tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67114702819980324482024-03-16T00:08:20.003-07:00Second City TeachersJvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.comBlogger1144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-37450476429778292782023-04-22T06:35:00.000-07:002023-04-22T06:35:38.787-07:00Substack<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Second City Teachers Moves to Substack!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Second City Teachers has moved from the news blog format to our new address:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Secondcityteachers.substack.com</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We plan to build a bigger subscriber base and include an exciting addition of podcasts so you can hear interesting interviews while riding your bike, driving your car or going for a walk. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I can officially now say we are not a news blog service. I registered Second City Teachers with Blogger because it was the easiest format to use. However, readers know we are not a news blog that just reposts others work and comments on it. That seems to dominate the world of social media today. We do original reporting that a newspaper undertakes, which requires resources. We hope that this new format will allow us to grow to provide that independent reporting not following the corporate mainstream media line that presents news according to the big business agenda. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our reporting focuses on the teachers and others who work hard in the Chicago public schools and need a voice. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Please consider subscribing to Secondcityteachers.substack.com!</b></span></p>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-80348212015274391452023-04-22T06:19:00.000-07:002023-04-22T06:19:01.946-07:00Ray Terror Ends<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Ray Elementary Nightmare Ends After Expulsion</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By Jim Vail</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">The child who physically and verbally assaulted students and staff and forced the principal to take a leave of absence was finally expelled from Ray Elementary School.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"It was uncontrollable behavior in which students and the principal were attacked and the teachers experienced such stress that they had to take a leave of absence," said one teacher at the school who wished to remain anonymous.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This teacher told Second City Teachers in a phone interview that the staff banded together to raise the issue at the Local School Council and the publicity it generated in the media helped to move the Chicago Public Schools to solve a serious security problem that is being felt by teachers and staff across the city.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Hyde Park Herald wrote about the problem at Ray Elementary School, 5631 S. Kimbark Ave., in an article entitled "Ray Elementary LSC Alleges Physical Assaults Against Staff and Students in the School."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Incidents involving a student and said student's family (have) caused a great disruption in the learning environment and continuity of care and leadership inside the school," the LSC Chair was quoted as saying. "The principal of Ray Elementary, Gayle (Harris)-Neely, as well as several teachers, were physically and verbally assaulted inside the school, during the school day."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After the principal was physically assaulted by the student last November, she took a short leave of absence, but when she returned she was verbally threatened by the student and then took an indefinite leave of absence on Dec. 19.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What was even more frustrating for the school was that the CPS Chief for Network 9 Alene Mason did little to "bring all survivors of the assaults back to work in a safe, supportive environment that centers their mental and physical well-being."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"CPS sent in seven people from the Office of Social and Emotional Learning and the Office of Safety and Security and sat in a circle to hear different teachers talk about the trauma they experienced," the teacher said. "They recommended de-escalation training and promised other solutions, but they never returned to the school."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The student, whose name is being withheld because he is a minor, would even chase teachers down the hallway in a violent and threatening manner, the teacher said. The student threatened to rape one teacher and hurled obscenities at students and staff. A restraining order was even filed against the student from one of his teachers.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"There were multiple staff leaving in tears every day and the security was upset," the teacher said. "People were really afraid to come to work."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The problem, according to the Ray teacher, was Covid when kids were traumatized during the pandemic because many were left at home with no supervision and did not receive the attention they needed to develop not only academically, but socially as well.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It appeared CPS preferred to coverup the problem rather than deal with it head on. The interim principal told the staff everything was under control, when it was not. How many teachers and staff at schools throughout the district are also experiencing such trauma, resulting in more teachers quitting.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The focus on restorative justice at the expense of suspending or expelling students who pose serious security risks in the school has also made dire situations like this untenable.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"His homeroom teacher had a restraining order on him," the teacher said. "His peers then see that there are no consequences for these actions so their behavior problems escalate."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The child's father threatened the school stating that they cannot deny his child's education and sent him to school even though he was supposed to be at home serving a suspension. The child accosted the security guard on the way to the school, the teacher said. He would then wander the hallways and attacked students and faculty alike.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Teachers can file a grievance against the Chicgo Board of Education if they feel the school is not safe to teach in. The Chicago Teachers Union stepped in and met with the administration to try to alleviate the problem. However, the teacher said trying to restore sick days that were taken because of the unsafe environment was not the solution to the problem.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The problem was solved when the teachers united with the LSC and the parents, and raised the issue in the media to finally force CPS to remove a serious challenge to a safe environment.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As a result, CPS expelled the student because he punched a wall in the principal's office. </span></p>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-57441164603213484832023-03-13T13:07:00.000-07:002023-03-13T13:07:28.341-07:00Skyline<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Skyline Curriculum a Trojan Horse to Increased Standardized Testing?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By Jim Vail</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><a class="a-link" href="https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/off-the-shelf-or-custom-made-why-some-districts-are-designing-their-own-curriculum/2022/09#promo" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; clear: unset; font-family: Lyon, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: inherit; transition: color 0.12s cubic-bezier(0.59, 0.01, 0.37, 0.975) 0s, background-color 0.12s cubic-bezier(0.59, 0.01, 0.37, 0.975) 0s, border-color 0.12s cubic-bezier(0.59, 0.01, 0.37, 0.975) 0s;" target="_self"><picture style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: unset; touch-action: inherit;"><img alt="" class="Image" height="141" src="https://epe.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ec3081b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1720x1150+0+0/resize/942x630!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fepe-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F13%2Fdaebe8734ec890261636bc43df4d%2F28teacher-licensure-0323-1294218672.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: unset; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; touch-action: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; width: 167.656px;" width="168" /></picture></a></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">The Skyline Curriculum for Chicago Public School students has teachers scratching their heads over a culturally relevant program developed by corporate America that ultimately leads to more standardized testing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">The lessons for teachers focus on a set of slides with online and hard copy texts that focus on social justice, community activism and neighorhood issues.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Teachers I spoke with feel overwhelmed by the amount of materials and information to read through in order to prepare scripted lessons, some of which are not grade level appropriate.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">For example, fourth grade students are asked to read parts of two novels that are at the 7th and 8th grade levels. Many online links either do not work or Skyline did not purchase the license to access the text that is part of the lesson.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">CPS paid a whopping $120 million with Covid money to purchase this online curriculum that is overtly political with a lesson on Mayor Lori Lightfoot.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Some teachers said they were asked to give feedback during the design stage but realized that the company had no interest in teachers' input because it was a 'done deal.'</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"It is too cumbersome," said one Southside elementary teacher. "The teacher has to spend way too much time looking at all the guidelines and little children don't need to be sitting in front of a computer for so long. If it informed my teaching I would accept it, but it hasn't."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Perhaps even more troubling for teachers and students is the increase in standardized testing that the Chicago Teachers Union has fought against. Skyline has three standardized assessments throughout the year modeled on the IAR test that many consider a very difficult test. The jolt from read alouds and feel good lessons to standardized assessments is especially troubling.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"I really have to change my teaching because some these lessons are not developmentally appropriate," said another teacher.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">The CTU distributed a Skyline survey to teachers which included questions such as:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Does it hinder educators creativity? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Should a rubric be used to evaluate its effectiveness?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">How overwhelming is the curriculum?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">How long does it take to complete Skyline lessons?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">The education reform group Educators for Excellence that was set up several years ago with financing from anti-union and anti-public education money quickly capitalized on these concerns by sending out to teachers its own survey.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">They claimed in emails that they had surveyed hundreds of teachers and made the following recommendations which really don't address the glaring problems. They include - simplify teacher materials and provide time for teacher development, offer more training on differentiating materials, provide more resource accomodations, adjust lesson pacing, and build district-wide buy-in through clear messaging.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"We know that with the money spent on Skyline already, it won't be going away any time soon, so these recommendations aim to ensure that CPS curriculum equity strategy has the best chance of success," wrote E4E, which plans to meet with CPS Education Officer Bogdana Chkoumbova. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">When it comes to school curriculums, CPS veteran teachers have seen many costly programs come and go over the years. During remote learning during Covid teachers were forced to come up with their own materials in addition to whatever texts they were using to adapt to online. Before that the Common Core became a standardized corporate model that forced teachers to search out their own "rigorous" materials and assessments.