Fox Business
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

What is Driving Chicago's Teacher Strike?

Details

  • Description

    Chicago Alderman Joe Moreno on the impact of the teacher strike in Chicago.

  • Duration 5:22
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Money With Melissa Francis

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

Out what's going on all right.

Well it's official Chicago's public school teachers hit the picket lines today.

Shutting down classes for 350000.

Students in the nation's third largest school district.

This is the first time in 24 -- 25 years pardon me.

So is this all really about salary schedules or is the real sticking point.

About having a higher percentage of teacher valuations linked to student performance with me now -- Chicago all.

-- -- -- -- Thank you so much for joining us today and -- and let's get right to it if -- were apparent in Chicago today.

I would be so angry because when you get that message the -- -- to make another plan for your child today.

I mean what if you're working -- what is supposed to do.

Absolutely I agree Melissa and thanks for having me.

We do have a contingency plan that we're having schools and parks open for artists kids to come to -- let's let's cut to the -- as you said.

This strike machine it's a shame that they're on strike that should not be.

They should be in the teachers a great -- we have fantastic teachers I support the teachers but the union.

By calling this strike has made a severe mistake -- our kids are not being taught her parents are having to find other coverage for them and it's a shame we should have never happened.

-- they're they're very close couple small issues.

On the an end to Google have a couple problems of what you said already that because you say the teachers are doing a great job and alarms me that anyone here is asking for any kind of a pay raise when you look at the facts which are.

Just 15% of fourth graders are proficient in reading -- 15%.

In 20s12 Chicago's freshman dropout rate.

Was 39 point 4% that is just terrible amount will be the last one.

Only about 60% of Chicago high school students.

Graduate compared to a national average of 75%.

Even -- statistics.

Why does anyone deserve to keep their job much less get a raise in a situation.

What -- been -- -- a great point we have some of the best schools in Chicago -- the top ten schools the best schools and Illinois comparable us but I do we do you.

We do because -- because of it let me finish most of we have -- we have some schools that are very challenged and we're trying to reform education anytime.

We talk about reform education doing charter schools doing turnaround schools which I totally support.

We get pushed back from the Chicago teachers' union they're conservative union they wanna be got progressively and they're stuck.

Way back in the sixties and seventies we need to move forward and -- fortunately I have three charter schools in my ward they're open today Melissa.

-- and and and you know this is going to make people want to gravitate towards charter schools more and more in the Chicago area so.

You know I can not leave you know answering you know what's right for parents why did -- blow up the traditional schools and have more charter schools you say yourself you see the -- is also that the problem here is the union is so why not just gonna get -- I am right now.

Right so we're getting we're getting a new -- we just got a new charter school I have three in my ward.

We're doing a turnaround -- -- commit to high school and S 3000 -- seats we're only getting about 900 kids there they don't probation for fourteen years.

That's changing and an -- back or IB international baccalaureate program.

I mean more doors of the things that we need to do that we know that work we know ID programs work we know charter schools work we have to move forward on that we know turnaround schools work.

And and when -- when we're doing more and more and more of that in Chicago and and if we don't have a partner at the table -- willing to be progressive I wanna reward it.

Teachers that are doing a great job even more than they are today but we cannot continue to -- -- Bad teachers and we have somebody.

I'm -- of the details of the things that you're fighting over right now in his contract and and I'm on your side.

But it it's not even close -- 4% salary raises you know maybe having a 50% of the teachers -- valuation.

Linked to student test scores instant -- valuation.

All of those things that the union won't even agreed to right now.

Aren't even close to the changes that you're talking about with charter schools and and trying to get the union out of -- also seems like you're nowhere close to getting -- what you need to get done.

Well first of all I'm not at the negotiating table visited bitsy PSA and you know over the aldermen are not negotiating this contract haven't been -- one discussion on that.

I'm here as a representation of my award from my parents and my students.

And what I want to do Melissa is to push forward on education and not go backwards and so.

If the teachers union wants to hang on it and it's not the teachers I've talked to many teachers today I've talked to many parents today.

That aren't happy about this is a certain kind of leadership that was as hell bent.

On on on and I and I.

And I'm not I'm not only angry but I'm sad.

I have students are not going to school in my awarded at fifty elementary schools three high schools one problem is -- charter schools are -- going that aren't going to school.

This should be if they wanna negotiate these things do allow markets to kids are in school yeah you do not need to strike to do this and any you know and and and quite frankly.

I think -- have a result the next day or two but as long this strike goes out the worst it's gonna be winning kids in the class from -- I don't know if you know this Melissa.

We extended that the reset the shortest days Chicago and it's and and the nation school -- -- -- longer school day we know how we're wanna have a longer school year.

These are the kind of reforms I'm pushing for an -- -- -- pushing for other and again with.

I -- -- -- I'm sorry we're out of time I hope you get all that done my heart goes out to the parents.

Who have kids trapped in the school system that want to have a better education and I hope you'll work for them it sounds like you are.

Thanks so much for coming up you know.

So here's our question of.

Load More