I was infuriated as the Chicago Sun-Times reported: “Chicago
Teachers Union President Karen Lewis said at a dramatic 10 p.m. Sunday press
conference. ‘Real school will not be open [Monday].’”
Seriously?! “Real” schools?! There are thousands of teachers, students,
and families in parochial schools who will beg to differ.
In my own Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, a network of 2,444
top-notch schools spans this nation – real schools with high standards of
excellence! Historically, the standards
set by our schools not only meet, but exceed that of their public counterparts. In the 19th century, while many public
schools had teachers with 8th grade educations, our Lutheran schools
insisted on a Normal School education, equivalent to two years of college, which they received either in Addison (or later, River Forest), Illinois or Seward, Nebraska. In addition to the reading, writing, and
arithmetic, history, geography, spelling, music, art history & appreciation, etc., while many public school
children might have learned *a* foreign language, our students were at least
learning German, English, Latin, with some of our schools adding French, Greek,
and Hebrew to boot! In the 21st
century, where funds allow, state-of-the-art technology is used and experienced. Due to the quality of education, many states simply
accept the accreditation of our real Lutheran
school system, because it exceeds their own requirements for accreditation.
Families in real Lutheran
schools are not there because they think they are better than anyone, or because
it is somehow easier than public school; neither is true. Families come to our schools and stay,
knowing that there are smaller schools with faculties that really know their
children, providing them an excellent environment in which to be challenged and
grow academically, spiritually, and emotionally, in a safe, Christ-centered
context.
To Union President Karen Lewis I would say: “Madame, you are very wrong. Sixteen very
real schools of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, as well as several other
Lutheran schools, many Roman Catholic schools, and a number of other private
schools are quite open. These safe, welcoming
communities of real learning are praying for you to solve your labor differences,
without begrudging the fact that your teachers already (on an average) are
making *double* the salary that ours are.
Still, most of them would much rather remain where they are, required extra-curriculars and all, knowing the mutual love, concern, and encouragement they
receive from very real colleagues, families, and students.
