After Chicago success, teachers unions spread their message

Union leaders who won gains after striking in Chicago are hitting the road, spreading the message that effective changes in public education can’t be imposed by mayors or governors and must be made in collaboration with communities.

“Real public education reform comes from the bottom up with teachers, parents and communities and kids working together to make all of our schools thrive,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, at a raucous gathering of union members Friday in Washington. “Teachers have been told to implement policies without their input and then are blamed when the policies don’t help children. . . . The recent actions of Chicago show what happens when teachers and parents stand together.”

Over the next several months, the union will be holding town-hall meetings in Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, Minneapolis, New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Tampa, New Orleans and St. Paul, Minn.

The room frequently erupted into chants of “The people united, will never be divided!” and “They say cutback, we say fight back!”

full: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/after-chicago-success-union-leaders-spread-their-message/2012/09/21/cad16290-0424-11e2-9b24-ff730c7f6312_story.html