Now is the time to really look into District 112 with a fresh perspective. While the negative comments (towards both sides) on all of these Patch articles have been a microcosm of the sentiments held in the greater community, in reality, I witnessed tremendous acts of kindness, generosity, understanding and solidarity. I saw parents, regardless of their feelings towards the Union or it's strike, supporting their teachers. I saw agencies like the Park District, the City, places of worship, and activity centers step up to a challenging situation and rally around their neighbors. I saw residents having very real discourse about the future of the schools in Highland Park and Highwood despite their opposing views.

There were great lessons learned here, and although we have yet to see the agreed upon terms of the new contract, all of us need to accept that this District must undergo a dramatic redesign in order to avoid this exact situation in 2-3 years when the teachers' contract is up again.

And you know that how? Many of them are parents as well.

Walter:
Sorry if I did not articulate properly as I was on blogger strike for a day and may have thrown my rhythm off. Of course they do. However, my point was that she was up as late as them and she will PARTICIPATE in those training activities not just drive there or back.

Now this I can agree with :-)

Totally agree, now is the time to start

Reading this article would be a good start:

http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3749880

Bev:

I think the answer to your question is in your statements. There is no leverage for anyone to strike in the summer, since no one would care. The better question is why wasn't this settled long before it got to this point? Both sides had the entire summer to negotiate and didn't. Certainly they could have squeezed in 14 hours of talk in even the last month, but didn't. Shame on them all.
The other authors offer light on what should be the real issues now. What's the plan for the future? Does this Board have the political will to mke changes that, while unpopular, offer better fiscal and educational outcomes? WHat will they do now on their adminstrative costs? What will they do to recast the district as an educational innovator that leads?

Actually Bev, your more in the majority than you might think. Many people on the north shore saw what happened and are not happy. Some of the Highland Park teachers were even up in Lake Forest on their line only a few weeks before. Only thing is we are here in the present, and the only things we can address are those subjects that we have direct control over. One thing is the need for a financial conservative slate for the next election, there is little one individual can do on a board such as this. A great many points have been made in the last few days concerning administrative cost, though some were fuel by the unions class warfare but nevertheless still good points.

Bev, the answer is in your point. There is no leverage in striking when there is no sense of urgency. The better question is why, if it took 14 hours of talk to settle this, did we have to reach the point where a strike was necessary? Shame on all who were involved.

As other authors mention, the real question is where does the ditrict go from here? Soes the Board have the political will to make the tough decisions, like closing schools and latering attendance areas in the face of parental resistance? What will they do about the bloated administration and associated costs? What will be done to make the district an educational leader instead of one with the reputation of being slow to adopt cutting edge practices? Who will they engage in these processes?

Bev: Play your scenario out. Strike during the summer? The kids are at camp, and the schools are closed. What's the point? How would striking over the summer accomplish anything? The board would have no incentive to compromise on any issue. This is clearly why it took as long as it did. The board needed an incentive to negotiate. It is unfortunate that it took a strike, but this is a right the teachers have and one that we should respect or at minimum live with.

Thanks for your responses. I really do know why they waited til the school year to strike - because they could hold the children HOSTAGE so their strike would be noticed. I am not happy with all of these unions hurting others to better themselves. It really is a crazy world out there. The work ethic has evaporated. The teachers have a great deal and a great schedule. And the kids suffer!

Jerry: Very well said: "The teachers can simultaneously fight for their rights and love their students. The two are by no means mutually exclusive." The teachers are people too, with families to support, and lives of their own. If they do not look out for themselves and their own best interests, the BOE and administration certainly are not going to make the effort.

Nobody is holding anyone hostage as Bev so poorly suggests. And to suggest that the teachers have a poor work ethic just goes to show that Bev is not aware of the hard work that teachers do or the endless hours of work teachers do OUTSIDE of the great schedule she mentions.