</span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Skyline may be just another corporate creature dressed up as a culturally-responsive curriculum but ultimately dooms the children to more demoralizing standardized tests. </span></p>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-2738991549429378072023-03-09T19:25:00.000-08:002023-03-09T19:25:29.214-08:00Vallas & Ken Griffen<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Brandon Johnson Hits Vallas Hard on Crime in NBC Mayoral Debate</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By Jim Vail</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfT08_5YsLDUV3JBAcxW7EN4E_JVGlWM8rIscvg4zRnhXxDUSR8v8IELVRjjugLOH43pf7-GFV3MXqIWlqTsgvalJ1YgORkcob7nZwxFOKDquYsDR0Hini9ZwLGk7HPWiZEUl3V8qrKieQ_DITF6nIorf5Z8Ky-9UFH39_oC8q4Zbu4r-4xZjroAMDKQ/s474/Kenneth_Griffin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="474" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfT08_5YsLDUV3JBAcxW7EN4E_JVGlWM8rIscvg4zRnhXxDUSR8v8IELVRjjugLOH43pf7-GFV3MXqIWlqTsgvalJ1YgORkcob7nZwxFOKDquYsDR0Hini9ZwLGk7HPWiZEUl3V8qrKieQ_DITF6nIorf5Z8Ky-9UFH39_oC8q4Zbu4r-4xZjroAMDKQ/s320/Kenneth_Griffin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is billionaire Ken Griffen who hates unions and funds Vallas.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Crime was the big issue for voters and the reason former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas came out in front in the Feb. 28 Mayor Election.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But at the NBC Mayoral Debate in the runoff on Wednesday, March 8, Brandon Johnson hit Vallas hard on crime.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Paul Vallas is funded by billionaire Ken Griffen who invests in gun manufacturers and puts the guns on our streets," Brandon said. "I want to take guns off of our streets."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Vallas constantly demanded rebuttals to Brandon Johnson's attacks on his record when it came to tax increases, defunded pensions and right-wing extremism, but after sticking the knife in the very essence of his platform - safety and more cops - he had nothing to say.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Johnson brilliantly played the dark billionaire Ken Griffen card to perfection. Why is a billionaire who left this state and cavorts with an extremist Florida governor who is openly calling to ban books in school libraries, funding his campaign? Most of the money he has collected has come from Mr. Griffen. What is his agenda?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Griffen was the villian of working people in Illinois when he used his enormous wealth to defeat a progressive tax that would have made the rich pay their fair share of Illionis taxes and help out the rest of the people of this state. He also told previous Mayor Rahm Emanuel to close 125 schools. Emanuel ended up closing 50 schools which rankles the city to this day.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Understandably, Willie Wilson a black millionaire businessman endorsed Vallas.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Understandly, the black politicians who are funded by the establishment with support from rich donors like Ken Griffen endorsed Vallas, including charter/developer Ald. Walter Burnett and Ald. Roderick Sawyer, who did legal work for a company that scammed an elderly person with dementia out of his home. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Those are the type of black politicians and business people who line up behind their puppet Paul Vallas. They sold out to the ugly capitalists many years ago.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Brandon Johnson comes from the fighting CORE team who defeated the corrupt UPC party. CORE took up the fight the old company union refused to engage in - the fight against school closings, privatization, charter schools, attacks on public schools, corrupt crony contracts, etc.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Who is Paul Vallas? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Chicago Teachers Union has put out lots of literature about how he began the privatization frenzy and war against the public schools and the CTU and black educators by firing many black teachers and administrators because they worked in "failing schools."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Never matter that these people are really heroes dealing with overwhelming conditions in parts of the city racked by poverty, violence and despair.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Years ago my teacher friend on the South Side was with her students one morning shoveling snow outside a nursing home as part of a civic action. Suddenly out of nowhere a phalanx of dark sedans pulled up and out popped Paul Vallas. He grabbed her shovel amid flashing lights of the camera crews who were like flies buzzing around something rotten, smiled for a brief second, and then disappeared faster than a firefly in the night.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Win or lose - the fight against Paul Vallas and what he represents is the fight we working people in the city must fight now and forever more!</span></p>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-2202110223339554182023-03-08T15:27:00.002-08:002023-03-08T15:27:58.287-08:00CFL Meeting<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Report of the Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL) Delegates Meeting</span></p><p><br /></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Note: This was an in-person meeting.</span><span>1. From the Minutes of the Executive Board, March 6, 2023</span></span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The CFL is hosting its 2023 Women’s Luncheon on March 21 starting at 11:30</span><span>a.m. at the IBEW Local 134 Hall at 2722 S. Martin Luther King Drive. Admission is free </span><span>but one must register in advance by March 14. Go to: chicagolabor.org/womensluncheon </span><span>or call 312-222-1000 for more information.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The CFL is having a Labor May Day 5K Walk and Run on Sunday, April 30 </span><span>beginning at 8:00 a.m.. Contact Gus Fuguitt at gfuguitt@chicagolabor.org or call 312-</span><span>906-2434 for more information.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The CFL reported that the annual commemoration of the Haymarket Police Riot </span><span>will take place on Monday, May 1 at noon at the Haymarket Memorial.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The CFL is working with the National Park service to move the annual Labor Day </span><span>Parade from the East Side, where it has been held for a number of years, to the Pullman </span><span>National Historic Park and it is planned to be on Saturday, September 2.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">2. President’s Report</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Pres. Reiter said that 41 of the 42 candidates that were endorsed by the CFL won </span><span>their election or they are in a runoff. He said the CFL will continue to remain neutral in </span><span>Chicago’s mayoral runoff in April. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>A number of delegates, Bea Lumpkin and Debby </i><i>Pope of the CTU among them, urged the CFL give up its neutrality and endorse Brandon Johnson. Reiter said the CFL has a process for endorsement that would have to be used in order to take a position.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Pres. Reiter also said the CFL’s political action committee had a long list of </span><span>endorsed candidates; most in the upcoming suburban elections but also in a few of the </span><span>Chicago aldermanic runoff elections.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The president also spoke of the labor peace agreement the City made with Bally’s </span><span>for a new casino in the City. Besides creating jobs in its construction, those who will be </span><span>employed there will also be union members. He also said that the revenue from the </span><span>casino will be used to fund the Fire Department’s pension fund. I asked if the labor peace </span><span>agreement will also apply to the proposed temporary casino that may be at the old </span><span>Medinah Temple. His response implied that it would be but also that the CFL legal staff </span><span>is looking into this concern.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">3. Good and Welfare</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Colin Smalley, president of Local 777, International Federation of Professional &amp; </span><span>Technical Engineers, updated the assembly on the lack of support from U.S. Senate </span><span>majority leader Chuck Schumer. The National Labor Relations Authority is a three-</span><span>member panel similar to the National Labor Relations Board, but it deals with workers in </span><span>the federal public sector, not the private sector. The NLBA has been operating for a </span><span>while with only two members, one of which is an anti-worker Trump appointee.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Consequently, when there are complaints filed by Colin’s union, which works with the </span><span>U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, nothing can be decided. Pres. Biden appointed a third </span><span>member but the Senate, led by Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York refused to bring </span><span>the appointment up for approval. Consequently, when the Senate adjourned for its term </span><span>the time limit for the appointment expired.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The National Association of Letter Carriers is sponsoring its annual Food Drive </span><span>on Saturday, May 13. All are asked to put non-perishable food items in a bag by their </span><span>mailboxes. The food will be collected and delivered to a local food bank.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Lastly, being Women’s History month, the CFL presented its Woman of the Year </span><span>Award. The Award’s name for formally changed to Rosetta Daylie Woman of the Year </span><span>award. Ms Dayleie is the longest serving member on the current CFL Executive Board.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The Award was presented to Kathy Hanshaw of the Chicago and Midwest Regional Joint </span><span>Board of Working Families.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Kathy has been active for a long time with the CMRJB in helping to organize </span><span>workers at Starbucks. In her remarks she mentioned that there are now over 7,200 </span><span>Starbucks workers in 291 stores that are organized; 25 of which are in Illinois. She said </span><span>that over 1,000 Unfair Labor Practice complaints have been filed against the chain and </span><span>that the chain has broken numerous federal laws including firing workers who fight for a </span><span>union, closing or threatening to close stores that are organizing, and illegally offering </span><span>raises and benefits only to stores that are not organizing.</span></span></p>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-91585048427459829012023-02-21T19:02:00.004-08:002023-02-21T19:02:39.469-08:00CTU Retirees Group <p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Report of the meeting of the Retiree Functional Group (RFG) held on, February 21, 2023</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">By George Milkowski</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a6ce0183-7fff-7a9f-85dc-c9e1202e0bdf"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With the pandemic receding the Retired Functional Group RFG had its first in-person meeting in almost two years. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The meeting began at 10:46 a.m.. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The meeting began by a welcome from Tennille Evans, CTU liaison with the retiree group. She then had members of the Retired Members Standing Committee who were present to introduce themselves and make a few brief comments.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tennille asked the assembly for suggestions for issues and topics that the RFG should address. She wants to have the RMSC and the RFG deal with items that are of concern of the members and not issues that are top-down from the CTU.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hilario Dominguez, (Political Legislative) spoke of how there is only one week before the official date of the municipal election. He said that Paul Vallas is leading in a poll conducted February 12-15, with Lori Lightfoot in a statistical tie for second with Brandon Johnson. Hilario cited a recent comment by Jesus “Chuy” Garcia asking if Brandon could be neutral if he is elected mayor. Hilario said “No’; that we want someone who understands what we face in the schools and is willing to work </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">with</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the CTU to get better schools for everyone. He made it clear that Brandon has NOT called for an income tax on those making more than $100,000. He also said that Anjanette Young, the woman whose apartment was wrongfully raided by police three years ago while she was naked, endorsed Brandon today. Any who would like to volunteer in the final push for Brandon this week should contact the CTU at ctulocal1.org/volunteer.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Howard Heath, newly elected retiree functional vice president to the CTU Executive Board, spoke of concerns some people have about supporting </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paul Vallas</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. He reminded the attendees that Vallas had been an advisor to Mayor Richard M. Daley and also was the CEO for the CPS about thirty years ago. As such he imposed the pension payment default (he called it a holiday) and did NOT have the CPS make any payments into our pension fund for years. He argued that the CTPF was in good financial shape and didn’t need the money. While it is true that the fund was fully funded then, he ignored objections that it might not always be that way, especially as the baby boomers (myself included) were approaching retirement en masse and there would be greater demands on the fund. Maria Rodiguez pointed out that the fund is currently funded at 47.5% as of the most recent figures, which means we are not in great shape today. This wouldn’t be a problem if Vallas had made the payments instead of diverting that money to other things.