Marion High School - Cactus Yearbook (Marion, IN)

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Marion,Indiana HDME OF TEACHER ABU E TE TESEITIIII Pqidfor by MuiionTeuChers Assn p ' 9 over 500 unhappy teachers 71 . K I Il 0 nu.-r MARION MAKI-IS MAI'-Stzhriol ho.ii'ti im-vtiiipgs. amd tuaitzhtri' gettin-riiigs lit-rziiiiitr thi- hotle-st iivws this August. l U'I'lJRt'I IXXIIMIRIJS?-Utt-thi'-juli tm-.itgtivis wort: ormltrimt to uppvzii' iii court .iiirl, rliiriiig thr- tiouriiigs, strikers wort: fiiimi. . RANT A ' RIQR COURT MAD AD-Dissatisfied teachers put billboards up around the area to publize their views, hop- ing to promote public support. GROUP INTEREST-Concerned citizens rallied downtown in hopes of speeding up u contract settlement. i Tearzhvr Strikv 13

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Dog Days Of Summer: Twelve Days of Turmoil The first day of school was cer- tainly unique, usually this is a day of starting over for both teachers and students. However, on August 28, the majority of Marion High School teach- ers walked off the job. AUGUST 28, MONDAY: 388 of the systems 517 teachers did not report to work, beginning a strike that lasted 11 days. A few hours after picketing began, the school board was granted a tem- porary restraining order to keep teach- ers from continuing the strike and from picketing at any school building. The restraining order had little effect on the teachers. Picketing continued throughout the strike. AUGUST 30, WEDNESDAY: Grant Circuit judge A. Morris Hall ordered the eight strike leaders to jail on charges of contempt of court. He also ruled that they were not to be re- leased until the teachers returned to work. Those jailed were Roger Sharp, Marion Teachers Association Presi- dent: Robert Philbert, past MTA presi- dent: Ion Brice, president-elect: Thomas Abbring and Margaret Stephenson, MTA officers: Edwin Pirl, chief MTA negotiator: Arnold Erikson, Negotiations specialist: and Wilbert Bond, local UNISERVE director. SEPTEMBER 2, FRIDAY: The school board and seven teacher nego- tiators met in the Grant County Court House. Several hundred teachers, stu- dents, parents, and concerned citizens gathered around the court house to await the outcome of the session. Many were disappointed, when, early in the morning, talks broke down. 348 teachers were summoned to ap- pear in court to face charges of contempt. SEPTEMBER 5, TUESDAY: Teach- ers were told they faced fines and jail terms if they did not return to work on Thursday at 8 a.m. If the strike went on teachers would be fined S25 a day and one day in jail for each day the order was ignored. judge Hall also fined the MTA S1000 a day, the In- diana State Teachers Association S5000 a day and the National Educa- tion Association 310,000 a day. SEPTEMBER 7, THURSDAY: Teachers reached a tenative contract agreement. SEPTEMBER 8, FRIDAY: The con- tract was ratified by both teachers and school board. SEPTEMBER 11, MONDAY: Teach- ers returned to school after a 19W month contract had been settled. 1 I 1 1 l l l l I i l i i 1 1 l 4 1 l I 4 1 is A i 5.11 l i 1 12 Teacher Strike daim... EASE ON DOVVN-Marches made up of parents and teachers were organized following the jail- ing of eight MTA members. r fl

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CITATION STATION-Teachers received sum- ' mons on the courthouse steps that stated if they stayed off the job they would be jailed. i 1 i I I UP ACAI ST THE ALL, TEACH! l james Murer A question concerning the img Mike Crouch T range effect of the strike in relation to j After nine years of teaching at Mar- hostility between striking teachers After a 19W month contract dispute, ion, james Murer, chemistry teacher, was put to Murer. If you mean cool- the teacher morale is up this year, ac- A was not surprised at the actions taken ness and a lack of comradery, then cording to Mike Crouch, psychology l by judge A. Morris Hall concerning definitely yes, answered Murer. instructor. We basically got what we T the jailed leaders. I wasn't surprised Murer also believes that the new wanted, he said about the new con- l since the last time we were on strike contract has boosted teacher morale tract, although it cost me 5742.00 to ll he threatened jail, Murer stated. since last year, but not as high as com- get it. Murer understood that they were pared to five years ago. There are Crouch expected the fine but said, lj breaking the law by not returning to still some problems that haven't been It gripes me that the teachers had to work when ordered by judge Hall. I-Ie clarified. He feels that there are still be put in jail. ' believed, however, that the law was some people who believe that teachers y unjust and they had a lack of alterna- should not have any input in making j tives. All were willing to take the decisions that are relevant to running l consequences. the school. l 14 Teacher Strike W .l