Primi Akhtar’s Valedictory Address, Queens Metropolitan High School, June 2014

I dare anyone to meet 18-year old Primi and not have enormous hope for the future. Primi is a founding member of NYC Student Union (and my adopted granddaughter) and she just graduated and will be going to Columbia. Does this age her out of the high school based Student Union? She will still be involved, though I imagine she will be raising some hell in college.

Jeff Kaufman sent this in. His wife was one of Primi's proud teachers and advisers.


Primi Akhtar’s Valedictory Address, Queens Metropolitan High School, June 2014

Welcome Class of 2014, teachers, staff, beloved supporters.

There are not enough “thank yous” to give out right now. I am really grateful to have known such amazing, talented, bright people. To each and every one of you- thank you for being the weird you that you are.

But there’s someone special who I always wanted to thank: and that’s my mother- the one who would yank blankets off me, set alarms at 6AM, and walk me to school since I was 5 years old. She was my first teacher, really. And of course, she would nourish me, with the best Bengali food ever. I would also like thank all those who have also sustained us and driven us to be who we are today-- our ancestors with their stories of struggle, our parents who work every day, our mentors and educators who guide us through compassion, farmers who cultivate our food and all the people that have labored to allow us the privilege to be here today.

So let’s give it up for them! It’s important to acknowledge how hard our people are working in hopes of a brighter tomorrow, and how we must work harder for that future that is more sustainable, humane, and of course... loving.

Those of you who know me, know that I don’t follow rules (well, for the most part). I know you are expecting a speech, but I will not give a speech today. Instead, I would like to send out my welcome, my gratitude, and my love through poetry.

But I need your help. When I say, “I’ll let them know” you respond with “I am”. “I am” is not me alone...but it’s us. We’ll do this together- a call and response. The synching may be tough, but we’ve been together for 4 years, so I think y’all will get it.

Let’s begin, and hopefully you’ll remember this one… 

I am.

Last year,

I chopped off my hair

In a Queens barber shop, under the 7 train. I remember wet clumps of my hair hitting the porcelain floors, my heart beating as though it wanted to run somewhere safe from the predictable fury of my mother.

Did you ever feel so scared, but so free? I felt like that, every time I cut it again, and again.

The following day,

Alisher noted I looked like Gandhi,

Others were shocked that I had the guts to go that far,

In a world that constantly wants to define us,

mold us to their shapes so we fit to what makes others comfortable.

I want you to look in the mirror and say to yourself.

I’ll let the world know!

I am.

Not defined by these norms and numbers, branded clothes, dollar bills and diplomas, that tell me I’m not great enough

That when I am seated in a classroom that bears a silence, as pencils circle in bubbles, forced to pick between five choices- I think for myself.  

I will always be more than what you’ve calculated of my worth. I won’t let you define me by society's standards of worthy...because

I’ll let the world know!

I am ---beautiful, different, boundless.

I’ll let the world know!

I am

not going to sit quietly. And place my hand in my lap in fear that what I have to say is not correct. Because if I do speak up, these words will uplift the fragile hearts of others to stand up, to move forward, to no longer carry the burden of the world on their own.

I’ll let the world know!

I am

not going to die never knowing who I am, and settle with this overall ability to sit quietly and never question, and let my fear stop me from creating something new and beautiful.

And keep falling under unreasonable expectations, causing my true self to wither away in efforts to blossom in society’s standard of “success”.

I’ll let the world know!

I am  

not what you think I am. These labels that say men are not suppose to cry, women are too hormonal to make reasonable decisions, that only a handful are smart because they pass these exams that everyone else  “fails”. That I must conform to straightness, because any other way is disgusting and wrong. I am told that this generation is “Worse than the last”-- even though I was born into a world where mistakes deem imprisonment, while steel bars and scantrons, stand in the way of my actual growth. Despite being boxed into prepackaged ideas and values, I will not be who you want me to be.

I’ll let world know

I am

going to discover my true self and discover our power as individuals, as youth, as a unified collective, not competing, not dividing ourselves by these digits, dollar bills, and diplomas.

And I am

going to define myself,

push against these walls

that box us, make us smaller, to fit into society’s ideals

And as I stand here as the epitome of that ideal student,

who represents high averages and test scores,

I am going to

speak up, and name what I am:

powerful, different, resilient.

And I dare you-- to put behind your insecurities, and name what you are!

And if there’s one message I can give to humanity,

it’s that we, must live where we fear to live.
Abandoning our insecurities in search of something more

and only then, will we be infinite in our worth, in our power, in our love.

Infinite

and maybe beyond.

                                                                                    -Primi Akhtar

                                                                                    from her Valedictory Address

                                                                                    Queens Metropolitan High School

                                                                                    June 2014

Thank you and congratulations to the Class of 2014!

Teacher Diversity Committee Launches Petition at Harlem Book Fair

Sean Ahern, a long time friend, and one of the original founders of the idea of creating ICE (in a bar), has focused his attention for a decade on the teacher diversity issue. And that work is bearing fruit. Check out the numbers on the drop in hiring of black teachers posted in the petition. And the TDC has noticed that the number of white teachers has dropped too because many of the new "ideal" young white recruits leave and are replaced by -what else - other young white recruits.

I know that this can be a touchy issue for some - like what are they saying? White teachers can't teach black kids? Not at all. What this is about is what a black kid sees and thinks if 90% of the teachers they meet do not look like them. Reverse that and think of the impact if a white kid went to a school with few white teachers. That doesn't happen very often I imagine. Why not?

Dear Friends,

On Saturday July 12 the TDC of NYC launched our teacher diversity petition drive on a gorgeous summer day with the generous financial support from the Movement of Rank and File Educators (MORE), Teachers Unite and the donation of a table by the Harlem Book Fair (see photo and petition attached).

Over the course of the day members of the TDC, MORE, Teachers Unite (TU), the Coalition for Public Education (CPE), The MANY,  and People's Power collected over 300 signatures and spread the news about the Bloomberg hiring policies and why a grassroots effort is needed to change them.  Members of the International Socialist Organization (ISO) were also present and supported the effort.  We welcome the support of all races and creeds and political persuasions to stop and reverse the disappearing of Black and Latino educators from NYC schools.  