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tennille asked for people to volunteer to serve on subcommittees of the RMSC – a social committee, membership committee, political action committee and PSRP committee</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tom Tulley said that if Brandon doesn’t make it into a runoff we should consider endorsing Jesus Garcia. He also reminded the group that in 2024 we will have the first round of elections for an elected school board that will be phased in in 2024 and 2026.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Charlotte Sanders pointed out the great inequities that exist between the CTPF and the Municipal Employees Pension Fund that our PSRPs belong to. They do not have an elected board, they cannot sub at all without losing their pensions, they have no assistance in their medical insurance costs, and other differences. And according to Maria Rodriguez, their pension fund is only funded at the 20% level; much worse than ours.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Someone brought up information about a new dental plan for retirees that the CTU will look into.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kurt Hilgendorf (CTU) said that two members of the General Assembly, Sen. Martwick and Rep. Maurice Evans, are preparing legislation that would allow PSRPs to be subs. He also said there has been a bill submitted this past week that sets the boundaries for the upcoming elected school board elections. There is a bill that would require charter school operators to stay out of union organizing drives. For example, they would not be allowed to hold mandatory anti-union meetings with their faculty and staff.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The bill numbers and sponsors information will be made available soon. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The CTU intends to organize bus trips to Springfield to lobby in the Spring on legislation of interest to our membership. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kurt also asked for volunteers to help get Brandon elected. If anyone has concerns as to where he stands on the issues, one may go to brandonforchicago.com to see his entire platform.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bill Lamm asked for support on changing the existing statewide law that bans rent controls. He said rental rates have skyrocketed and that there are around 20,000 CPS students who have no housing. There is proposed legislation that would allow municipalities to impose some sort of rent control.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CTU vice president Jackson Potter also spoke regarding lifting the rent control ban. He said there are more people in Chicago now, many of them immigrants bused in from other states, that have no housing and will have a hard time surviving while their parents go through the process of trying to be recognized as legal residents of the U.S.. He mentioned the CPS is sitting on $1,800,000,000 in federal relief money that it is refusing to use on the needs of the students and of the schools.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pres. Stacy Davis Gates addressed the audience. She announced that the CTYU will be re-issuing calendar date books that many retirees had relied on.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stacy also expressed concerns about future payouts by the CPS to the pension board. With that in mind we really need to focus on politics now and in the next election cycles that will be the vehicle for having an elected school board.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before adjourning, I mentioned that the number of retirees who are members of the CTU dropped by over 60 according to the latest figures from the CTU. I reminded those who were present to make sure they paid their investment fee (a.k.a. dues) as soon as possible and that they should remind their friends to do the same. If you haven’t sent in your check, please contact the CTU about this as soon as possible.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>The meeting adjourned at 12:44 p.m.</i></span></p></span></span>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-77295659907993833002023-02-12T17:29:00.001-08:002023-02-12T17:32:54.066-08:00Crypto Con<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Chicago Teachers Pension Fund Cryptic About Its Crypto Investments</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By Jim Vail </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY84HrmYSTUVxCtyybQN87FlEFAEZ_3jos6ehqoGBqokSQSQDwe6gE2kHV50K9sPKaRQ-alpEptpr_m2h01xHNGUAaA_rt_WeOc70yXna5dZeqZNiBCPgpFQNKg_xAM-K1Jm-ZRV-1hqLyrVgFr0QPgWChCvzpxS4omtZnWQrpQlq3CKoPT-cRDz8b3A/s225/image.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY84HrmYSTUVxCtyybQN87FlEFAEZ_3jos6ehqoGBqokSQSQDwe6gE2kHV50K9sPKaRQ-alpEptpr_m2h01xHNGUAaA_rt_WeOc70yXna5dZeqZNiBCPgpFQNKg_xAM-K1Jm-ZRV-1hqLyrVgFr0QPgWChCvzpxS4omtZnWQrpQlq3CKoPT-cRDz8b3A/s1600/image.png" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CTPF Investment Chair Phil Weiss</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Chicago Teachers Pension Fund Trustee Phil Weiss believed that CTPF was not invested in crypto currencies. After being wined and dined by crpto salespeople, Weiss, who chairs the Investment Committee, said no way.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Weiss agreed with experts who say crypto is not a legitimate investment. Some</span><span> say an investment in crypto is even worse than a Ponzi scheme because it is an unregulated market. The spectacular collapse of FTX was proof in the pudding.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">However, it turns out that the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund is indeed invested in crypto, in a very cryptic way. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">At last month's CTPF Board meeting, Retired Teacher Trustee Maria Rodriguez asked an investment consultant if the Fund was invested in crypto directly or indirectly. Callan, the Fund's consultant, said the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund is invested in crypto, but it is minimal, although she could not say how much pension money was invested.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Trustee Weiss then interjected to say that he was first told the Fund was not invested, but then they later admitted upon further questioning that yes the Fund did buy into crypto, but at a minimum.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"We studied and decided crypto didn't meet the standards, it's not investment grade," Trustee Weiss said at the board meeting.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He said it was a good thing too as these investments like the subprime disaster that tanked the economy in 2008 have gone downhill. But he added that crypto has worked its way into a lot of places.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Indeed it has. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot declared Chicago would be a haven for crypto currency because it would revolutionize banking and bring the city investment and jobs. Wall Street similarly sold subprime loans as a wonder for people who otherwise could not buy a home.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"We're fortunate to not get involved in this," Retired Teacher Trustee Lois Nelson said at the meeting. "We're not gambling, we're investing."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Chicago Teachers Pension Fund appears to take its marching orders from the Chicago Machine. Its close ties to Ariel Investments and Chairperson Mellody Hobson who also chairs the Starbucks Board of Directors as they engage in a vicious anti-union campaign and has performed poorly for CTPF over the years and now this crypto investing after the Mayor declared it good for the city show the Fund's allegiance to politics over sound pension investments.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Second City Teachers filed a Freedom of Information Request to determine how much CTPF is invested in crypto currencies. All members who pay into the Teachers Pension Fund should be able find out how their pension money is being invested.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"With respect to CTPF, please disclose any direct or indirect investments, including through funds managed by external fund managers, in any of the following categories as it relates to digital assets."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">However, CTPF attorney Daniel Hurtado denied the request.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"CTPF is unable to fulfill your request because it is not asking for existing public records, but is asking CTPF to research its records and then create a document or documents that contain the information you are requesting, which is not required under FOIA."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I then filed a follow up FOIA request that simply asked how much money has the Teachers Pension Fund invested in crypto currencies.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Public pension funds across the country are denying public requests about their investments in crypto currencies.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"America's state and local pensions are supposed to be the most transparent in the world," wrote Ted Siedle in Forbes Magazine. "After all, trillions of public dollars are held in these large unregulated investment funds and every state has established freedom of information act laws designed to ensure public accountability."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Siedle, a pension forensics expert and former SEC lawyer, says public pensions today have become very adept at circumventing state public records laws and stonewalling.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"All public pensions I have ever investigated refuse to provide even minimal information until forced to do so through litigation," he wrote.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Chicago Reader recently obtained via a FOIA request that there were more than 2,100 complaints from Illinois residents filed with the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) alleging they lost more than $45 million to crytocurrency scams. In 2022, major cryptocurrency entities collapsed, including Voyager, Celsius, BlockFi and FTX who had an office in the West Loop.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Emails sent by Mayor Lori Lightfoot's staffers between Dec. 2021 and Sept. 2022 illustrate the mayor's desire to position the city as a hub for the cryptocurrency industry."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But the crypto con spectacularly exploded after FTX declared bankruptcy. John Ray, who came in after Enron blew up, was brought in as FTX's new CEO.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Never in my career have I seen such a complete failure of corporate controls and such a complete absence of trustworthy financial information as occured," he was quoted in Jacobin.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By the way, FTX's former CEO was also the second-largest donor to the Democratic Party.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Fictional valuations and accounting manipulations used to artificially pump up balance sheets - that my friends is crypto.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Should our pension money be investing in this?</span></p><div class="AOLWebSuite AOLWebSuiteM1" data-dojo-attach-point="bodyCont" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 10px 20px 4px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div id="yiv6681852935"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="inlineCompose_bar" data-dojo-attach-point="inlineComposeBar" style="background-color: #f1f1f1; color: #666666; display: inline-block; fill: rgb(102, 102, 102); position: relative; width: 890px;"></div></span></div></div></div></div></div>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-37184789048699131712023-02-11T13:57:00.001-08:002023-02-11T13:57:41.580-08:00HOD Feb.<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Report of the Meeting of the House of Delegates, February 8, 2023</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-9ef6ccfb-7fff-1ae3-ac00-fca0300512db"><span style="font-size: large;">By George Milkowski</span></span><div><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>This meeting was held via computer and began at 4:35 p.m.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">I. Officers Reports</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recording Secretary</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Christel Williams-Hayes – Christel reported that 49 teachers have been able to go through the CTU Quest Center program and are now National Board Certified Teachers.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B. Financial Report </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– Kurt Hilgendorf – Kurt said that we are now at the half- way point in our fiscal year and things look good. We have $538,776 more revenue than expected and our $1,183,856 in operating expenses is less than expected.