Entering into the fourth day of the strike, Chicago students are experiencing somewhat of an extended summer as an agreement between the Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union has yet to come. While some students stayed home or roamed through neighborhoods, others joined their parents at work or with relatives for supervision. Though some union members are showing optimism for a forthcoming agreement, the strike has already affected families financially having to pay extra money to put their kids in daycare.
Even with schools offering half-days and meals, the New York Times reports that fewer than 26,000 students attended these programs as of Tuesday. With homicide rates up 30 percent from last year, Chicago police are increasing their presence while some students feel it’s too dangerous to be out of school with nothing to do.
By Wednesday evening, neither side could decide whether formal negotiations had been made or not as there seemed to be no chance of a coming deal. Among the documents shared was a hand written, single page proposal from the union and a four-inch binder of issues from the school system.
Patience seems to be wearing thin on all sides.
What do you think about the Chicago Teachers strike?