Thanks to Anna Maria,  Peter, Michelle, Seku, Everett, Michele, Marc, Ernestine, Muba, Anne, Gail, and Benita for taking the time  to launch this petition. Thanks to Michele for a great banner that will fly proudly this fall as our petition grows!  If you are interested in supporting this effort contact the TDC of NYC at teacherdiversity@gmail.com.  Feel free to download the petition and collect signatures. Return signed petitions before Dec. 1 to Teacher Diversity c/o Ahern PO Box 1025, New York, NY 10002.  They will be presented to the December PEP.

Peace, 

Sean Ahern for the TDC of NYC

Right WingNuts - AFT Commies, Include GEM Truth About Charters in Attack

Thanks to Jeff Kaufman for this gem about the GEM pamphlet being part of the Maoist AFT.

Among the literature cited was a GEM pamphlet. See front page story second document. https://americarisingllc.app.box.com/s/nhc8m8cn227vrwcb19ht/1/2203186595/19026564373/1

American Federation of Communists

Pro-communist literature handed out at AFT conference

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Chinese protestors touting pictures of Mao Zedong / AP

BY: Bill McMorris
July 16, 2014 5:25 pm
Communist pamphleteers are using the American Federation of Teachers annual convention as a recruiting ground, according to a new video.
Men with Mao Zedong-emblazoned messenger bags distributed fliers to union members as they entered the Los Angeles convention center, where thousands of teachers have gathered to discuss the state of the nation’s second largest teachers union.
Communist literature has appeared throughout the convention floor. Issues of the communist newspaper Red Flag have also been handed out to teachers as they gathered to reelect president Randi Weingarten, one of the most influential Democrats in the nation and a leader of the shadowy Democracy Alliance.
The issue, which was found by conservative researchers at America Rising, features a front page story declaring, “Capitalist Attacks on Schools Demand Communist Response.”
The newspaper compared the debate over education reform to a bloody 1960s dispute between rival Chinese communists. Several radical students were beaten to death in 1968 after asserting that a Mao-appointed college administration was staffed by “pro-capitalist anti-revolutionaries.” That violence, according to the newspaper, is analogous to the American debate over school choice.
“This struggle helped to spark a monumental rebellion against ‘the people in party leadership taking the capitalist road,’” the photo caption said. “During this Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, leftwing workers and youth tried to transform education literally from the ground up.”
Participants at the AFT gathering were critical of education reformers and proponents of charter schools, as well as the Obama administration. A participant who claimed to be a Chicago teacher slammed Obama Education Secretary Arne Duncan for not toeing the union line at a Tuesday meeting.
“We see the destructive policies [Duncan] has pursued … I think we have to name the name of the main architect of these policies, the man who has taken away everything we hold dear,” a man wearing an AFT delegate lanyard said. “We have to say that no matter who it is we are gonna [sic] come for you … if you come for what is ours we are gonna [sic] take you out.”
An AFT spokeswoman did not return request for comment.

Speculating on Karen Lewis Challenge to Rahm: Who Will Get the Jewish Vote

Two Jewish candidates to square off in Chicago. (If you don't believe me ask Karen to show you her CHI.

Someone emailed me when I was in LA, cocerned that Karen and Chicago crew weren't challenging Randi enough - that was before the Common Core shootout (AFT14 Report - Common Core Debate - Epic Battle B....).


We pretty much got word from Chicago that Karen Lewis will be off and running for Mayor against Rahmbo. Karen often points out that she is not the creator but the creation of CORE which has such a large talent pool. You really have to go to an AFT convention and see Unity and CORE people in action to get the complete picture.

EIA's Mike Antonucci speculates a bit.

It probably wouldn’t be wise to bet on Lewis, but she has a puncher’s chance of toppling Emanuel. If she wins, she would be the first labor union president to hold such a high elected office, since, well, this guy.... Will Karen Lewis Be the Next Mayor of Chicago?

If neither gets a majority in the Feb. 2015 election, there will be a runoff in May. That would be fun, since it would come just as the CTU would be about to negotiate a new contract. Guessing is that CTU VP Jesse Sharkey would take over, though some also look at the always masterful Jackson Potter. Both are impressive.

But given how amazing so many people from the CORE/CTU team we've met have been, I bet they have a lot of possibilities. 

Mike found an interesting nugget to gnaw on:

A spur to all this is an automated poll commissioned by the Chicago Sun-Times that shows Lewis with an 9-point lead over Emanuel. The poll’s methodology is problematic, but Emanuel has high negatives no matter how you measure them. Dave Weigel of Slate suggests the poll actually underestimates Lewis’s support, adding what seems to me to be an insulting evaluation of the city’s African-American voters:

(Lewis) trailed by only 3 points with white voters, led by 4 points with Hispanics, and led by 18 points with black voters—a margin that might increase if Lewis ran and black voters discovered that she, too, was black.

Why does Mike think it insulting to assume some black voters don't know Karen is black? Most Jewish voters don't know Karen is Jewish. (In her first union election in 2010, one Chicago wag told me the only thing the opposition didn't try to use against Karen was anti-Semitism.

Here Mike uses an Ed Notes post to make a point:

Lewis has serious weaknesses. She would be, almost by definition, a single-issue candidate running against a well-seasoned, if greatly disliked, machine Democrat. And last week’s AFT Convention demonstrated that her pull within her own union has been overestimated.
Nevertheless, voter emotion has carried many a challenger to victory over an entrenched incumbent, and teacher union officers often have electoral success at the local and state legislative level.

When 2700 delegates show up and 800 or more are Unity Caucus from NYC, who along with their allies in NY State plus others, make up over 50% of the delegates at the convention, control every aspect of the convention, expecting Karen to gain much support there and compare it to the mayoral race doesn't make sense.

Will Karen Lewis Be the Next Mayor of Chicago?

---

---

Will Karen Lewis Be the Next Mayor of Chicago?