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kurt mentioned that the CTU is involved with teacher and other organizations across the nation that are trying to get the WEP/GPO (windfall elimination provision/government pension offset) repealed. These parts of federal law reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits that teachers and their spouses have paid into over the years but cannot collect. He said 8 of the 18 U.S. representatives from Illinois have joined to be part of the 123 members of Congress who have introduced a resolution to repeal this onerous legislation. If you would like to volunteer some time to try to get this pushed through Congress, go to: </span><a href="https://www.mobilize.us/aft/event" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.mobilize.us/aft/event</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> S48196/.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Financial Secretary</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Maria Moreno - Union membership is at 27,692, and retiree membership is 1,534.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The deadline for returning ballots for the election of the Executive Board Retiree Vice President’s position is February 14. If you haven’t received your ballot, call Maria’s office immediately. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">D. Grievance</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Leah Raffanti – The CPS has made unilateral changes to its Corrective Action Training. This is a program for personnel accused of some type of misconduct. Sometimes, teachers are not even aware that there have been accusations made against them. If someone receives a notice to attend this training, make sure you comply, but definitely inform the CTU about it as soon as possible.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The CPS cut the pay for coaches of Girl’s Flag Football by $1,500. The CTU is filing a grievance over this.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Curry High teacher was denied the right to work from home despite health related issues and lost a month’s pay. A grievance filed on her behalf got her the $9,000 the CPS had tried to deny her.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Three years ago teachers at Edwards School filed a grievance over missed prep periods. They were finally paid for it after the CPS was dragged through the grievance procedures.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chester McSwain is a guest teacher (substitute) at Kenwood and was recognized by the CTU for the outstanding dedication to the students he has shown.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">E. Charter Division </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">–Jen Conant– Jen reported that the CPS has renewed the charters of a number of charter schools but none of them for more than three years. She said this is indicative that there is increased scrutiny and accountability of the charters and the Board is starting to realize that the charters cannot necessarily educate the students cheaper and better than traditional schools.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">F.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Organizing report</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> –Tennille Evans– Tennille urged delegates to make sure they conduct union meetings at their schools. The CTU has developed a kit to help do this and have personnel willing and able to help out.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The CTU is asking for input from school personnel about staffing in the Pre-K programs.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The CTU is still urging getting involved with the Green Schools campaign. Schools with peeling paint, lead in the water, windows that do not close properly and so on, need to be brought to the attention of the Union. The CTU has developed a walk through program to assist teachers in identifying problems in the physical plant.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Union is hosting a “More Love, Less Trauma” forum on February 15 starting at 5:00 p.m. at the Union building. They are looking for suggestions and ideas from teachers on how to address problems of violence</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">G. Vice-President</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Jackson Potter – Last month Jackson lauded the teachers at McClellan School who refused to back down when they discovered lead in paint that was chipping in many parts of their building. They were able to compel the CPS to spend $35,000 to take care of the problem over the winter break. However, tonight he clarified that that sum was just used to identify the problems in the School. The CPS has since spent over $750,000 alleviating the problem there.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jackson spent some talking about a CTU member who is running for alderman in the 50</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Ward, Mueze Bawamy. The Tribune published angry tweets he sent out three years ago. I have not seen the tweets, but supposedly two angrily opposed Israel and its’ actions in Gaza. They were thus interpreted to be anti-Semitic. Note: Bawamy has been endorsed by the Jewish Council on Urban affairs. The other was seen as being angry at white people. Jackson tried to explain Bawamy’s state of mind and that we all have done things in anger that do not reflect our true feelings.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">H. Political/Legislative</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Hilario Dominguez – He stated that Brandon Johnson has been steadily surging in the polls over the last few weeks. Hilario also stated that Johnson has NOT proposed having an income tax on those earning $100,00 or more per year. This was a complete error by the media. He would want to see a tax on homes valued at more than $1,000,000 per year. He would also like to re-impose a $4 per month “head tax” on corporations with large numbers of employees. Anyone who would like to volunteer to help the Johnson campaign can contact the CTU.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">II. President’s Report</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> –Stacy Davis Gates– Note: this was a Zoom webinar and Stacy’s voice was muffled and unclear a lot of the time.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stacy spoke at a rally in support of striking workers at the UIC and someone took her remarks and turned them into a music video.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stacy said we are still fighting to get extended paid family leave that Lightfoot granted to other City workers but then pulled the plug on us getting it. This will definitely be in the next contract talks.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She also derided the CPS decision to cut the pay for coaches of girl’s Flag Football. She expects to win this easily but asked that we contact the Mayor’s Office about this AND the Chicago Bears. Apparently, the Bears have some interest in this program.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stacy also reminded the delegates that we are hosting a blood drive on February 24 from 2-7 p.m. at the Union building.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">III. Items for Action</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The CTU passed a resolution titled “The Clinical Services Chicago’s Students Deserve” It is based on nationally recognized standards for staffing formulas for nurses, social workers, school psychologists and many more. It passed with 100% approval from the House. I voted “yes”.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">IV. New Business/Questions and Answers</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">David Arredonde hoped that someone would motion to rescind the CTU endorsement of Mueze Bawamy due to his tweets from 3 years ago. David characterized the comments as “hate speech”. Since David himself did not present this as a motion, the meeting moved on.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moselean Parker (McKay School) motioned to have the CTU endorse Matt O’Shea for alderman in the 19</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Ward. After a number of people spoke on this, the motion passed 61-39%. I voted “yes”.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">A motion to adjourn was made and it passed 88-12%. I vote “no”.</span></span></p></span></div>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-20089174129463985362023-02-04T17:07:00.000-08:002023-02-04T17:07:58.747-08:00Student Imposter!<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A STRANGE SPECTACLE!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Stephen Wilson</span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #141414; font-family: ReithSans, Helvetica, Arial, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="ssrcss-11kpz0x-Placeholder e16icw910" style="background-color: #f6f6f6; border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 450px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><picture><img alt="Brian Mackinnon" class="ssrcss-evoj7m-Image ee0ct7c0" height="549" loading="eager" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/89EC/production/_123480353_fwxeaw.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/89EC/production/_123480353_fwxeaw.jpg 240w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/89EC/production/_123480353_fwxeaw.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/89EC/production/_123480353_fwxeaw.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/89EC/production/_123480353_fwxeaw.jpg 624w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/89EC/production/_123480353_fwxeaw.jpg 800w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/89EC/production/_123480353_fwxeaw.jpg 976w" style="-webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-pack: center; align-items: center; border: 0px; display: flex; font: inherit; height: 450px; inset: 0px; justify-content: center; margin: 0px; object-fit: cover; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; width: 800px;" width="976" /></picture></span><span class="ssrcss-tvuve5-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20" role="text" style="background: rgb(20, 20, 20); border: 0px; bottom: 0px; color: #f6f6f6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.75rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; left: 0px; line-height: 1.33333; margin: 0px; padding: 0.25rem; position: absolute; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="visually-hidden ssrcss-1f39n02-VisuallyHidden e1y6uwnp0" style="border: 0px; clip-path: inset(100%); clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); font: inherit; height: 1px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 1px;">IMAGE SOURCE,</span>ALAMY</span></div><figcaption class="ssrcss-1mget3o-StyledFigureCaption e34k3c22" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(138, 140, 142); border-left-style: solid; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; color: #545658; font-family: ReithSans, Helvetica, Arial, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.28571; margin: 0.5rem 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5rem; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="visually-hidden ssrcss-1f39n02-VisuallyHidden e1y6uwnp0" style="border: 0px; clip-path: inset(100%); clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); font: inherit; height: 1px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap; width: 1px;">Image caption,</span></figcaption><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In 1993 a tall striking school pupil suddenly appeared in the classroom at Bearsden Academy, a school in an affluent suburb of Glasgow. He hardly looked like your average school student. In fact he looked too conspicuous. For a start, he struck all the pupils as in his thirties rather than sixteen, carried a brief case and wore the school uniform. Wearing a school uniform was optional and most pupils did not wear it and none of them carried a brief case around with them. What is more, the pupil's name was Brandon Lee and he had a slight Canadian accent. When a teacher told Brandon to leave the classroom because 'mature students' are relegated to other classes he answered, 'This is my class' and casually walked up to register his name. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brandon Lee turned out to be an ace student. When other pupils in his classroom were stumped by some difficult questions they always shot a glance to Lee to provide an answer. Lee always got the answer correct and even knew more than the teachers in areas of medical knowledge. Lee became a very popular school student. He played football, took part in a school play based on South Pacific and emerged from school with 5 highers with 'A's which later allowed him to enter the medical school at Dundee University. Lee also stood up for pupils subject to racism from bullies. He even attempted to persuade the bullies to change their ways. Teachers had no discipline problems with Lee! In fact, his presence turned out to be an asset to teachers. He was very polite, helpful and diligent. In a word, he was the perfect student! </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then soon after he graduated in 1995, an earthquake shook the school and the Scots. Brandon Lee was not Brandon! Far from it! He was exposed as being Brian MacKinnon, aged 32, who had been a former school student at Bearsden Academy from 1974 to 1980. He had returned to enroll once more as a pupil at his 'old school'. The perfect pupil turned out to be a brilliant impostor! Fellow pupils and teachers were shocked by the revelations. The reputation of Bearsden Academy was tarnished. People asked 'How could a pupil who was nicknamed as Mr Thirtyish have been admitted into the school in the first place? 