ART TEACHERS REDEFINED, Exhibit

I found this quite disturbing:

During the summer of 2010, the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), under the corporate management leadership of CEO Ron Huberman, gave local principals the unlimited power to dismiss 1,289 tenured teachers without due process.  Despite the fact that over 95% of the teachers had previously received “excellent” or “superior” ratings, to the media and public, these dismissed teachers were painted with the broad brush of “unsatisfactory”.  

That means that for no reason these teachers not only lost their jobs,

bad enough, 

but they also lost their reputations 

and ability to find another teaching position. 

Effectively, their teaching careers were destroyed. 

Who is going to hire a teacher rated "unsatisfactory"?

Art Teachers Redefined is the result of the displaced art teachers long, drawn out battle against the CPS system. They drew from the pain and anger of home foreclosures, bankruptcy, crushing medical bills, lack of insurance and loss of respect in the community. They drew from the trauma of being terminated unable to work in their chosen profession. But as creative people, they redefined what it is and continues to be for them as artist, teacher and now arts education advocate.

The event began Tuesday, February 8, 

and will run through Saturday, February 19, 2011.

I realize the time is running short, 

but if you are near the Chicago Teachers Union Offices, Merchandise Mart Suite 400

please stop by, 

enjoy the artwork, and 

support some dedicated educators who need it.

Exhibit Hours are: Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat (11am-6pm); 

Thu (11am-3pm); Sun & Mon (closed)  

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