Posted: 16 Jul 2014 09:55 AM PDT

If Weigel has some evidence that black voters don’t know that Karen Lewis is black, he ought to present it to the rest of the world.

They fare less well in statewide or national elections, although the sample size is small. NEA’s new president, Lily Eskelsen Garcia, ran for Congress in 1998 against a very vulnerable one-term incumbent Republican and lost by 10 points. The Alabama Education Association’s powerful executive secretary Paul Hubbert ran for governor in 1990. He lost by four points to the incumbent Republican.
I haven’t researched it recently, but there was a general dearth of national candidates who have ever even been members of a labor union.
It probably wouldn’t be wise to bet on Lewis, but she has a puncher’s chance of toppling Emanuel. If she wins, she would be the first labor union president to hold such a high elected office, since, well, this guy.

Defense of Tenure - It Ain't Only About the Teachers

At the MORE UFT history event, a teacher who I first met about 6 weeks ago and is new to MORE asked why we don't see campaigns defending teachers and tenure. The UFT spends millions on ads but tenure is not mentioned. Interesting that at the AFT on Monday just before the convention ended, AFT press people came over and asked some of us to attend a press conference upstairs on this very issue.

The event was being run by new AFT superstar Mary

Catherine Ricker (on the right) and included teachers who defended their children and  parents who work with teachers. Parent Helen Gym from Philadelphia gave one of the most passionate defenses of tenure I've seen (I have the video to process).

What was interesting was that the AFT was filming the event to use it for advocacy - meaning that maybe some commercials will be coming. We'll see. In the meantime, while the union twiddles teachers on the front line like Arthur Goldstein, who could not attend the AFT convention because he won't sign the Unity Caucus loyalty oath, took up the issue and wrote a great defense of tenure in the July 16 Daily News.

RBE points to another pro-tenure piece in Salon by Gabriel Arana. http://www.salon.com/2014/07/1...

Ex-NYSUT Pres Tom Hobart, Spills the Beans c. 1974

it’s in our interest to maintain a number of poor, and to make sure that we don’t have open admission policies like the City University of New York has..... If we assume that we take the major goals, both the NEA and the AFT, which is to improve the educational qualities for every child in the school, and we succeed at that, I suggest to you that we’ll destroy the world economy. Because if we better educate every child in America, and make it possible for them to be say at the lowest level a technician, they’re going to start to demand a greater share of the resources because they now have the ability to take better jobs.... Tom Hobart

They gagged Tom right after he said this in 1974 and I remember we jumped right on it.

I deal with so many people with different ideologies but my 40 year old core group, now diminished by the loss of the Priscos who were at my house one year ago for a similar meeting just before they both got sick, seems to have the best analysis - I'm fading fast.....

Despite my delirium after getting off a flight that left 7 hours late - 4 AM LA time and arrived at JFK around noon - I didn't get home 'til after 1 - I met with Ira and Vera who came out to my house from around 2-6PM to talk about UFT history in prep for tomorrow's MORE event. Ira and Vera can't be there so I wanted to bask in their wisdom - and memories. I took some notes that I will share tomorrow. We were going through stuff from the 70s I saved from Sandy and some of that work is remarkable. Ira has almost everything but I will bring a selection to tomorrow's MORE event at  (Who Runs The UFT? Why Are There Alternatives?) The Dark Horse
17 Murray St. NYC Near City Hall, Chambers St, WTC

I still haven't slept - after they left I had a bite and went over to the theater to do my little role about midway through Act 1, so I was able to leave. But Vera typed up this statement from Hobart which she feels lays out where the union leaders are coming from.

Our core of people from the early 70s through today have had a different take than many others. Vera believes Shanker was not "just" a teacher, but an organizer sent in to do a job - by exactly by whom is not clear but we have some ideas. Vera has been slaving away over the last few weeks gleaning nuggets. And in case you never read our review of the Shanker bio/hagiogrpahy "Albert Shanker: Tough Liberal" -- check it out for some historical analysis:

Albert Shanker: Ruthless Neocon - Review by Vera Pavone and Norman Scott in New Politics
http://newpol.org/content/albert-shanker-ruthless-neo-con

Our thesis is that there is no break in social democracy from the right (SDUSA) from Shanker through Weingarten and probably through Mulgrew to some extent. I found out some info in LA about the AFT ops around the world that reinforces this view.

For those who will accuse us of being conspiracy theorists -- Leo Casey was at the bat on twitter the other day re: the common core critics -- teacher enemy number 1, Eli Broad, was one of the major backers of the Shanker bio.

I'm heading to bed but wanted to get this out -- check it out if you are coming tomorrow or even if you're not.
-->

From Presentation by Tom Hobart, NYSUT, to National Council of State Education Associations, December 2, 1974

[The topic is quotas]

I think the role of our organization is to produce the power that’s necessary to defend the rights and amendments. And I think we have to look at the economics again, and just see what the problems of the world are. If we assume that we take the major goals, both the NEA and the AFT, which is to improve the educational qualities for every child in the school, and we succeed at that, I suggest to you that we’ll destroy the world economy. Because if we better educate every child in America, and make it possible for them to be say at the lowest level a technician, they’re going to start to demand a greater share of the resources because they now have the ability to take better jobs.

And since our world economy is based on the fact that there must be so many unskilled workers, and so many semi-skilled, and so many skilled technicians, and so many professionals, that if we just attempt to do what we are talking about, then we are looking at the major economic powers that are out to resist us. I think they’re already there. Does anybody doubt that the major economic powers in this country have not noticed what we’ve done in political action, and does anybody think that they’re willing to turn over the politics of America to teacher organizations? Does anybody doubt that every action has a reaction, and every power has a counter power that’s going to be built up. And what—how are they going to keep us from exercising that power.

Well, they’re going to come into our organizations and they’re going to try to set up things that we are going to fight among ourselves over, so we never come together as a powerful organization.

……

Now, if I had statistics on who is excluded from higher education and graduate schools, it could be taken one step further. If we call it the poor of America, and we all accept there are more minority people who are poor than any other group. But again it’s an economic situation that we have and not a race situation. If we don’t maintain the status of the unskilled and skilled and the professional, then we’re going to be unable, you and I, to have two color TV sets and two cars, and move to a bigger house next year. So it’s in our interest to maintain a number of poor, and to make sure that we don’t have open admission policies like the City University of New York has.