'Alan Cumming, a Scottish actor who played the role of MacKinnon, stated in an interview to the press that, "We Scots like to think we are canny and nobody can pull the wool over our heads, but this case calls this into question." The up shot was that he was expelled from Dundee University 'for lack of integrity.'</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The scandal raises many more questions. And not all those questions have been clearly answered. Despite thirty years passing since Brian MacKinnon's hoax began, people are still talking about this scandal. It is a fascinating story in itself. The reason this old case has drawn more attention is that a former pupil at Bearsden Academy, who happened to be in Brian's class, is a film director who made a film /documentary about the scandal called 'My Old School.' {Jono Mcleod} The film came out in Summer 2022. This was not welcome news for Bearsden Academy. They had perhaps hoped that people would have forgotten about the scandal with the passage of time. By this time practically all the teachers at Brian's school had retired or left it.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The main question which Scots kept asking is - "How come Brian MacKinnon managed to pull off such an elaborate ruse?" </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He himself boasts, "When I set out to do something I always do it well!" Some people gloated at the fact that one of Scotland's bastions of privilege was 'foolish' enough to be hoodwinked. It only goes to show how stupid they are. It couldn't have happened in a school in a working class district as the pupils and teachers are more streetwise! But I think this is more a complacent conceit. It fails to acknowledge the pressure both teachers and pupils were under as well as some basic facets of human psychology. Teachers are very busy and have so many other things on their mind than checking the past details of pupils.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The facts are that 30-year-old Brian MacKinnon turned up asking to be admitted to school. He invented a story that he was Brandon Lee, who had lived in Canada, but his mother, an opera singer had died in an accident and his father had sent him to Glasgow to be looked after by his grandmother. He provided two references. He was not asked to produce a birth certificate and his bogus references were never checked. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now it is more than understandable that any suspicious teacher would not want to interrogate or question the veracity of his claim. This is the job of the admission's department, not a school teacher's or pupil's. MacKinnon claims that nobody suspected his ruse, but this is contradicted by a teacher who asked him to leave the classroom because of his appearance. But what teacher would want to ask a model pupil awkward questions about whether he is a genuine student or not? </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A school teacher is loathe to expel a pupil who behaves so well. They would like to expel a pupil who was threatening and bullying pupils or creating disorder in the classroom! But why pick on a student who is a role model for other pupils? Why would any teacher in his or her right mind want to accuse such a pupil of being a liar or fraud? That is not how school teachers act at this school. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was a pupil at this very school from 1973 to 1978. This was around some of the time MacKinnon was a pupil. My younger brother Christopher was in his class at the time and remembered him as ' a normal guy'. In fact, the vast number of pupils and teachers have fond memories of him and liked him. In the film where the director interviews pupils very few people have a bad word for him! They even feel protective of him. Some admire his nerve.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Although people express astonishment at the incredulity of teachers and pupils, is it so odd? Who would really imagine that a former school student would want to go back to his own school, after 13 years, to relive his school years? McLeod himself, who is gay, describes his own experiences at this school as 'hellish.' In deed at this school you encountered quite a lot of snobbery, elitism and pure racism. There was also homophobia! I recall some of those experiences at school. I recall when a math teacher heard that a pupil had taken up work as a butcher in his local family business, the teacher frowned on this as 'underachieving.' A few well-off pupils would look down on cleaners or pupils who had a father who worked as a bus driver.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Many pupils can easily be swayed by false rumors. I remember at this very school some strange pupil pointed at me saying, "This boy goes about burning cats to death." All his fellow pupils in his class never questioned this false allegation. For about two years, I faced those ugly false accusations. So it is not so easy imagining how school students could be easily deceived by any impostor!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My older brother James was once smiling in the classroom. He was just in a good mood! A math teacher approached him saying, "What are you smiling at? What have you got to smile at?" Life in this school could be brutal!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What I found odd about this film is how it took me back in time. I was surprised that my old English teacher Mrs Ogg had a role in this story and an actress even acted out her role! This woman was a wonderful teacher. She was thoughtful, kind and very creative. She was always using her English lessons to make pupils question the impact of racism, sexism and all kinds of cruelty. When she came across racists in her classroom she attempted to encourage them to pause and think things through.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So why did Brian MacKinnon commit such a ruse? He was never arrested by the police because what he did was not deemed a crime in Scotland. MacKinnon claims that he failed his medical exams at Glasgow University and was unfairly expelled. He states that he was very ill at the time of those exams. He assumed a false identity in order to enter another medical school in Dundee. This school only allowed people under 30 to enter it. Although MacKinnon managed to enter this school under a false age, he was finally exposed. We can't be sure how he was exposed. Some people state that a former pupil on holiday exposed him or that when he got detained by police abroad they discovered he had two passports, and they alerted the authorities in Scotland. Some claimed a neighbor had given him away. What is clear is the intensity of MacKinnon's striving to be a doctor. He was obsessed with fulfilling his ambition. Nothing else would satisfy him. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, at present, at 59, he is rumored to be living the life of a recluse who no longer sees people. He shuns publicity and doesn't like attention. Although he did an interview for the recent film, 'My Old School,' where the actor Alan Cumming mimicked his voice, he later disowned the director, actors and the whole film. He stated that he did not even want to watch this film. In his own autobiography titled 'Rhesus Negative', MacKinnon wrote some bizarre views of how some people had conspired to prevent him becoming a doctor for all kinds of weird reasons. According to hearsay, rumors and some reports, MacKinnon seems 'a damaged person' who lives in the past or can't come to terms with the past. He seems to spend much of his time reading up about conspiracy theories.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I informed my Russian colleagues about this case they answered he might have had more luck in Russia. One source told me that she had heard of a friend who had forged the details on her passport in order to make herself younger so as to enter a university in Russia because she was ' too old ' for entry. She was admitted and successfully graduated. My source stated that there were lots of cases such as this where people pulled this off in the 1990's. So what appears as exceptional in Scotland hardly raises an eyebrow in Moscow! </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps Brian Mackinnon was just born in the wrong place and time. Perhaps it would be more intelligent to question the inflexibility and conservatism of the Scottish education system. I mean what is the big deal of allowing a student to resit his exams a third time if this student is really intent on being a doctor? Why put so many formidable obstacles before a very talented student who simply wanted to become a doctor to help other people? If Mackinnon has been accused of 'a lack of integrity' he is a hardly alone.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now it seems odd that my own school has become famous or rather infamous all over the World for Scotland's greatest hoax! But believe me, all kinds of bizarre events can happen in any school. But this qualifies as one of the oddest!</span></div>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-36779395144212732582023-01-31T18:55:00.001-08:002023-01-31T18:55:10.917-08:00BOE Charter Crzy<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Charter Schools Crowd Out Others at Chicago Board of Education Meetings</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By Jim Vail</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHYcJNZpGATHSW1X0ehV4H-dhRm3Z6gq6f351WFGiFfFEooVHyBCauQ8tk96z8Mq1ORx-toLCJShihHhSLFpiqq4c3lMe1yk45-AKaQ0foQkNvojtMatbOBDzUKINo2Qk9MdBUz4xmYglQPfOA8vO8fAjK-dqDvlz4LqBABLDO24xEdilDtfNIBLV6A/s451/rangel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="451" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHYcJNZpGATHSW1X0ehV4H-dhRm3Z6gq6f351WFGiFfFEooVHyBCauQ8tk96z8Mq1ORx-toLCJShihHhSLFpiqq4c3lMe1yk45-AKaQ0foQkNvojtMatbOBDzUKINo2Qk9MdBUz4xmYglQPfOA8vO8fAjK-dqDvlz4LqBABLDO24xEdilDtfNIBLV6A/s320/rangel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disgraced Charter school boosters Rangel & Emanuel</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">At the December Chicago Board of Education Meeting the charter schools that replaced public schools take up a good part of the public participation period by pleading to extend their contracts because they are doing such wonderful things.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Each charter school that asked to renew their contract had several representatives speak about how well they serve their students. This has prevented other people from being able to sign up to speak at the meetings because the charter people take up most of the time slots.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Not to mention that there are serious problems they leave out.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">On the CTU FB page many teachers complained recently that charter schools dump their problem students back into the public schools in the middle of the year.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"When will CTU do something about the way Charter Schools take in ALL of our students in North Lawndale and then kick them back out EVERY SINGLE JANUARY???" wrote Honesty D'or. "I'm tired of supporting charters and they don't live by the same rules as everybody else. Once they take in a student with promises of a better school system they should be required to keep that student for that school year!"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">D'or said her school just received eight student transfer from KIPP Charter Academy on the West Side.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Another asked if the union could require the charters to give CPS some or all of the money for the students if they are kicked out and leave the charter school.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Washington High School teacher and delegate Frank McDonald has repeatedly asked at delegates meetings and on the teachers social media pages that the CTU sponsor a resolution that would determine a timeline to transform all the charter schools back into CPS public schools.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Richard Berg, a CTU organizer, wrote that the union is ready to hold the charter schools accountable with a possible upcoming strike now that all the charter contracts are up.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"If they are going to take public money they need to provide the services to the students and wages to their educators," Berg wrote. "We, all CTU members, need to hold them accountable."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A particular problem with charter schools is working with special education students who have an Individual Education Plan. Many of these students who should be provided extra services due to their plans are pushed out of the charters because of the extra cost and extra burden. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"When I worked at a charter I was shocked at how many SPED laws they knowingly broke," wrote Sara Lynn. "Many of the teachers and even the parents reported it to the CEO and ISBE. Nothing happened. No one cared."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Charter schools were once the darling of education reform. Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel and President Barack Obama pushed charter schools as the answer to public school woes until too much corruption and lies were exposed to make them a hot potato. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Mayor Lori Lightfoot spoke out against charter schools during her election and the Democrats have embraced this position after the unions led by the Chicago Teachers Union fought back. CORE supported a charter school moratorium in the last teachers contract. Before CORE, the CTU had tacitly supported charter schools by saying they should just unionize the teachers.