In Standoff, Latest Sign of Unions Under Siege

     Beginning September 9th, 2012, twenty-six thousand public school teachers in Chicago, Illinois have gone on strike. The teachers have gone on strike because if students do not meet annual yearly progress, money will be deducted from their salaries. The Chicago governor, Rohm Emanuel, has made many demands that has angered teachers’ unions: he has pressed the school board to withdraw a four percent raise and have student performance count heavily in evaluating teachers for tenure. The New York Times article I read, In Standoff, Latest Sign of Unions Under Siege, was written by Steven Greenhouse. The NY Times is a credible daily newspaper that has been in print since 1851. It has won 108 Pulitzer Prizes, which is more than any other news organization. Steven Greenhouse graduated from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 1975 and has been reporting for the NY Times since 1983. The circumstance behind the teachers’ strike is the No Child Left Behind Act. The government’s educational reform is based on the idea that setting learning standards and establishing high goals are the source of improving individual outcomes in education. The purpose of this article is to inform the reader about the recent issues surrounding teachers' unions, and newspapers are intended to keep the public educated about current events. This article was written for the average person who reads the newspaper. We have just begun studying rhetoric in English class so I am not quite an expert yet; however to the best of my knowledge, I have not picked up on any rhetorical devices. I believe that the author does accomplish his purpose through the text. The Chicago teachers’ strikes have been going on for about a week, and it is important that the public understands why it is happening, and the writer conveys his point well.