Aft report: My Last Red-Eye - It's 2 AM and I'm Still Not EX-LAX

The AFT convention has reached its high point. It's the middle of the night and I'm surrounded by hordes of Unity Caucus delegates stranded from 2 fucked up Delta red-eyes. It's like an endless nightmare. I call the question but they are still here.
On checking into security with my priority check-in - let's see - at 7PM - a few Unity guys were in front of me and they had to take off their shoes. I didn't. I told them TSA was running a special priority check-in for people against the common core. They didn't laugh.
I had been receiving notices that my 9:30 flight was delayed further and further - like till 1:40 AM. But the super shuttle was set for 6:30 pickup so I figured I'd just get some work done in the airport. There was a 10:30 flight but I figured getting on that wasn't possible - at least that was what a Delta guy told me. But the Unity guy said he switched by calling Delta. So I did and got on the 10:30. Except now it was leaving at 12:40.
So we do board and I begin to fall asleep around 1 when they tell us the crew timed out and we had to get off the plane and reboard sometime after 3AM when the new crew gets there.
As I deboard I call delta and try to switch back to my original flight leaving at 1:40. But that's been cancelled.
So I'm wandering the terminal and run into more Unity people from the cancelled flight who are camping out at the other end of the terminal waiting for a 6AM flight - see what happens when you vote for the common core?
Now another Unity guy comes over and asks if I think we can get vouchers for our troubles. "I can use it for the next convention" he says - in 2 year. These guys really think ahead. No wonder they're running - or ruining - the union. "If you win the election" I'm tempted to say. But I don't. I may fall asleep and find a pillow over my face.
You do know that there is nothing open in an airport at 2AM, don't you?
It was just announced they ordered Subway sandwiches. Make mine a 2 foot long and it'll all have been worth it.
POINT OF ORDER.

Cheers,
Norm Scott

Twitter: normscott1

Education Notes
ednotesonline.blogspot.com

Grassroots Education Movement
gemnyc.org

Education columnist, The Wave
www.rockawave.com

nycfirst robotics
normsrobotics.blogspot.com

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FORMER CTC ATTORNEY KATHLEEN CARROLL LAYS OUT UNHOLY ALLIANCE BETWEEN TEACHER UNIONS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION PRIVATIZERS

OMG - This explains everything..... NYC tenured eacher who fought off attacks by bully principal while UFT did nothing (and often showed favoritism for said bully principal)

Well, not everything but maybe some things....

http://www.perdaily.com/2014/07/former-ctc-attorney-kathleen-carroll-lays-out-unholy-alliance-between-union-and-public-education-pri.html

http://www.upwa.info/documents/7-11-14-Carroll.htm

Parents, education advocates plan to defend teacher tenure against lawsuit filed by parents' reform group

Good for lawyer Arthur Schwartz, another apparently stabbed in the back by Moaning Mona Davids, who at this point has a rare no comment. Arthur has done many good legal deeds for Moaning Mona  -- and many others. When she filed the suit I knew Arthur wasn't involved but good to see him take a stand.

What I would like to see is a bill sent to  Moaning Mona and Sorryful Sam for wasting the time of the court system for useless self-serving law suits.

And how about Moaning Mona's willingness to expose her kids so openly in photos while responsible parents shield their kids? How about those people who went after Portelos for naming her kids (by their first name only). Talk about using your kids for personal interests.

Enid Alvarez/New York Daily News The president of the New York City Parents Union, Mona Davids (pictured with her two kids, Mymoena and Eric) will be facing about 50 parents and education advocates who oppose her organization's lawsuit against teacher tenure.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/parents-education-advocates-defend-teacher-tenure-article-1.1864724#ixzz37UXtG3Tw

Join Me Wedseday, July 16, at MORE UFT/Caucus History Event

Come on down - and watch me fall asleep while presenting. I even told UFT co-founder George Altomare to come to this when I ran into him in the men's room at the AFT convention - there was a brief look of panic on his face - ---  I had zippered up so it wasn't THAT.