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Charter schools were set up to privatize education by promoting an alternative to neighborhood schools in rough neighborhoods with empty promises. The business elite love them because they replaced unionized teachers and drained students from the public schools. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Today about a quarter of the city's charter schools have unionized teachers. About 20 percent of CPS high schools and 10 percent of elementary schools are charter.</span></p>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-51898470687109403042023-01-21T17:24:00.001-08:002023-02-05T14:17:54.567-08:00Skyline<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Skyline, Lori Lightfoot and a Mayoral Election</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By Jim Vail</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="At news conference Thursday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot blamed her deputy campaign manager for trying to recruit Chicago Public Schools students to work on her reelection campaign, but she said she would not be firing that manager, citing her lack of “nefarious intent.”" class="Image" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/155ecba/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2994x1996+0+0/resize/840x560!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FPVED4s2KpM5OELcgPsVd1ZZLU7A%3D%2F0x0%3A3000x1996%2F3000x1996%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281470x731%3A1471x732%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F24356339%2FLIGHTFOOTSTUDENTS_011323_8.jpg" height="213" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/155ecba/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2994x1996+0+0/resize/840x560!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FPVED4s2KpM5OELcgPsVd1ZZLU7A%3D%2F0x0%3A3000x1996%2F3000x1996%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281470x731%3A1471x732%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F24356339%2FLIGHTFOOTSTUDENTS_011323_8.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/155ecba/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2994x1996+0+0/resize/840x560!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FPVED4s2KpM5OELcgPsVd1ZZLU7A%3D%2F0x0%3A3000x1996%2F3000x1996%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281470x731%3A1471x732%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F24356339%2FLIGHTFOOTSTUDENTS_011323_8.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/191d580/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2994x1996+0+0/resize/1680x1120!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FPVED4s2KpM5OELcgPsVd1ZZLU7A%3D%2F0x0%3A3000x1996%2F3000x1996%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281470x731%3A1471x732%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F24356339%2FLIGHTFOOTSTUDENTS_011323_8.jpg 2x" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-radius: 0px; border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2a2a2a; display: block; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; object-fit: cover; vertical-align: middle; width: 800px;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Skyline Curriculum in CPS features a lesson on our all mighty Mayor Lori Lightfoot!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Mayor Lori Lightfoot made headlines recently after she apologized for recruiting Chicago public school students to work on her reelection campaign and earn class credit in return.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Lightfoot's deputy campaign manager had reached out to Chicago Teachers Union members at their work addresses asking educators to line up student 'volunteers' who would give at least 12 hours each week to the campaign. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The teachers union and the media called out the Mayor for her unethical behavior to get re-elected. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But the Mayor's political actions, which hark back to the good old days of the Chicago Machine which tied city jobs to getting democrats elected, continue in the schools via its controversial curriculum called Skyline which was rolled out last year.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The whopping $135 million curriculum that was developed with Covid money features lessons that compare Mayor Lori Lightfoot to Katherine Johnson, the African-American NASA scientist who helped land the first man on the Moon.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In other words, she's a hero who overcame the odds to become our first African American lesbian female elected Mayor of Chicago!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Students watch a NY Times video entitled "Who is Lori Lightfoot?" that states she made history in Chicago by being the first black woman and first openly gay woman to be mayor who sold herself as a political outsider (funny since a lot of money that supported Mayor Richard Daley was funneled into her campaign). She was hired by the former mayor to investigate the Laquan McDonald police shooting and promised to reform the police dept. and put a freeze on new charter schools. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Lightfoot's platform of beating the machine and cracking down on gun violence seems to have paid off," the video stated, "but will she deliver on her promises that have plagued Chicago for decades?"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Skyline lesson says the teacher should ask students if they know who Lori Lightfoot is. The teacher should also say that Lightfoot was a lawyer who investigated police behavior in Chicago and found that many people here had negative experiences with the police and believed they were racist and she wants to reform the department. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The students should note that both Katherine Johnson and Lori Lightfoot experienced racism and they were the first African American women to do what they did.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The lesson on Lori Lightfoot comes at a time when her re-election is right around the corner.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Chicago Public Schools sends out an email every year to its employees entitled Political Activity in an Election Season and Compliance with the Chicago Board of Education's Code of Ethics. It states what CPS employees can and cannot do during election time. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Political activities must not result in the misuse of Board personnel, time or resources or create an impression that the Board supports particular candidates. The Code of Ethics is meant to preserve the independence of the school system and avoid any appearance of impropriety. Violations of the Code of Ethics can result in disciplinary action, including dismissal for Board employees."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Does this include lessons about the Mayor?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Skyline is a new curriculum that has been criticized by many teachers on social media. While it has a focus on social justice, and stories about black civil rights heroes abound, the pedagogy behind it has been blasted by educators who note the lessons do not address special needs students and the skills are taught in a haphazard fashion.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But perhaps most significant of all, Skyline was sold to the City of Chicago with Mayor Lightfoot at the helm. While Second City Teachers does not have the resources to investigate if the Skyline publishers poured money into Lightfoot's first election, a former CPS principal wrote on Chicago Educator's FB Page that the person who spearheaded the $135 million project took a promotion to be superintendent in another district the year Skyline was implemented.</span></p>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-75146013106934832062023-01-16T15:32:00.003-08:002023-01-16T15:32:50.920-08:00Jan HOD<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Report of the Meeting of the House of Delegates, January 11, 2023</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-213cb351-7fff-ac27-bb94-b53dd258eae9"><span style="font-size: large;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By George Milkowski</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I. Officers Reports</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recording Secretary</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Christel Williams-Hayes – Christel’s report was very brief. She announced that the CTU will be hosting a rally for Brandon Johnson on Monday, January 16, at the CTU building. The building will open at 9:00 a.m. and a continental breakfast will be provided. The rally will start at 10:00 a.m. and at 11:00 participants will engage in door knocking and phone banking. To register, go to: www.ctulocal1.org/mlk</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Organizing report</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> –Chris Baehrend – Chris urged the delegates to set up union meetings in their schools. They can contact the CTU to ask Union organizers to attend those meetings.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chris said the CTU has been supportive of the three day strike by health care workers at Howard Brown Services. He also mentioned the UIC workers may be on the picket lines next week and we will be backing them, too. He also said that CPS has billions of unspent dollars that are available for school repairs and we need to be vigilant in pressuring the Board with our Green Schools campaign to use them.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chris reported that the Grassroots Collaborative is planning a mayoral forum at the New Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church, 4301 W. Washington on January 26. This is a Peoples’ Unity Platform event. To register to attend and to be a part of the CTU contingent, go to: www.ctulocal1.org/pup.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C. Financial Report </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– Kurt Hilgendorf – Kurt said that we are now getting a steady revenue stream and that an unexpected deficit of just over $389,000 is due to a problem in getting some money rebated from the AFT and the IFT. This should be corrected by next month.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">D. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Financial Secretary</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Maria Moreno - Union membership is at 28,783, up over last month and retiree membership is up to 1,691.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maria announced there are some vacancies in Citywide positions and there will be a Zoom meeting on February 22 for members in the various Citywide groups to nominate members to fill those positions.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Executive Board Retiree Vice President’s position will be filled by an election by retirees. Ballots will be mailed to your home starting January 17 and need to be returned by February 14.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">E. Charter Division </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– Stacy Davis Gates – Due to an illness Stacy Davis Gates and Jen Johnson made the report. They lauded the involvement of charter teachers in a tailgate party before a Bears game in December. They also said that bargaining sessions with the different unionized charter schools is increasing as their contracts will be expiring soon. They are seeking improved pay and benefits but also more special ed teachers and 12 weeks of paid family leave. The paid leave was something the CPS was planning on giving to everyone but apparently Lori Lightfoot stepped in and put a kibosh on it. Remember, the charter school accomplishments will be a precedent for our bargaining that will begin next year.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">F. Vice-President</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Jackson Potter – Jackson lauded the teachers at McClellan School who refused to back down when they discovered lead in paint that was chipping in many parts of their building. They were able to compel the CPS to spend $35,000 to take care of the problem over the winter break. It is estimated that about 80% of the schools have this problem and problems with asbestos, leaking water pipes and so on. The CTU will distribute Lead Testing Kits on January 19 thanks to the work of the CTU Climate Justice Committee. As mentioned earlier, the CPS has billions of dollars in money available for the remediation of problems like this.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jackson said the CTU is working to get students involved in violence prevention.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Regarding 12 weeks paid family leave Jackson gave details on the turn of events that has temporarily stopped the CPS from extending this benefit to everyone. The Mayor had unilaterally extended it to City workers, 25% of whom are women, but she said the CTU, which has about 75% of its members being female and in more need of this perk, has to bargain for it. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since the CPS doesn’t always live up to the law regarding special ed students, the CTU will conduct a training session on January 12 on how to file a complaint with the Illinois Board of Education on this issue.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We still need to be aware of the COVID pandemic. A new, more transmissible variant, XBB1.5, is on the East Coast and so far has not appeared in Chicago but that will only be a matter of time. