Are Chicago Public School Teachers Property?
Nancy Salvato Recently Chicago newspapers reported that Mayor Daley was going to enforce the residency requirement for Chicago school teachers. Something is inherently wrong with this decision because it seems to me as if by signing a teaching contract, teachers literally have signed over their lives. It reminds me of company towns from an era gone by. For those who might not remember, the employer in a company town was basically an autocrat with absolute power. This is because employees were required to live in houses owned by the company and to frequent businesses, churches, and schools under the companys domain. Laws were even enforced by company police. In this way, employers possessed total knowledge of the personal activities of employees. Back then, workers saw the union as a way to break this indentured servitude, which passed for employment. Arguments to revive this outmoded practice for teachers are based on what is best for the community, not the individuals in question. Res