New post on Movement of Rank and File Educators

Who Runs The UFT? Why Are There Alternatives? by morecaucusnyc On Wednesday July 16th 2014 we are hosting a summer series panel and open discussion on the history of groups that have competed for power and influence within the UFT. We will also examine the implications for MORE. More event Information here Below are readings and video lectures from union/UFT historians on the background of the founding of UFT and Unity caucus, the ruling party of our union. Suggested Readings Democracy & Politics in the UFT, 1976 Edition Democracy and Politics in the UFT is being reprinted in its original with no changes in order to provide a snapshot of the state of the UFT and education circa 1976 and how one opposition group approached these issues.Thanks to Vera Pavone, Ira Goldfine and Norm Scott for creating an online version of the pamphlet they produced almost 40 years ago. http://www.scribd.com/doc/233191682/Democracy-Politics-in-the-UFT-1976-Ed UFT/Unity Caucus Early History from "City Unions" This chapter on the founding of the UFT and how Shanker consolidated power from the book "City Unions". There is a lot of insight into how Unity has controlled the UFT since its inception. http://www.scribd.com/doc/158371024/City-Unions-chapter-8 Here we have a series of videos about the history of our union, it’s founding, some discussions on past caucuses and dissident groups, and the relationship between non-Unity activists and the union leadership. Historical roots of the UFT presented by Michael Fiorillo and Peter Lamphere at the State of the Union conference (Feb. 4. 2012). Michael: Teacher unions up to 1968 (22 minutes): https://vimeo.com/45094559 Peter: Post 1968 (15 minutes):  https://vimeo.com/45094560 Both videos plus the Q&A (1 hour):  https://vimeo.com/45094713 UFT Friend or Foe- from 2013 Summer Series- How non-Unity Chapter leaders and activists relate to UFT leadership Norm Scott: http://morecaucusnyc.org/2013/07/27/uft-friend-or-foe-event/ Vera Pavone http://morecaucusnyc.org/2013/08/14/uftaft-leadership-friend-or-foe-series-vera-pavone/ Ira Goldfine http://morecaucusnyc.org/2013/08/14/uftaft-leadership-friend-or-foe-series-ira-goldfine/ Peter Lamphere http://morecaucusnyc.org/2013/08/14/uftaft-leadership-friend-or-foe-series-peter-lamphere/ MORE Summer Series 2012- UFT Caucus History Since 1968  Norm Scott http://vimeo.com/45705700 Michael Fiorillo http://vimeo.com/45698849 Join the Movement of Rank-and-File Educators (MORE) for Summer Series 2014. Discussions exploring the past, present and future of teacher unionism. All are welcome! Wednesdays 4:00pm-7:00pm The Dark Horse 17 Murray St. NYC Near City Hall, Chambers St, WTC July 16th Who Runs the UFT? Why Are There Alternatives? A Historical Perspective 1960-2014 The UFT formed in 1960 as a merger of several organizations. By 1964 the Unity caucus emerged as the ruling party of the UFT, which they remain to this day. Throughout the union’s history various dissident groups and caucuses have contested this dominance. At different times these groups merged, ran joint slates, or disbanded. We will discuss why these groups formed and their differing visions and strategies. How is MORE related to this history? What can we learn from it? Other Summer Series Events July 30th Life Under the New UFT Contract August 13th Lessons from the Chicago Teachers’ Union- Featuring Guest Speakers from Chicago August 20th UFT 101: Why Does Our Teachers' Union Matter? twitter.com/morecaucusnyc morecaucusnyc.org more@morecaucusnyc.org press inquiries media@morecaucusnyc.org morecaucusnyc | July 11, 2014 at 8:53 am | Tags: democracy, MORE, MORE caucus, Movement of Rank and File Educators, Movement of Rank and File Educators. MORE, social justice unionism, UFT, unions, Unity, Unity Caucus | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/p2pvEJ-WO Comment    See all comments    Like

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#AFT14 Video - LATU Caputo-Pearl Lays Out Vision of SJ Unionism - And it Includes the S and D Words

Unity Loyalty Oath Precludes use of S and D words

Taboo words in the UFT: Strike and Democracy

Newly Elected Los Angeles Teachers Union President Alex Caputo-Pearl lays out a vision for a social justice movement based union at AFT forum on Social Justice unionism as part of a panel with union presidents from NYC, Chicago, St. Paul, Houston and Philadelphia.

And holy crap - he actually utters the word "strike." And says there is no social justice unionism without a democratic union. I enjoyed watching the large number of Unity Caucus people's faces go blank.

(And oh when Karen Lewis followed up later talking about how the officers in the CTU took a big pay cut -- there must be a hundred Unity Caucus members who make more money than Karen.)

And lots of other stuff - with Mulgrew sitting 2 seats away. See if Mulgrew does any squirming while Alex speaks. I couldn't think of one thing the UFT does that matches what Alex says - Karen Lewis sits between them.

Their videos will be up in a few days - I'm sitting in the hotel bar with a few beers waiting for the shuttle to the airport and will be in no shape to edit videos.

http://youtu.be/SnUSbadLGws



Here's an article by Howard Blum on the forum and Alex' statement - and I saw stuff on the LA local news too. Way to get it going after 11 days in office.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-caputopearl-teachers-strike-20140713-story.html

#AFT14 CORRECTED - Randi says - AFT and NEA to Forge New Relationship - Short-Lived for Sure

Randi - we will forge a new relationship with NEA - introducing new President of NEA Lily Eskelsen Garcia.

Lily has two 3 year term limits and will be out of office in 6 years. (CORRECTED FROM EARLIER THANKS TO A COMMENT FROM A READER - SO MORE LONG-TERM THAN I THOUGHT).

Randi, who just won re-election with 97% of the vote of 2783 delegates, is in office for life - or as long as she wants it.

(For the record - Al Shanker died in office and his designated successor, Sandra Feldman, resigned shortly before she died.)

Everyone here knows that Mulgrew, who was featured very prominently at this convention, is the next AFT president (if he wants it) should Randi move on to something else.

Though some think the fast-rising St. Paul union leader, Mary Cathryn Ricker, who will step down after being elected today as AFT Exec VP, is a potential rival. Ricker ran today's press conference on due process, was added to the social justice panel along with Mulgrew on Sat. night and is being pushed by Randi all over the place. Both national teacher unions are headed by women in a profession with 75% women.

But then again, Mary seems awfully wholesome and nice. And we all know that mid-westerners are just too nice. So she is handicapped.

But this AFT convention, as I will point out in a follow-up, had one third of the delegates who showed up come from NYC. So  if Mulgrew wants it he has it.

And if so, whoever Mulgrew and Randi choose to take over the UFT when that happens will be the next AFT president after that. The AFT is the closest thing we have in this nation to a monarchy.

Do we have an idea yet who will be the next NEA president in 6years? Well actually we do - in the NEA they also pick a successor.

This fundamental difference will always keep the AFT and NEA apart.

By the way, Lily is making a great, funny speech. And she, unlike some we know, was a real classroom teacher for many years and rose through those ranks to get where she is today.

Mike Schirtzer Update: #AFT14, MORE Summer Series om UFT History

Mike makes me feel sorry for Unity Caucus. Here they figured it wouldn't be long before they are rid of me and Mike shows up to offer a few decades more of tsouris. Mike will be sitting in my place at the 2034 convention tweeting and blogging.

But do come out on Weds for the history series.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1504328419780748/

We don't know everything and you all can fill in. I even asked George Altomare yesterday to fill in some gaps. I joked to him he should come - he began to look a little sick at the very thought.

Don't tell Mike that I haven't done some of the work for Weds Night that I promised to do. Maybe while waiting in airport for the redeye tomorrow night. My wonderful wife even offered to pick me up at 5:30AM Tues morning. Then I have a noonish meeting at my house and Gypsy rehearsal Tues night, followed by MORE summer series Weds at 4PM, followed by MORE retreat all day Thurs. Are they trying to kill me?