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">G. Political/Legislative</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Hilario Dominguez – CTU member said endorsed mayoral candidate Brandon Johnson is tied for first in the most recent polls. He and two other CTU members/candidates, Liz Torres (36</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Ward) and Muize Bawamy (50</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Ward) were on the CTU’s recent podcast. Go to; </span><a href="http://www.ctulocal1.org/podcast" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.ctulocal1.org/podcast</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to hear what they had to say. Early voting at the supersite begins January 19 and in the Wards it begins February 13.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">H. Grievance</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Jim Staros – More than a year and a half ago the CPS ordered school clerks to go into their buildings while teachers stayed out. Some refused to do so and lost pay. The CTU took their cases to arbitration and the arbitrator ruled that they are to be treated equally as teachers. Those who had been penalized where made whole. One received a check for $32,000</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I. Honoring Teachers</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Georgia Wallace – The CTU honored two guest teachers; Sir Daniel Lee of Hammond School and Letitia Salamone of Sauganash School.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">II. President’s Report</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> –Stacy Davis Gates– Stacy spoke about the National Board Certified Teachers program. She said about half of the current enrollees in the program are people of color.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stacy spoke at length of the need for everyone to get Brandon Johnson elected to the Mayor’s office.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">III. Items for Action</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The CTU endorsed four more people for alderperson. They are: Victoria Alvarez (15</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Ward), Ronnie Mosley (21</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="vertical-align: super;">st</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Ward), Denali Dusgupta (39</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ward) and Nick ward (48</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Ward). I voted “yes” on this</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The House voted to approve a “</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Resolution in Support of National Paid Family Leave</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”. It passed 99%-1%. I voted “yes” on this, too.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span><span> </span>C</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The Executive Board proposed a change in the schedule for the upcoming House meetings. In August we approved a proposal to meet in-person except in January, February, and March. The E Board proposal would have us meet in-person in February and March and via computer in May and June. The rationale given was that we need to be in-person for our meetings around the City elections. (Eboard members) Karen Soto (Waters School) and Bessie Tsitsopoulus (Citywide) argued in favor of this. Marissa Sidler, Beth Eisenhower (Citywide) and Doris Zughoul, an immuno-compromised delegate, argued against it. I also had a chance to speak and I argued against it, also. Besides the obvious arguments about the generally bad weather in the winter and the increased contact with COVID, flu, and RSV still a being problem I pointed out that CTU budget is presented in May and then voted on in June. It would be difficult to approve a budget if delegates could not meet face to face a to discuss aspects of it. It is true that we have approved previous budgets via computer in the past few years, but that was because we faced the emergency of the COVID pandemic and that situation has improved. I voted “no” and the measure failed 60%-40%;</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">IV. New Business/Questions and Answers</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jasmine Eisner (Armstrong School) motioned to have the March meeting be</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in-person. One delegate, Natasha Carlson, (Cameron School) argued against it preferring that we have a hybrid meeting. I voted in favor of this amendment, but it failed 56%-44%.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Natasha Carlson also expressed concern over the elimination of sanitation wipes from the schools that occurred over the winter break. This was an issue the CTU is aware of and has already approached the Board about it. They expect to receive an answer as to why this happened tomorrow.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The meeting adjourned at 7:39 p.m..</span></p></span></span>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-57271282542087119222023-01-14T17:21:00.001-08:002023-01-14T17:22:39.318-08:00HOD Defeat<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Safety Trumps Politics in Rare CTU HOD Defeat</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By Jim Vail </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEzVWHVI5wrqsfmeSZ-qmKV4nQrGpZ-LsT66wMwg5L1emRf-IFsTZuS-_aI_n-kcd3tJi-UUTvoyfuyZmiBvt5cFYIsHHnNURbtlmegNYoz-RdO4hH91wXfPt0LbbtaETKYzsat7WwfHrYYoIsf69byWzRvu6zyBa3egaKohnMxwVaRvl60Rt4zgOKw/s240/potter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="240" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEzVWHVI5wrqsfmeSZ-qmKV4nQrGpZ-LsT66wMwg5L1emRf-IFsTZuS-_aI_n-kcd3tJi-UUTvoyfuyZmiBvt5cFYIsHHnNURbtlmegNYoz-RdO4hH91wXfPt0LbbtaETKYzsat7WwfHrYYoIsf69byWzRvu6zyBa3egaKohnMxwVaRvl60Rt4zgOKw/w400-h265/potter.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VP Jackson Potter skillfully ended a contentious debate on virtual HOD meetings.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">It is rare when the Chicago Teachers Union President and Vice President support a resolution that goes down to defeat in the House of Delegates.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But such was the case when safety trumped politics in Wednesday's House of Delegates Jan. 11, 2023 meeting. The delegates defeated a motion to change the next two meetings to in person versus virtual despite pleas from their top two union leaders.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The CTU made a strong defense of teachers' safety during the Covid period the last two years when we voted to teach remote and not go back into the schools. They decided for this year to hold the January, February and March House of Delegates meetings virtual because Covid was known to spread rapidly during the holiday season.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">However, despite the union sending out emails to its members to be careful with the deadly virus still raging throughout the country, the leaders proposed to change the next two HOD meetings to in-person because of important events coming up, including a possible Charter School Strike and the Mayoral Election in which CTU organizer/Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson is a candidate. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Executive Board proposal was to switch the Feb. and March meetings to in-person and the May and June meetings via computer.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A couple of delegates who sit on the Executive Board spoke out in support of their decision to hold the next meetings in person because of the election. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">However, more delegates spoke against the resolution expressing safety concerns about meetings with Covid and the Flu still in high transmission. Delegate Doris Zughoul spoke passionately about being immuno-compromised and that it was unfair as a delegate to not be present at the meetings to vote on important matters. Other delegates complained that they had already arranged child care and one said the parking is especially difficult during the winter months.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">President Stacy Davis Gates countered each speech by stating during the virtual meeting that child care would be provided at the union headquarters and teachers attend super spreader buildings everyday. She said that the union enforces masking so the delegates would be better protected.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The measure failed 60 - 40 percent.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But that did not stop the leadership and their supportive delegates from still trying to do an end run around the decision. A delegate from Armstrong Elementary School made a motion during the New Business/Q&A period at the end of a long meeting to have the March meeting be in-in person. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That measure too failed 56 - 44 percent.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It is rare that the powerful CTU leadership does not get its way when it comes to counting votes in the House of Delegates. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Contract votes, strike votes and budget votes have all passed due to the leaders skillful organization. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The CTU leadership does listen to its members when they hear grumbling. VP Jackson Potter saw that there were many delegates against their switch to in-person meetings so he called the question so that the vote could go forward even though it would likely not yield the outcome he wanted.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The relationship with the Chicago Board of Education has also shifted after the last CTU election in which CORE won with a majority of about 58 percent, their lowest vote total in the last ten years. About 40 percent of the vote went to Members First and REAL. MF complained that the CTU had a too toxic relationship with City Hall.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The CTU has since had a more peaceful relationship with the new Chicago Public Schools CEO Chief Pedro Martinez, in stark contrast to their very toxic relationship with former Schools Chief Janice Jackson.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">However, the fight with Mayor Lori Lightfoot is racketing up with her re-election Feb. 28. And this was what led to a brief battle in the recent House of Delegates meeting and the CTU's rare defeat.</span></p>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-4761272288141403832023-01-04T20:10:00.007-08:002023-01-06T08:49:56.212-08:00Froy Jimenez<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">CTU Covid Remote Action Impacts Teacher Endorsement in Upcoming Election</span></p><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">By Jim Vail</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSoPhCD_c2dn_KsTu-crBkFTNSjqgZtntKdK9oe7D50EPe3htfmkSGuKvYhUT8IKqFA3zyINQG8tuzB_s3QoNo-GQNa0hzx3P-qulRKzoI43ol5zuF7PMudEW2_q9MHR6SnpvGQ3zZE1olOQvaJKaCPd6G2q6E65dlIiAbQQZ5jHE5w0mBiLFHaGeyA/s280/froy1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="280" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSoPhCD_c2dn_KsTu-crBkFTNSjqgZtntKdK9oe7D50EPe3htfmkSGuKvYhUT8IKqFA3zyINQG8tuzB_s3QoNo-GQNa0hzx3P-qulRKzoI43ol5zuF7PMudEW2_q9MHR6SnpvGQ3zZE1olOQvaJKaCPd6G2q6E65dlIiAbQQZ5jHE5w0mBiLFHaGeyA/w400-h257/froy1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hancock Teacher Froy Jimenez is running for 11th Ward Alderman. </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><i>*<b>Correction</b>: This updated version reflects changes in certain words to describe Froylan Jimenez's decision.</i></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">When Mary Usterbowski made a motion at the December House of Delegates Meeting for Froy Jimenez to be endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union for Alderman, CTU President Stacy Davis Gates said no because he went back into the school when we voted to stay out during Covid. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But the next day the CTU Political Action Committee called Jimenez to ask if he would like to be interviewed for a possible endorsement.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"After the December HOD, Hilario Dominguez, with CTU PAC reached out to me to ask me if I wanted an interview with CTU PAC Committee," Jimenez told Second City Teachers. "I agreed and since meeting in December was last minute, he agreed to call me in January with more meeting dates for scheduling."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Crossing a picket line is considered an act of treason in the world of unions. The CTU made a decision to only teach remote because of safety concerns with Covid-19 still raging two years ago. Some teachers like Jimenez decided to not honor the union's collective action and instead went into their school buildings to teach.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Jimenez defended his decision to not teach remote. He said he has always honored CTU strikes in the past, and even served as a strike coordinator, but this time was different.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"The last time all CTU union rank-file members were asked to vote was specifically on 'whether we should teach remotely' after winter break safety negotiations," Jimenez wrote in an email. "It's disingenuous to call that vote on teaching remotely, a vote to go on STRIKE and it unfairly conflates two different circumstances."