-great teachers, but my parents are both teachers :-)Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-52778784521686477882012-09-13T10:37:04.895-04:002012-09-13T10:37:04.895-04:00They have other alternatives beadgirl, like "...They have other alternatives beadgirl, like "sick-outs", but I think the effect is much the same. Parents would still be scrambling for alternatives.<br /><br />I guess I've just had some really great teachers Sara, especially by the time I got to high school. So, I guess I couldn't come at from that angle, and the thought didn't even really occur to me, though I know plenty of people do loathe teachers for the reason outlined in the article.Mandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15832189885769646643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-68434865976196979372012-09-13T09:58:29.631-04:002012-09-13T09:58:29.631-04:00There's one opinion on it in this article: htt...There's one opinion on it in this article: http://coreyrobin.com/2012/09/12/why-people-do-hate-teachers-unions-because-they-hate-teachers/<br />And another opinion on it in my mind (which is what I initially thought the article would say), which is that people hate teachers because they still remember their own school days, when teachers made them do work and then graded them on it.Sara S.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-13424315671888338492012-09-11T20:21:57.584-04:002012-09-11T20:21:57.584-04:00Well, as much as I otherwise sympathize with the t...Well, as much as I otherwise sympathize with the teachers, my biggest sympathies lie with the parents (and you know in most cases it will be the mothers) who are scrambling to rearrange schedules and find care for their kids. Some parents are losing income, and if the strike goes on for a long time, they could lose their jobs. That's the problem I have with certain strikes like this one and the transit strike in NY a few years back -- lots of people who have nothing to do with either side get completely screwed over, and don't have a new contract to benefit from when it is over.<br /><br />But I also take your point -- if this is the only weapon the unions have, then what's the alternative? I wonder if there aren't other, creative alternatives to a full-on strike. beadgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04545183481263349646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-51333727875816135792012-09-11T11:12:39.622-04:002012-09-11T11:12:39.622-04:00Nah, if only that was the focus! The story is bei...Nah, if only that was the focus! The story is being spun as thus: "The teachers are on strike, for whatever reason *handwave*. Where in the world are we going to warehouse the kids in the meantime?"Mandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15832189885769646643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-11165869265229750692012-09-11T11:08:43.212-04:002012-09-11T11:08:43.212-04:00I actually see that as progress. There is a serio...I actually see that as progress. There is a serious problem with finding safe, affordable day care in this country: particularly in places where there is the most need.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-60334371962794156692012-09-11T10:33:24.973-04:002012-09-11T10:33:24.973-04:00I think that a lot of people in Chicago do know th...I think that a lot of people in Chicago do know the background. The latest polls I looked at showed about 40% firmly in the teachers' camp, while only 17% are supporting Rahm. You won't believe how many national stories I've read that portray this as a lack of daycare issue though, rather than discussing the issues a little more in-depth.Mandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15832189885769646643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-69650624408891347772012-09-11T10:26:19.031-04:002012-09-11T10:26:19.031-04:00Thanks for posting this, Mandi, I was wondering wh...Thanks for posting this, Mandi, I was wondering what the real story was, but too busy to look into it. It's awful optics, as the political class would say - for the union and for the President. Most people won't bother to look into it. Presumably more people in Chicago know the history, but do you think a majority do? Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com