Hi all,

I don't want to keep filling up your email with reports from the convention so For extensive coverage of this weekend's AFT 2014 convention please see the following

Norm Scott, the grandfather of opposition caucuses and bloggers is there and doing some great reporting. He has over 30 years of experience in AFT/NEA unionism and contacts that no one else can match

http://ednotesonline.blogspot.com/

Steve Sawchuck at Education Week is doing some terrific reporting from the convention

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/teacherbeat/

Jonathan Halabi, a member of New Action Caucus, which runs with Unity on a joint slate, is a  UFT executive board member , wrote a very good report from Friday

http://jd2718.org/

Peter Goodman, who is a member of Unity caucus gives  insight from inside the ruling caucus (called Progressive caucus on the national level) and is often published on Diane Ravitch

http://mets2006.wordpress.com/

The More Caucus twitter account is retweeting some great reports from delegates inside the convention- Katie Lapham and I have been keeping it as active as possible using hashtag #AFT14

https://twitter.com/morecaucusnyc

For hard hitting, honest commentary of AFT, and always a well thought out evaluation I highly recommend you check out

NYC educator 

http://nyceducator.com/

Perdido street/Reality Based Educator

http://perdidostreetschool.blogspot.com/

Also don't forget Wednesday I have the honor of moderating a fantastic panel followed by an open discussion on "Who Runs The UFT (AFT)? Why Are There Alternatives?

 

We have Norm Scott, Ellen Fox, James Eterno, and Kit Wainer lined up as our speakers. They have collectively been a force within the UFT for decades, founders and leaders of opposition caucuses, candidates for top UFT positions, and have even defeated unity caucus for some offices. We will all learn valuable lessons for the progression of MORE. In light of recent events within NYSUT, AFT, and the increasing popularity of our caucus this is a most appropriate time for this event. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1504328419780748/

#AFT Convention - I apologize to non-slugs in Unity Caucus - You Know Who You Are

Norman - let me ask you something about your writing. I know we can disagree on things, but why do you have to get nasty and refer to people as "the Unity slugs?" ... high level UFT official (who I respect and like.)

------ 
Anthony Cody ‏@AnthonyCody 3m

Hearing disturbing reports of pushing and shoving of dissident voices at #AFT14 @rweingarten please address

Susan DuFresne1 ‏@GetUpStandUp2 21m
I didn't realize democracy at #AFT14 was a contact sport. @MSGunderson calls multiple elbowing fouls to voices of CC dissent. @coreteachers

Michelle Gunderson @MSGunderson  ·  13m

.@AFTunion I teach my students to use their words and not push. Let's change floor culture of #aft14 today. @rweingarten can lead this.

Michelle Gunderson @MSGunderson  ·  21m

.@aftunion @rweingarten Regarding today's floor debate. Time is now to change nature of convention culture. Call off goonish behavior... 

......Selected tweets after pushing and shoving over seating at microphones during common core debate in committee (see AFT Convention Update: Chicago CC Reso Goes Down O...Posted Fri 5PM)

I posed these together as part of my response to the "slug" question -- though I don't get why calling someone a slug is such a horrible thing - I'm not calling them a-holes or useless pieces of shit (UPOS).

Some of my readers claim I am insulting slugs.

But given I like and respect the person I feel he did have a point. I responded that I was not calling everyone in Unity "slugs" but was referring to a certain sub-set - as THE Unity slugs --  meaning the people in Unity who are slugs. He said I wasn't being clear and that to him it looked like a blanket condemnation. And I realized he was right - my language has been unclear. I actually have a more favorable view of the individuals in Unity than some of my colleagues and readers. Yes, there are slugs - my judgements of them are based on their behavior, not on their political stands.

Last night a few of us MOREistas ran into a Unity couple (actually on one of them is in Unity) at a bar and had a lot of fun drinking, talking, arguing. Then we kidnapped them and locked them in a closet so the Unity half couldn't vote today on Duncan and Common Core.

Not that I think there is much hope in moderating the behavior of Unity people.

Look at them twirling around the convention in LA -- their actions in controlling the mikes, for instance. Some of their lemming-like, same brain behavior that so enrages people in NYC at the DA and so enrage many of the CORE/CTU delegates to this and previous conventions. One COREista said to me after the Duncan debate this morning - "I think we got outmaneuvered but we are learning more each time." Another said to me the other day, "We are learning from what they do - we don't think that way (remember my "midwesterners are too nice" statement the other day - (except for Rahm)) - and I'm not sure we ever want to follow the Unity way.

So they fight back and lose many of the debates because they are not as ruthless as Unity is - after all, in totalitarian regimes winning by 75% (as they won the common core debate this morning) is not good enough. (I have a good story for you regarding Randi's appearance at the PSC lunch yesterday but don't know if I'll have time to get to it.)

Now to me behavior around microphones - mic etiquette - is where - at events counts for something. The people assigned to call the question at meeting after meeting - planned cutting off of debate - verges on slug-like behavior. What I often do is take photos of Unity people at mics so I can track their comments or calling the question. Here is one of someone familiar.

I tweeted

 @NormScott1  ·  3h

#AFT14 - Mulgrew at mike -gets there pretty often. How often can one guy speak? Guess he knows someone.

How does Mulgrew get the floor so often? Unity uses people as place holders. In this case I was told that Greg Lundahl was a placeholder and gave up his place for Mulgrew. Should this be allowed? If Mulgrew wants to speak let him get on line like everyone else. What Unity does is send placeholders to multiple mics and when the strategic moment comes up their designated speaker slips into line. If I was waiting I would trip him.

And there is a true slug - Steward Kaplan. A nasty slug at that. When I tried to take his photo while he was standing at the mic he told me I had to ask his permission - I said - this is livestreamed did they ask your permission? It is his choice to play this role in the mic game and is fair game -- many Unity people do not do this.

No matter to Kaplan. He doesn't want to see himself exposed. In fact even Randi made a public comment when I turned around and taped people (including all of Unity) standing up to support common core. "Norman is photographing everyone." Did she forget they were live streaming with her own cameras? Maybe they will have an 18 second tape malfunction to hide Unity pro common core votes when it all goes to hell and people like Stuart will leave little comments on the MORE blog about us always bringing up the past and why don't we look to the future?

