The CTU Strike May Be Over,

but teachers better be vigilant regarding the attacks on their profession.

For those paying attention, there are lessons here. Teacher unions till now have adopted a mostly passive and defeatist attitude toward fighting privatization, and uncritically supported Democrats with their members dues money, regardless of their positions on charters and privatizaion. But unions are pretty useless without the possibility of strikes. Strikes with public support make a big difference. The picket lines were in Chicago, but the impact of Chicago's parents and communities who stood behind their teachers is being felt nationwide. The fight against pork barrel pedagogues who prescribe corporate school reform as the cure for inner city schools is entering a new phase.