That was what caught my attention. These job opening posts come regularly on the departmental e-list, but I hadn't seen this particular way to say "adjunct" or (actually) "Temp" before. In '61 when I came to ISU I was merely an ABD, but I came as an assistant professor on tenure track. The person who takes this job will only get year by year contracts, no benefits, and so on. Though my load for several years was mostly comp, that was before composition got "professionalized" -- in practice that means that comp teachers have close supervision, with all that implies.
I paste in below an announcement of a national steering committee to support the Chicago teachers.
Carrol
********* ________________________________________ From: David Boehnke [mailto:dboehnke at gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2012 11:03 AM To: cbcox at ilstu.edu; jkcox30 at yahoo.com Subject: Help Organize a Day Without a Teacher in Solidarity with Chicago?
Dear Jan and Carol,
I am contacting you to ask if you or educational organizations you're a part of would be willing to join a National Steering Committee or express organizational interest in a public educational struggle of terrific importance.
During the teachers' caucus at the most recent Labor Notes Conference it became clear that the upcoming teachers strike in Chicago this fall is likely to be a signal battle on the fate of public education. As such, there is an incredible need for national and international solidarity and we began organizing to make it happen.
Our idea is to have "A Day Without a Teacher" a (inter)national show of solidarity where teachers around the country can stand together, realize their power, highlight crucial local issues for students, teachers, and communities, and stand with Chicago for "Quality Education For All!".
We also see this drawing directly on the courage of the Madison Teachers in the Wisconsin Uprising and the heroic Day Without An Immigrant on May 1st, 2006.
We are now working to create a National Steering Committee of teachers and educational activists from all parts of the industry. We are contacting you to see if you or your organization could to commit to participate in such a Steering Committee or if they'd be willing to ask others to join or express organizational interest in such an approach.
See a draft call out below.
Look forward to hearing from you!
David Boehnke Day Without a Teacher Steering Committee Member, IWW Education Workers Organizing Committee
Call for "A Day Without A Teacher": Solidarity With Chicago and for Quality Education For All
The situation in public education as it stands is intolerable and is only getting worse.
The carefully planned attacks by the ruling class to defund, deskill, and privatize our education system have resulted in the avalanche of attacks we face on a daily basis. Massive budget cutbacks, exploding class sizes, media vilification, testing mania, school shut downs and charter school expansion, destruction of tenure and seniority, packaged curriculum, and on and on.
Both Republicans and Democrats serve this agenda and while so called "education reformers" use racial justice for their public relations, in truth their policies only increase the oppressive inequities facing our children, parents, and communities.
Make no mistake. We must choose between watching the promise of our children silenced or joining a massive resurgence to fight against these attacks and for a transformed educational system worth fighting for. One that delivers quality education for all. And that choice is upon us.
This fall, teachers in Chicago are being pushed into a corner they can't survive without fighting-a 29% increase in their work day and the replacement of standard raises by financial favoritism, essentially ending the union itself.
This struggle is of crucial importance, signaling the fate of teachers for the country as a whole. Chicago is home to the third largest teacher's union in the country and a President of the United States seeking reelection this fall. Rahm Emanuel, Chicago's ruthless Mayor who is out to destroy the union, is Obama's former Chief of Staff.
If Chicago loses this struggle, so do we. The Chicago Teacher's Union is preparing to strike. But to win they need the world behind them. If we want quality education for all, we need the Chicago Teachers to win this showdown.
That is what "A Day Without A Teacher" is all about. Like the millions of immigrants who refused to work on May 1st, 2006. Like the thousands of Madison teachers whose courage showed people across this rich nation what is possible if teachers take collective action for the well being of all.
We all face struggles like what is happening in Chicago. Only by acting together can we reverse the tide. Another education system is possible. A Day Without A Teacher is the first step in making it so.
Stand with Chicago when they need it! Quality Education for All!