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1) Buffalo President Vows to Fight
New York Merger. Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF)
President Philip Rumore threw down the gauntlet against the proposed merger
of NEA New York and the AFT-affiliated New York State United Teachers (NYSUT),
calling the plan "a complete capitulation" and promising to fight it with
all means at his disposal.
With 3,500 members, BTF is NEA New
York's largest local affiliate, and Rumore was one of the ringleaders of the
opposition to the proposed NEA-AFT national merger in 1998. That attempt,
which required two-thirds approval, gathered only 42 percent of the delegate
vote. The proposed merger in New York will require approval of two-thirds of
the delegates to the NEA New York delegate assembly in April (NYSUT is
expected to approve it easily). BTF constitutes only 10 percent of NEA New
York's membership, so Rumore has his work cut out for him – particularly
since the vote will not be done by secret ballot.
Nevertheless, Rumore made it clear that
he will not only oppose the merger, but he will seek allies to organize
against it. "We plan to do whatever we need to do," he told EIA.
Unlike other merger opponents, Rumore
has no problem with the AFL-CIO, and cited his past cooperation with the
labor federation. But he believes the merger proposal completely eradicates
any vestige of NEA New York, and he criticizes NEA New York's officers for
negotiating it. "I don't believe this organization is theirs to give away,"
he said.
More disturbing for NEA New York and
NYSUT are Rumore's intentions should delegates approve the merger. "We plan
to propose to our members that we go independent," he said. If that were to
happen, BTF would instantly become the largest independent local teachers'
union in the country, and perhaps a model for others. Those are high stakes
for everyone involved – BTF, NEA New York and NYSUT.
2) Miami and DC: Can Dissidents Win?
Both unions suffered theft and scandal because of their duly elected
presidents. Both were placed under direct AFT administration. Both approved
new constitutions and bylaws. Both welcomed all comers into elections for
top union offices. And now both seem on the verge of electing allies of the
ousted officials to lead them.
Today, the Washington Teachers Union (WTU)
begins mailing ballots to its 4,000 members, who will have three weeks to
choose from four candidates for the WTU presidency. But the two frontrunners
are George Parker, a longtime WTU dissident and twice-unsuccessful candidate
against the now-disgraced Barbara Bullock, and Rachel Hicks, who is a WTU
employee, the supervisor of the union's field representatives, and who is
described by the Washington Post as "a former ally of Bullock's."
Today also marks the beginning of
balloting in the runoff for leadership of the United Teachers of Dade (UTD).
Shirley Johnson, the union's secretary-treasurer under Pat Tornillo and his
choice for successor, nearly won the presidency outright, but Karen
Aronowitz and her slate of candidates pulled in enough support to force the
runoff. Judging from their rhetoric, it appears Aronowitz and her slate can
hardly believe it has come to this.
Asked about what caused UTD's financial
crisis, Aronowitz replied, "The collapse can be attributed to two factors –
the financial greed and mismanagement of the union by officers, including
the secretary-treasurer, and the loss of connection with the school and work
sites by the union leadership."
Aronowitz's vice-presidential running
mate, Artie Leichner, was blunter. "Fiscal stupidity," he said. "A gutless
secretary-treasurer who feathered her own nest and refused to defy a thief!"
For her part, Johnson objected to the
question as trying "to keep our union in the past" and said that in the UTD
leadership "there is no room for amateurs."
One is reminded of the old joke about
how amateurs built the ark, and professionals built the Titanic. But Johnson
has a point based in reality, if not justice. Union members, at least in
these two locals, seem content with the change of process, and are perfectly
willing to hand the union back to those who sat in place during the
scandals. That can't be very encouraging to union reformers and dissidents
elsewhere.
3) Dues Hike for PR in Minnesota?
At least one NEA state affiliate examined the election returns and decided
that drastic action was necessary. In a bold move, next month the governing
board of Education Minnesota will discuss raising members' dues for – a
media campaign! Ah, the daring! The innovation! Why hadn't someone thought
of it sooner?
4) Sinking in the Wine-Dark Sea.
Restoring an emphasis on a classical education seems to be a lost cause, and
one is in danger of becoming a scold if he or she continually harps on the
lack of Shakespeare, grammar, algebra, history, etc., etc. But can we at
least generate some respect for it?
Over the weekend, I was struck by two
widely separate tales of woe. In my local newspaper, the Sacramento Bee,
a writing tutor bewailed the ignorance of basic English among California
students. "We're in denial about the laxity of American English," wrote
Roger S. Peterson. "Wordiness and confusing grammar are crippling business
communication. Managers disregard the problem, and wonder why they must
re-explain themselves to employees and customers. Police exams now have a
language and writing component. Chiefs are tired of losing cases when
defense attorneys spotlight ambiguous police reports."
Peterson went on. "Language laxity
infects students," he wrote. "They cannot write a literate, correctly
punctuated sentence and cannot think logically. Universities require a
course in critical thinking, but for kids who think, like, in spurts and
speak, like, in mumbles, the course is an enigma."
As depressing as Peterson's polemic was,
it pales when compared to an item published the next day by the Agence
France-Presse (AFP). Evidently there is a proposal by the government in
Greece to include additional study of ancient Greek in the school
curriculum. It is hard to imagine there would be much resistance in Greece
to teaching the language of Plato and Socrates to students, to whom it would
be less difficult than Elizabethan English is to American students. But
there are opponents, led by (surprise!) the secondary school teachers'
union. "Pupils don't like ancient Greek classes," one teacher told AFP.
"They think it's tiresome and useless."
All this would be enough to dishearten
Odysseus, a man, Homer told us, who was never at a loss.
5) Still Time to Follow in the Wake
of the Crusades. Time and tide wait for no man,
but you can still join me "In the Wake of the Crusades."
From May 8 to May 19, 2005, our
group will board the Holland America's Rotterdam as it takes us on
a 10-day cruise of the Mediterranean, with stops in Venice, Croatia, Greece,
Turkey and Malta. There will be special events, and three lectures on the
legacy of the Crusades from yours truly.
Island
Getaways Travel has set up a web page for our group with additional details
at
http://www.islandgetawaystravel.com/crusades.htm. Call toll free at
1-866-345-ISLE (office hours weekdays 9 am - 5 pm Pacific time, leave
message other times) and a package with all the relevant information will be
sent to you, with no obligation.
We need to
lock in our space early in the new year, so don't delay!
6) Quote of
the Week.
"[Teachers] feel like they're being held hostage." – Cheryl
Bost, president of the Teachers Association of Baltimore County, commenting
on a district rule that limits voluntary transfers of "highly qualified"
teachers. It's terrible when powerful interests keep you from the school of
your choice. (November 28 Baltimore Sun) |
