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Giving Compass' Take:
• Ariel Cheung reports that students and parents are worried about the consequences of losing days of school because of the Chicago teachers strike.
• How can the rights of teachers to strike and the rights of students to access education both be maintained?
• Learn about some of the ways legislators have responded to teachers' strikes.
As day four of a Chicago teachers strike loomed, parents scrambled to arrange child care and older students rallied to support their teachers, but adults and teens alike expressed concern about the lasting impact of losing several days of school.
Marwen, a nonprofit youth center near Cabrini-Green, put out word that it would expand services for students as young as second grade from its usual offerings for students in sixth grade and above. It has been partnering with local restaurants to feed children. Monday saw attendance at Marwen hit 48 students — double what it saw on Thursday.
“Beyond 50 students, we’ll have to figure out how to harness more resources, because we want to do this with high quality,” said Aurora King, director of education. “There’s certainly a need for this kind of a space.”
Mom Julie Garner was relieved to find Marwen was offering free, interactive care for students. Her 11-year-old son, Deniro, has spent the past three weekdays sculpting, painting and making finger puppets at Marwen.
Older students voiced concerns Monday that their college applications, PSATs and graduation dates would be impacted by the ongoing strike. Students like 16-year-old Lario Arriaza participated in picket lines and protests of their own.
“There’s a need to change our schools,” said Arriaza, a Prosser High School junior who joined friends at a Voices of Youth in Chicago Education rally Monday morning before heading to Harold Washington Library to spend a few hours. “We’re standing with the teachers for however long it takes.”
Read the full article about teacher strikes and losing days in the classroom by Ariel Cheung at Chalkbeat.