Filmmaker’s Statement:
This film focuses on teachers striking against the school system, more specifically the strikes that happened within the Chicago Public School system. It all started when the teachers noticed that the education system was lacking multiple features which led to them not being able to do their job to their full potential. Teachers had the desire to get higher wages, smaller class sizes, and more staff to support the students such as librarians, social workers, and nurses. We chose to describe what the teachers wanted because they are the ones that started the strike. The teachers are the ones that were extending the strike until they were happy with the changes. We wanted to show how it affected the students that attend the Chicago Public Schools as well because their futures were at cost with the strikes happening. The CPS athletes were not able to compete during the strikes since they were not in school. Students did not attend school and learn anything for 11 days. Teachers were on strike and in communication with the Mayor Lori Lightfoot to reach a consensus that would benefit future generations of students and also have an impact on the schools not long after. In the end the strikes discontinued as the mayor and the Chicago Teachers Union came to a conclusion that the Chicago Public School teachers and students will make up 5 out of the 11 days they lost. The agreements also stated that class sizes would be reduced over the next few years, and more money would be put into ensuring the education and the mental health of students. Now the teachers are happier with their work environment and the students can develop a greater connection with the teachers to learn more and grow. The intention of the film is to inform people on why the CPS strikes happened, what caused them to start and stop, and how it affected millions of people. We wanted to shed light on the strikes because it is based on a subject that affects everyone around the world. We attempted to convey the information we collected through doing research about the CPS strike in a way that would evoke strong emotions from the viewer and they would want to do something about the education system. We tried to structure the film so that once you see the film you will think about your experiences as a student and how it affected you as you progress through school now or how it affected you as a person now that you are out of school. We hope you can empathize with the people affected by the strikes and realize that this could happen to anybody. The school system is a major part of one’s life and development throughout their life as a person. If this was you or somebody that you knew in this situation they would be lost and not know what to do. They would not have known how long the strikes were going to last and how long until they would go back to school.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZOobpZXSYA&feature=youtu.be
Works Cited
Fazio, Marie, et al. “CPS Strike Updates: Classes Canceled Again Friday, but Chicago Teachers Union, City Report Progress after Thursday's Talks.” Chicagotribune.com, 25 Oct. 2019,https:// www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-cps-strike-chicago-teachers-union-updates-2019 1024-kiooy5tww5b7ra4l4eyramvluq-story.html.
Hauck Grace, Richards Erin. USA Today News. Gernett CDT Oct. 31, 2019.
Leone, Hannah. "Could CPS Teacher Go Back on Stike? That's Possible If Union Ratification Vote Fail." Chicagotribune.com, 11 Nov. 2019, https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct- cps-chicago-teachers-strike-union-ratify-20191111-aikr5k44njgljl2nplqat72jhq-story.html.