CHICAGO — Thousands of striking Chicago public school teachers packed a city park Saturday in a show of force as union leaders and the district tried to work out the details of a tentative agreement that would end a week-long walkout.

As Arizona's population grows and changes, the ethnic diversity of teachers across the state isn't matching the demographics in their classrooms. And while many experts see this as an old problem being exacerbated by population growth, some districts are starting new efforts to attract a more diverse pool to the state.

Text of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, as provided by the White House:

Text of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, as provided by the White House:

Text of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, as provided by the White House:

Chicago’s recent teacher strike was -- for an old teacher like me -- depressing. Depressing because the kids went without school while their teachers complained about many things.

In 1980 William Clay, the president of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers union (PATCO) told their convention that they must “learn the rules of the game,” which were “that you don’t put the interest of any other group ahead of your own.” They must be “selfish and pragmatic” and emphasize that “what’s good for the federal employees (is) good for the nation.”

Has American public education failed Latino families?

Although the entertainment industry doesn't generally support conservative causes, Hollywood seems to be caught up in the human drama of the school reform movement. The 2010 movie "Waiting for Superman" explored the heart-wrenching experience of inner-city parents whose children's future hung in the balance as they sweated out the lottery for admission into a high-performing charter school. "Won't Back Down" (which I haven't seen yet), released last month, depicts a concerned parent and principal who team together to take control of a failing school using the new parent-trigger law.

Teachers at aging Kino Junior High School in west Mesa have not complained to their union about any mistreatment.

Teachers at aging Kino Junior High School in west Mesa have not complained to their union about any mistreatment.

Seventeen boys and girls from the Mesa-based Arizona Velocity jump-rope team will go to Des Moines, Iowa, to participate in a national tournament that will test their strength, speed and creativity.

The speed photo enforcement cameras on an eight-mile stretch along Loop 101 in Scottsdale have flashed speeders from every state in the union plus the District of Columbia. Phoenix leads Arizona cities with the most speeders, Scottsdale is second and Mesa, with twice the population of Scottsdale, is third.

The speed photo enforcement cameras on an eight-mile stretch along Loop 101 in Scottsdale have flashed speeders from every state in the union plus the District of Columbia.

When Jason Baker landed a machine tool programming job seven years ago, he thought his career was set.

January 21, 2007

When Clara “Happy” Stargol started the Arizona chapter of the American Rosie the Riveter Association in 1999, the group had about 20 members.

Their numbers grew to about 85, though as time goes on that number shrinks little by little.

PHOENIX - John Woodruff, who joined Jesse Owens as black Americans who won gold medals in the face of Adolf Hitler and his "master race" agenda at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, has died at an assisted living center near Phoenix.

A 29-foot war memorial shaped like a cross should be allowed to remain on public land. A teacher should be able to emphasize references to God in the Declaration of Independence. Protesters should be permitted to approach women near an abortion clinic.

A 29-foot war memorial shaped like a cross should be allowed to remain on public land. A teacher should be able to emphasize references to God in the Declaration of Independence. Protesters should be permitted to approach women near an abortion clinic.

Football long ago turned into the great American pastime in terms of sports movies.

Football long ago turned into the great American pastime in terms of sports movies.

When Jonathan Ornstein climbs stairs, he’s in an awful hurry. On the basketball court, he’s hardworking but less talented than most.

 Phillip Moon’s argument in favor of the Protect Marriage Proposition (Perspective, Oct. 26), was a great exercise in sophistry. As Moon boils down his view, in a spectacularly inept piece of logic, “Since traditional marriage produces kids, and since today’s youth are tomorrow’s society, it is in the government’s best interest to encourage traditional marriage.”