Blog #3

Yesterday the Education Nextwrote an article in regard to the Los Angeles teacher strike. In the article, “Los Angeles Teachers Strike a Deal, But Miss and Opportunity”, it discussed how the LA strike has come to an end after a week of picoting lines, wanting smaller classroom sizes and demanding a pay increase for all teachers, and their district. Throughout the past 4 years there has been a gradual increase of teachers pay by nearly 24%, yet a decline of teachers by 13%, causing for much larger class sizes. Fortunately for them they have ended this strike, and are walking away with the promise to decrease class sizes, and a 6% pay raise. These teachers have all come together, and all have a common interest to help themselves and their peers. Throughout this past week, of so much time and dedication to fight for what they believe to be fair they have met many new teachers, and staff members who will, most likely, remain a group of people they can turn to if or when times become tough, like in recent events.

A primary group is defined as a close knit and intimate group of people. These are your close friends or family who all have one or many of the same interests that you do as well. A secondary group is an impersonal or temporary group of people who come into your life for one or two specific reasons, but will not go outside of that specific reason. What started as a secondary group, teachers all fighting for one common belief that they deserve more, has blossomed into them gaining more and more primary type friendships. They now not only have their colleagues from their own schools to lean on, but from the whole district to turn to when needed. All of these teachers experience similar, if not the same, day to day life and situations in their classrooms and confiding in one another, or asking somebody who has already been through something for advice can be one of the best and simplest ways to resolve one’s current issue.

I believe it would take something big, such as this strike, to turn people from a secondary group, to a primary. Fighting for what they want. And in the end, they have proved that any group of any people who are passionate enough can be rewarded with, and achieve their overall goal. (word count 405)