American Federation of Teachers Says A Union-Partnered Chicago Charter School Is A National Model

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/13513

Submitted by Doug Cunningham on May 13, 2010 - 4:51pm
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By Doug Cunningham

The Illinois Federation of Teachers has created a breakthrough union-partnered charter school in Chicago. IFT President Ed Geppert Jr. says this school could be a national model exemplifying how a strong labor-management collaborative effort can help students realize their full potentials at charter schools. Geppert says there’s a strong message here both for harsh critics of public education and struggling union teachers trying to improve public education.

: “The message is to get around the ideology and start lookin’ at the data. And start talking to each other. Provide processes, use people who can be guides through this process so that you can sit down and begin the dialogue. Look at the data, look at the options that are out there. No one of us has a panacea or silver bullet, even though the legislature often times thinks they have these things, there aren’t. You have to look at what occurs in each and every school system and address those issues.”

The American Federation of Teachers says Chicago’s Talent development High School has really broken the mold and shown that charter schools and unions can collaborate from the outset to form a respectful environment that’s good for students, teachers, school leaders and the community.

[mzteris]

1. but but but ...Unions and Charters don't "MIX", do they???

At least that's what so many DU'ers keep saying.

Fact is,there are a quite a few unionized charters out there. (And - you know I have to remind them as they keep forgetting - more than a few NON-Union traditional schools.)


"a respectful environment that’s good for students, teachers, school leaders and the community."

What I've been pushing for since day one.


I wonder how this will get smeared.:(

[SocialistLez]

2. First time I've ever heard of a unioned charter school

I'm still against charter schools in a lot of ways because they receive public funds but are not bound to the same restraints as public schools.