Merrillville High School - Merrillvue Yearbook (Merrillville, IN)

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IT Y DUCAT I OH S N(1 m 7 f ■ o jgStir, Joanna Hock, ISTA President and Chris Choncoff take a determined stand. Students in Merrillville had an unexpected added attrac- tion to their summer vacation. The teachers went on strike, thus providing the students with two more weeks of sum- mer fun. The rumor of a strike was heard throughout the halls of Merrillville High School during the spring months before school let out. A tenseness seemed to abound in the air. But, would the teachers be able to pull of a strike that would prove prosperous in the end! There was a question in every one’s mind if school would start on time in the fall. The budget was not able to support the newly hired teachers, which meant they would have to go. That prompted the class size to nearly double. The teachers that remained were expected to carry almost a double load, without the slightest increase in wages. And elementary school teachers did not have any preparation time to plan their teaching schedule. These were the hot issues of the 1972 Merrillville teachers strike. Although it may have been fun and games for the stu- dents, the mood of the striking teachers was one of determi- nation. They took a stand for what they believed in, and worked whole-heartedly to achieve. They assembled every- day to bargain, and compromise. After nine days of this, the strike was ended. The teachers took a loss as far as money goes. Even though the teachers received a one and a half percent raise, they lost four days pay. But they came out vic- torious on two other counts: no reduction in staff and ele- mentary teachers will have time to prepare their classes. Students enjoyed the extra vacation time in the beginning of the year. But one thing they didn’t count on was an ex- tended school year. Another thing students didn’t anticipate was continued hard feelings between the teachers and school board. While the threat of another teacher strike be- gan building during the spring, students wondered if they would again be the eventual losers. Dick Darko and Miles Dunscombe, MCTA President, talk over strike issues. TEACHERS STRIKE FOR RIGHTS 10