Niles Township High School North - Saga Yearbook (Skokie, IL)

Page 8 text:



Page 10 text:

DEMANDS MUST BE MET . . . Teachers walk out on negotiations union members vote to strike. Board of Education members plead patience to parents 7,600 students do not begin school. The 1973-74 school year is delayed for four days. The teachers' strike ultimately affected every- one in District 219. Emotions were high morale low. Money was not the most important issue supervision of hallways, grievance procedures, total teaching load and teacher evaluation vastly outweighed this demand. Heated discussions of teachers' and the board's roles, rights and privileges highlighted radio broadcasts, newspaper coverage and tele- vision newscasts. This was totally a conflict between the board and the teachers' union students had noth- ing to do with it. Finally, 'round-the-clock negotiations pro- duced a settlement. Both sides gave in a compromise was achieved. Teachers would have to supervise the hallways, but would get paid for doing so. Administrators could not lis- ten in on classes without the teachers' prior knowledge. All teachers, including those with- out tenure, could grieve dismissal. The strike was over contracts were written students returned to school after a lengthened vacation. Yet the unnatural start of the 1973-74 school year contributed to making this year truly differ- ent things never returned to normal. The high emotions did not subside. Students trying to see their teachers became frustrated when realizing they were on supervision duty. Teacher-administration animosity could be felt in the classroom. The outcome of the strike was the outcome of any conflict involving human emotions. No one feels they are victorious, and even those unin- volved individuals are adversely affected. Every- one loses. a1 c'° Teachers walk out on negotiations union members vote to strike. Board of Education members plead patience to parents.. 7,600 students do not begin school. The 1973-74 school year is delayed for four days. The teachers' strike ultimately affected everyone in District 219. Emotions were high — morale low. Money was not the most important issue . supervision of hallways, grievance procedures, total teaching load and teacher evaluation vastly outweighted this demand. Heated discussions of teachers' and the board's roles, rights and privileges highlighted radio broadcasts, newspaper coverage and tele- vision newscasts. This was totally a conflict between the board and the teachers' union students had noth- ing to do with it. Finally, 'round-the-clock negotiations pro- duced a settlement. Both sides gave in a compromise was achieved. Teachers would have to supervise the hallways, but would get paid for doing so. Administrators could not lis- ten in on classes without the teachers' prior knowledge. All teachers, including those with- out tenure, could grieve dismissal. The strike was over contracts were written students returned to school after a lengthened vacation. Yet the unnatural start of the 1973-74 school year contributed to making this year truly differ- ent things never returned to normal. 6