Train Wreck - No Pictures, Please

*This is not about the CTU Strike. Just a funny/interesting story about my students.

Many of our students came out to the picket lines. They walked and chanted with us. They ate bagels, rode their bikes with signs around the school, all the while they were learning. They were seeing democracy in action.

Our school has a patch of grass. In the past there hasn’t been a problem with the use. Some kids play football, others rest, and some play other games. In recent weeks, the football games have gotten bigger and/or more games are being started. This means that the grass is being taken up.  Many of the students who want to use the grass were kicked off because the kids playing football needed it.  There were some negotiations among the groups, some changes were made and all was peaceful. Then the changes were ignored and the students started to get upset again.  To bring attention to how upset they were and how their “rights were being ignored”, THEY HAD A PROTEST WITH SIGNS, MARCHING AND CHANTING.  They marched in the middle of the field to make their point.

My principal got wind of it and is solving the issue.  They also got a mini lesson on how CTU and CPS negotiated.  The students have a better understanding of what has to go on before they can plan a protest, but it was interesting to see how our 7 days on the picket line affected them in their world.