Hot Take: How do public education and affordable housing relate?
The Chicago Teacher’s Union, the oldest teacher’s union in America, has been protesting for almost a week (since October 17). Protests coincide with negotiations for more support staff in overenrolled schools and teacher pay raises, and, also, interestingly, affordable housing assistance for teachers and students.
As a future teacher, this protest makes me question the civic duty of the teacher. Also, living in Missoula, where we have affordable housing issues of our own, how can the efforts of the CTU affect us? Why are teachers with the CTU fighting for affordable housing?
Local Chicago publications, the mayor, Lori Lightfoot, and many Illinois citizens criticize teachers for continuing their union protest that includes “inappropriate” requests like affordable housing. Teachers have already been offered a 24% raise over five years from the state. Kids are out of school and roaming the streets. The protests of a teacher union do not seem like they can solve the massive issue of affordable housing stemming from a systemic wealth gap. So why are they continuing to protest?
In one of the richest cities in the world, 16,000 public school students are homeless. Rental rates are extremely expensive for students, their families, and their teachers in a city where privately funded building projects and notoriously underfunded public housing are a reality. The union explains that funding for affordable housing could be used to hire staff to assist teachers and families with finding housing and accessing assistance for sudden homelessness.
Let’s consider the connection between student homelessness and school success, as discovered by the Real College Survey that UM participated in for the first time last year; a student’s living situation directly impacts their academic success, not to mention overall well-being. Findings from the survey suggest that public universities should be assisting students with gaining access to resources for affordable housing. Should this responsibility be extended to public schools?
More than proposing a solution to the problem, the CTU and dedicated school staff are calling national attention to the lack of affordable housing, especially for people who need it most. Chicagoans and many other citizens who live in cities with affordable housing problems are rehashing conversations about solutions. As a Missoulian, I can appreciate applying the CTU requests to the affordable housing conditions of our city.
Does affordable housing have a place in union negotiations? Tell us your thoughts. Our impressionable eyes are going to be watching the negotiations of the CTU.
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