Kaplan can duck but can't hide

And then there is my new/old pal: @LeoECasey calls question on all matters - vote on implement Duncan improvement plan- if he doesn't must resign.

I am mellowing. I enjoy Leo and have to say that his speech this morning in that sing-song voice had me laughing myself silly.


Ooops gotta go. Paul Egan, no slug in my book, is getting up to speak. A few

Paul Egan

hours ago he was wearing shorts and a tee shirt. Now look at the dude - he pointed out to me he did change but he is wearing the same crappy shoes, which he hopes no one will notice. I didn't tell him he forgot to put on pants. Shhhhh!

#AFT14 Report - Common Core Debate - Epic Battle Between Chicago/CORE and UFT/Unity

The great Sarah Chambers nails them to the wall opposing Common Core .....

Watch it live: bit.ly/1wbeSZG

Gloria in visitor's section just texted - Unity are positioning themselves now near mikes....  Common Core debate begins

[Common Core] will die no matter what the AFT does because, frankly, it doesn’t matter.... Ravitch

UFT throw heavy hitters Mulgrew, Barr - while CORE uses their rank and file -  who are more than capable of holding their own. This is not to say that others around the nation are on the Randi team. So far only Chicago people are opposing the AFT/UFT reso.

UPDATE: See Chicago - reasons to oppose common core.

Debate is beginning on common core. Randi is calling for extensive discussion so no one calls the question prematurely -- poor Unity people who are designated "call the questioners." Randi mentioned the jostling at the mics at the committee meeting, which we reported on (AFT Convention Update: Chicago CC Reso Goes Down O...Posted Fri 5PM),

I am taping off the screen. Leo Casey spoke before and to me he seemed to be branding the foes of CC as tea party people.

There's no way I can keep up in this space but this is the place where teachers can fight this battle out. No question Chicago will lose this one but will walk away with dignity.

Minneapolis teacher is backing Chicago. Attacking pro reso people for distorting debate as if opposed are against standards -- we are against corporate designed standards. You are not going to set our kids up.
Opponents are pinning CC to testing -- if you don't understand what is going on - SHAME ON YOU! Goes after Leroy Barr statement that children in California and NY should be learning the same thing. One of great speeches so far.

I'll do my best to get some video but you can find it online I'm sure. Don't miss this debate.

Gotta end this but with this..

Here is the Ravitch comment

As for Common Core, I agree with CTU. Teachers don’t need scripts. They don’t need “standards” written by a committee that included not a single classroom teacher. They need class sizes they can manage. Their schools need equitable funding. They need tenure to protect them from political reprisals. They need due process and speedy resolution of complaints. They need respect. Common Core does nothing to alleviate the poverty in which nearly one-quarter of our children live. It does nothing to restore the art teachers, librarians, nurses and counselors who have been laid off. It does nothing to address the root causes of poor academic performance: poverty and segregation. It will die no matter what the AFT does because, frankly, it doesn’t matter.

#AFT14 Report - Tidbits

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Randi just said that there is some jockeying at the mics and she wants to make sure there is at least a 15 minute debate on the common core before someone calls the question -- watch the Unity crowd jockey at the mics at 14 minutes and 30 seconds... common core debate begins at 11:15AM.

But first ---
What better way to spend the day? I'm missing my brother-in-law's b-day celebration at his daughter's home in Pennsylvania - a tea-party home by the way -- and my wife is left to drive there all by herself - stay off the Jersey Turnpike today.

I just congratulated Howie Schoor on his move from Brooklyn to the Bronx UFT borough office to fix up one of the major catastrophes in the UFT organizational structure. He will be replaced by popular Brooklyn special rep Debbie Poulos. The leadership has to pay attention to basic services for members and this may be a sign -- hey, every bad situation they allow to fester only increases the move of people towards an opposition. I don't root for them to be incompetent - and maybe they are learning from Chicago where the old UPC totally fell apart, allowing CORE to get in the door.

What is AFT message on and to deformers?
Mike Honda, Congressman and public school teacher  spoke - "like voices in a crowded theater they should - 'bad teachers.' Just show deformers reports on effects of poverty and they will get it." To me this is naive and dangerous and ignores the fact that leading deformers do get it and understand the effects of poverty - they have an agenda and it ain't to redress the effects of poverty -- and not being willing to go there diverts us from the real battle.

Here is the message we need to send to reformers: We will fight you on the beaches.... (video).

-----
Debbie Lynch move to remove Duncan not considered an "in your face" act by CTU folk.

Resolved that the AFT call for the resignation of US Secty of Ed Arne Duncan (as the NEA did) because of his anti-union, anti-teacher, anti-public school agenda.

So there is some speculation on this. That former CTU president Debbie Lynch, making a comeback as an AFT Delegate as a college teacher, surprised people by calling for a special order of business late yesterday, and given that she was in another caucus (PACT) that lost to CORE in 2010 when she ran for CTU President for the 4th time, this was somehow payback to Karen Lewis. A way for Debbie to regain the spotlight. CTU people are telling me that this is in no way true and that CORE/CTU people are supporting Debbie's reso. After all, Chicago has had to bear Arne Duncan for over a dozen years and Debbie was the one during her 3 years as CTU President (01-04) who dealt most directly with Duncan.

-----
AFT and Arne Duncan - Where I agree with Mulgrew
Overheard yesterday during debate on improving conditions for college adjuncts: "Passing this reso will change the lives of thousands of people." Another example of magical thinking. Passing a reso at the AFT convention is pretty meaningless unless followed with action to back it up.

Which leads me to the upcoming debate in a few minutes re: Arne Duncan. When Mark Naison started a "Dump Duncan" campaign - pre-BATS - I didn't take part in it because as long as Obama is president we will get Arne clones - and most likely someone of color to sell ed deform to the communities.

