Today I am violating a court order. I am not going back to school until we have a decent contract. I’m a Detroit public school teacher, and my union, the DFT, has been ordered back to work without a contract. Under a no-strike law, pushed by a particularly odious GOP governor, Michigan teachers are not allowed to strike. The consequences are serious – possible daily fines up to firing.
I’ve followed this site for a while and commented once or twice. Over the next few days, I’d like to share information about the state of public education in Detroit. The conservatives and the evangelicals have taken over the education debate. It is time for the Progressives to reclaim public education – one of the legacies of the first Progressives.
My hope is that the many teachers and educators who read and contribute to this community will add their experience and knowledge and together we can create a broad picture of public education in America. Teacher Toni has already contributed with her excellent pieces on the teachers union movement. Kidspeak’s diary also shed light on where we were. I’m sure others have also addressed the topic before my time here.
More later … I’m late for my contempt of court action.
Update [2006-9-11 16:9:33 by Teach313]:
LATER THAT SAME DAY …
It looks like the union held strong today. Reports from the picket lines are that few teachers reported to work. Tomorrow the students are scheduled to report. It is very difficult to walk a picket line when your students, children you have known for years, are entering the school. You want to be in there teaching, but we must stand strong. We can not allow the mismanagement of the district to be funded by cuts to the instructional budget and our salaries. Please see my next diary for a beginning analysis of where the money is going.
To all those who left positive comments, I thank you for the support. I’ll pass it on to my fellow teachers.
The Final Word for Today
The District reports that only 8% of teachers crossed the line. (Their figures are usually on the high side.) School has been cancelled for Tuesday. The Administration is headed back to court in the morning to seek legal relief. They should try honestly negotiating.
