'My issue is class size...' What CTU President Karen Lewis said to reporters (and wasn't broadcast) during the October 26, 2011 Chicago Board of Education meeting
Following the remarks she made to the Chicago Board of Education during which she tried to explain why lower class sizes and some consideration for a better school day would be an improvement over the months' long public debate over the "Longer School Day", Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis spoke to reporters in the hall outside the Board chambers while the Board continued its meeting inside.
Here is a transcript (various reporters asked various questions):
Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis (right) and parent George Roman (left) during the interview at the Board of Education's October 26, 2011 meeting. Substance photo by David Vance.CTU President, Karen Lewis spoke to the press and answered their questions Wed. October 26, 2011. She tried to express over and over again that “class size matters.” Karen Lewis met the press shortly after the CPS "Chief Education Officer", Noemi Domoso, and "Chief Portfiolo Officer", Oliver Sicat, presented their newest version of junk education on a Power Point. Ms. Donoso never mentioned the importance of class size.
Karen Lewis, a veteran high school chemistry teacher who took office on July 1, 2010, tried to educate the press corps on what will work to close the so-called "achievement gap" (something Donoso and Sicat had talked about during their Power Point).
She stated “smaller class sizes and a broad curriculum will make a huge difference.”
Karen Lewis made a short statement on her main point —
Karen Lewis: Although the union cannot bargain on class size, we know that smaller class sizes and a broad curriculum make a huge difference in student achievement. And, yet we are going all around it with these crazy fad ideas that are basically political. It’s time we stop using politics and focus on the things that do work, which we know are class sizes; reasonably sized class sizes. Chicago has the largest class sizes in the nation; that is problematic for us
Reporter's Question: What is the status of the longer school day issue?
Karen Lewis: Well, you heard the ILERB ruling. What they did was illegal, instead of coming to the union. Again we would like to use this year as a planning year, instead of political issues. That’s a political issue. So, again let’s focus on the things that we know will work. Chicago has the largest class sizes of any large metropolitan city. That’s the real problem here.
Reporter's Question: Is it true, you’re trying to work out other issues before you go ahead with longer school day decisions?
Karen Lewis: I thought this year was supposed to be a planning year. That’s not what they wanted to do. They (CPS) were told to stop their illegal activities.
Reporter's Question: Today, they (CPS) talked about their school action plans for next year. Was there anything in there that was disconcerting or troubling?
Karen Lewis: What they are planning on doing is very clear. I will give you access to some of these internal memos that I have seen floating around. They really are planning on shocking everybody; frightening parents. "Oh, my school, my school, my school..." And, then they have their usual hit list that they will put out. They are just going to do it in a different way. And, I feel quite frankly in a disingenuous way. I am a little nervous about this.
Karen Lewis made an introduction — And, at this time I would like for a parent to speak.
Parent – My name is George Roman. I have three of children in CPS schools. At North West I am concerned about the lay-offs of our teachers. We just lost five good teachers. Now, our classes are over maxed; overcrowded classrooms. The way I see it is this . . . Instead of spending the money on cameras to put around the schools and number two; instead of spending money on charter schools, which doesn’t make any difference, why don’t you put that money on bringing our teachers back. Make our classes smaller. That’s what is important.
Question to Karen Lewis: Next year are you going to support a longer school day? Is there a threshold number of hours that you would accept?? Will you fight against 7.5??
Karen Lewis: I haven’t looked at that. We haven’t talked to our members yet. My issue is class size. We just saw a presentation about how we have an achievement gap. We know how to close that achievement gap. Children need more attention and they need a broader curriculum.
What we see here is 10 years of test prepping. That is the curriculum, test prep; and then they don’t do well. And, in the presentation CPS wants us to believe, “we have to make hard decisions.” Well, yes we have oversized classes; class size matters. It truly does, and until we have that discussion all this and other stuff is political.
Q – What is an ideal class size? What do you want to recommend?
Karen Lewis: That depends on the grade. For Kinder, we would say 20. And in order to make this happen, city wide, it would cost about $6 million. I think that goal is worth it; to actually have smaller classes where young students can start out strong. This early achievement will help them in the future.