At last night's SJ unionism remarkable discussion, Mulgrew said that he couldn't care less about what the convention does about Arne Duncan  because it won't mean a hill of beans (I'm paraphrasing) - and I agree with him except for the behind the scenes reasons. We know that the AFT/UFT don't really want to call for Duncan's resignation because they want their little stool at the Democratic Party table. But Mulgew, whose skills at doing this kind of thing I increasingly appreciate, gets at a germ of truth -- it is a "feel good we are doing something" point and to me a waste of time and energy since it is Obama, not Duncan and even if Duncan left Obama would appoint someone as bad. I was in a minority last night in conversations with our friends (shout-out to Robert D. Skeels of Schools Matter who I've known online for years and met for first time last night). They seem to think the political battle is a good organizing tool.
-------

OK - so much more to report but common core debate beginning and I'm going to open another blog post for that -- interesting that Randi just said that there is some jockeying at the mics and she wants to make sure there is at least a 15 minute debate on the common core before someone calls the question -- watch the Unity crowd jockey at the mics at 14 minutes and 30 seconds.

#AFT14 Report: When Will the UFT/AFT Reclaim the Promise of a Democratic Union?

....independence of thought is a liability in Unity.  The democracy is a sham and I pledge to challenge it as I also pledge to challenge misguided corporate reforms... Arthur Goldstein 

AFT President Randi Weingarten kicked off the AFT national convention.... by outline a bold plan to both fight back and fight forward to reclaim the promise of America and create economic and educational opportunity for all.... AFT News Press Release 

You know I'm not all negative, having had some great conversations with so many people here and even with Unity folk -- we often get along great when we are away. And I even hear what some of them are saying. But you cannot watch some of the stuff I've seen and heard from Mulgrew and Randi that are so hypocritical and in some cases outright lies.

Who can disagree with the "Reclaim the Promise of America" theme of this convention? It is an attack on the people who have deformed not only education but the economy, the political structure and just about anything else that could be deformed. [And let me say here that my creation of the "ed deform" term has even made it her as part of some official events. Darn, I shoulda trademarked it.]

But behind it all is the fact that the very concept of a democratic society has been deformed and unless that is reclaimed - or claimed in the first place - there is no reclaiming any of the rest. Yet the slavish devotion of Randi, the AFT, the UFT and most of American labor to the deformed Democratic Party - see one Andrew Cuomo as exhibit #1 -- undermines the very nature of the "reclaim" theme.

But even worse, is the lack of democracy in the AFT/UFT Union Educational Industrial Complex (thanks to Lenny Isenberg for this one). Let's brand it UEIC - which can be morphed into YUCK!

At last night's social justice unionism SRO event with Mulgrew, Karen, Alex and others - which Randi just had to crash - I heard statements that had us MOREistas smacking our heads and rending our garments. I won't get into this astounding event that mixed dozens of Unity people with dozens of CORE and LATU people in one space. I have some video which will say it all (and I'll leave it to the readers to find the mis-truths and outright lies.)

Alex and Karen both said social justice unionism is not possible without starting out with a democratic union down to its roots. So at this point I'll let my pal Arthur Goldstein take over and address the point that Randi must first reclaim the promise of a democratic union that doesn't send a block of 800 votes with one brain or that doesn't have a 100% Executive Board endorsed by Unity Caucus.

Will Weingarten Pledge to Stand with Us in Supporting True Union Democracy? - 

Ms. Weingarten sent me a pledge from the halls of the AFT Convention in L.A. today.  The pledge concluded with these words:  "While we're fighting for big things, no action is too small.  We need you to do whatever you can.  Commit to engage your colleagues in the fight.  To build power at the ballot box.  To share our work online and in person.  To work hand in hand with the communities we serve."
I must know whether Ms. Weingarten is sincere and if her invitation applies to all.  Will UFT Unity delegates be able to engage their colleagues and their communities if the views differ from those of Unity's leadership?  The AFT can never truly represent the views of its rank and file in a democratic sense so long as UFT Unity, the tail that wags two dogs,  both NYSUT and the AFT, is not truly democratic.
Some of the most committed and experienced individuals have faced a Unity lockout for years now because, put quite simply, they refuse to swear to vote the Unity line and adhere to all Unity policies in public.
How will I know whether our Union truly wishes to represent its rank and file and tolerate free discussion or whether it merely wishes to represent the views of a mysterious few in leadership positions whom largely seem out of touch with active members?
1.  UFT Unity would need to discard loyalty oaths and palm cards (which instruct delegates how to vote), cutting the purse strings of a vast patronage system that provides lucrative employment in union offices, double pensions, fancy trips and other privileges only to those who sign away the right to vote their conscience or that of their constituency if they differ from the Unity party line.
2.  The slate voting tied to a winner-take-all system in UFT elections would need to change.  MORE received 40% of the high school vote in the last election.  Yet, not a single MORE rep. is allowed to sit on the Executive Board.  This is not democracy.
3.  District Reps. would need to be elected.  In the past, chapter leaders were allowed to pick their reps.  Now, they are appointed, in a completely undemocratic way, and they are all Unity.
4.  The UFT would need to allow more debate in which all sides are allowed equal time and the voice of critics, who are die-hard unionists, are not summarily dismissed or stifled.  There would need to be far greater transparency as well. We deserve to know a lot more about how our representatives vote on each issue and we need to hold them accountable.
5.  The U.F.T. should stop the charade of empowering retirees with greater voting power as a means to guarantee its stranglehold on elections.
If Unity cannot share power with those who have differing views, it is really no better than a bully on the playground. It intimidates its own caucus members to fall in line by threatening to withdraw lucrative benefits and access to the party.  It bullies nonmembers by marginalizing them and failing to give them the representation they deserve.
As an educator, I favor free thought and expression. As it stands now, UFT Unity doesn't want its delegates to choose wisely, as advised by Roosevelt in the quote above; it simply wants them to rubber stamp leadership decisions.  They don't need much of a brain to do that.  And, it's a terrible shame; as an educator I hate to see intelligence go unrecognized.  Yet, independence of thought is a liability in Unity.  The democracy is a sham and I pledge to challenge it as I also pledge to challenge misguided corporate reforms.