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One high school delegate who wished to remain anonymous said the January action was not planned as a Strike, but effectively turned into one. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"We did vote for it, and so if he crossed, he was breaking union discipline."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Jimenez said the union action to only teach remote was poorly executed and put CTU members and CPS parents in a "huge bind", resulting in a large pay loss for CTU members and "only a couple of K95 masks in return" while hundreds of clerks and other CTU members were forced to come in.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"January's action was quite messy for reasons brother Froy points out," the delegate said, "but I still think crossing that picket line is a bad look."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Froy Jimenez and the CTU leadership have had a tenuous relationship. He was furious when the CTU revoked a PAC decision to endorse his first run for state senator in order to not upset the incumbent who had ties to the Chicago Machine. The CTU Executive Board chose to follow political recommendation of the leadership and stayed neutral in the race. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One thing the CTU likes is a winner. Jimenez served as chief of staff to Congressman Chuy Garcia before he was endorsed for Mayor against Rahm Emanuel. He earned over 40 percent of the vote in his first run for state senator, but was knocked out of the recent race after his signatures were challenged by his opponent.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Jimenez is running for the 11th Ward Alderman against the incumbent Nicole Lee who was appointed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot. They both supported building a high school in Chinatown, which the CTU and others were against because it will be built on public housing land.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Froy said he's a big proponent of expanding trade schools in Chicago's high schools so they will have union jobs and less college debt. He noted that Dunbar High School is the only current city high school that offers a comprehensive citywide trades program which includes general construction, carpentry, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), welding and electricity. He said he would expand the "Construction Trades Campus" at Dunbar to other areas of the city where there is low enrollment. He said the Board of Ed should plan a CPS campus for a proposed Discovery Partners Institute that would be dedicated to teaching STEM students.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Jimenez is against using TIF (Tax Increment Financing) money for a Red Line Train extension that his opponent supports. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"I'm against the Red line TIF that drains our tax dollars without helping our local economy," Jimenez said. "I also want to hold the Cook County State Attorney's office accountable for prosecuting criminal activity in our area."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Froy said he was upset that CPS delayed responding to the lead contamination safeguards at McClellan Elementary School and said each CPS school should have testing for lead exposure which should in turn be coordinated and publicized by the school administrators and Local School Council and safety courses in lead exposure should be available as part of professional development.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Jimenez is a civics teacher at Hancock High School. </span></p>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-20175981054895777762022-12-30T19:24:00.000-08:002022-12-30T19:24:11.173-08:00CTPF Watchlist<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Chicago Teachers Pension Fund Starting to Ask Questions</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By Jim Vail</span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojr0qD1DV5cUlCAKsz4WuHmylWo6Bb2ecZR5CItoPXuC6uD1RQTvYY34eoXoh4-qCa4Vm3c8uId6KLZDB4BfL3Vv07Cy8WtAMm8xHbUTNkfs5JqU3hVICTe1nc2N1nWSf88nfhPU35S_QHz0vRHlJVXiI6uwDvzpnyUZC-4Xhcl5K1RlD3ot6JFxvhA/s225/image.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="225" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojr0qD1DV5cUlCAKsz4WuHmylWo6Bb2ecZR5CItoPXuC6uD1RQTvYY34eoXoh4-qCa4Vm3c8uId6KLZDB4BfL3Vv07Cy8WtAMm8xHbUTNkfs5JqU3hVICTe1nc2N1nWSf88nfhPU35S_QHz0vRHlJVXiI6uwDvzpnyUZC-4Xhcl5K1RlD3ot6JFxvhA/w320-h319/image.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trustee Victor Ochoa wants more accountability for money managers.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">An interesting discussion was taking place when I tuned into the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund (CTPF) board meeting in December.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It revolved around holding the Pension Fund's money managers accountable, especially when their performance levels are low, and they do not represent minorities.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"We're here to make money to get our pensions," said Teacher Trustee Victor Ochoa. "We want to make sure it's there when we retire."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">CTPF has a watch list of certain money managers including Ariel Investments and Lazard who are losing money for the fund and have been on the watch list for a while. While some Trustees support Ariel because it is a minority-owned local investment company, Ariel President Melody Hobson who may become the next CEO also sits on the board of directors of Starbucks which has been behind a brutal union-busting campaign that the Chicago Teachers Union called out. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">She has also suggested that if she takes over the company they could move out to San Francisco. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">The concern was raised about minority money managers that are not in compliance with the EEOC policies. While certain managers can claim they have a certain number of minority employees, where do these employees work. Are the minority employees just maintenance workers or secretaries versus higher up level investment managers.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"The people on this watch list are a concern to me and they don't have diversity," Ochoa said. "Then you question that and they don't have an answer." </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">CTPF has invested a lot more money with Lazard, who is not minority-owned, versus Ariel, who is minority-owned. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There has been talk that the Pension Fund will take action at its next board meeting concerning the watch list.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">According to Crain's, Ariel has hit rock bottom in year to date performance. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Ariel became a leading black-owned investment company and one of the few significant mutual fund firms from Chicago. The current CEO John Rogers said he would like Melody Hobson, who is the chairman of Starbucks Board of Directors and married to Star Wars Founder George Lucas, to be the next CEO. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Ariel has powerful Chicago Machine connections to the unions whose pension money they are investing, and despite prior poor performance, they continue to hang on. Former Chicago Public Schools Chief Arne Duncan who declared war on the public schools and the CTU with his turnaround model sits on Ariel's Board of Directors.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The topic was "CTPF Discussion of Investment Manager Diversity and Brokerage Goals" at the Dec. 15 board meeting. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"We reviewed our policy and the watchlist, and failure to make goals is considered a factor when rating a manager," Chief Investment Officer Fernando Vinzons told the Board. "This could lead to termination."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">However, Vinzons was careful in the words he used, stating they would use "a little bit of of punitive action."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"We look at everything, what actions we can take for managers on the watch list," he said.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Members First Teacher Trustee Victor Ochoa spoke up forcefully in holding money managers accountable.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"I think this is something we have to enforce, we can additionally talk to AFT and put our heads together, we don't want people to remain on the watchlist indefinitely," he said. "That's up to us to say enough is enough. We don't want to endanger our fund. I am a fan of democracy as messy as it is. I think we did things right to get rid of carbon fuels. But we don't want to hurt ourselves. We want to make sure they have diversity at all levels." </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">CORE Teacher Trustee Quentin Washington agreed.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"If I could piggy back on that, there is a lack of diversity and even those people are on the watch list," he said. "It concerns me that people on the watch list and they don't have diversity. We're here to make money so we can get our pensions."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">VP Trustee Jaqueline Price-Ward said she is happy to hear the new trustees elected talk about the importance of having minority money managers, but also holding people accountable.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"We have got to hold people accountable," she said. "I think it's insulting and disrespectful managing our money and not meeting diversity, but your'e grinning and smiling at us. We have to enforce. If we cut off one or two heads everyone will get in line. I'm so glad to see new trustees on the board get this."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The one trustee who preached caution when looking closely at performance and minority status was former UPC now CORE Retired Teacher Trustee Mary Sharon Reilly. She said she does not want to see anyone get fired. She also noted that the Pension Fund does not see the managers report out like they used to in the past so that the Fund is kept up to date.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's one thing to talk the talk. We will have to see how these trustees vote and whether they are serious about removing money losing managers from a Pension Fund that is only about 45 percent funded and has been losing a lot of money lately.</span></p>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-69202740511916508172022-12-27T16:52:00.000-08:002022-12-27T16:52:46.350-08:00Top 5 Books<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Second City Teachers Top Five Books of the Year</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By Jim Vail</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZHMsf2TLrzP1qE9DR0RxQWG2SlB6l1waOItxVyatqquDyEQr54ShBFrqiSGWLPeX-Z4e1AmFmb4TXgb3JfXJLIia6yrdoYOH22IX98pdiagE_Yh35zR1EIbUcQ7Qse8YBar9br0MHeBFuwVNfS8fXyyRnXwOXZ904-R9lyTi69A0M1Ymbx2BTKstbQ/s2048/image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1325" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZHMsf2TLrzP1qE9DR0RxQWG2SlB6l1waOItxVyatqquDyEQr54ShBFrqiSGWLPeX-Z4e1AmFmb4TXgb3JfXJLIia6yrdoYOH22IX98pdiagE_Yh35zR1EIbUcQ7Qse8YBar9br0MHeBFuwVNfS8fXyyRnXwOXZ904-R9lyTi69A0M1Ymbx2BTKstbQ/s320/image.png" width="207" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Now that the newspaper industry is practically dead, luckily there are still great books to read.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We at Second City Teachers would like to recommend to our readers our Top Five books of the year. Only one book was actually published this year, the rest are oldies but goodies that we discovered and highly recommend. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">These books focus on public schools and the politics that swirls around them. A couple were written about the history of the Chicago Teachers Union and the Chicago Public Schools and one was written by a fantastic writer who spent a lot time trailing a group of refugee students at a North Side High School.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Holidays everyone!</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">No. 1 - The Chicago Schools: A Social and Political History by Mary Herrick, 1971 </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I finally learned about the history of the Chicago public schools and the Chicago Teachers Union when dynamic high school teacher Ed Hershey recommended a few fantastic books about our history. This book gives a fascinating history going back to the beginning of Chicago and how the public schools were formed. Mary Herrick did incredible research to tell the stories behind amazing heroes who helped build up the Second City public schools, including William Wells (Wells High School), Albert Lane (Lane Tech High School) and Ella Flagg (Ella Flagg Elementary School). This is a must read book for any teacher or follower of the Chicago public schools to know our true history. You can find this book in the library or purchase it online. <i>We wrote a review in our Oct. 3, 2022 issue.</i></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>No. 2 - Teachers and Reform: Chicago Public Education, 1929 - 1970 by John Lyons, 2015</b>. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is the best book I have read so far about the history of the Chicago Teachers Union. The research goes back to the early days when the Chicago Federation of Teachers led by Margaret Haley was first formed and then transformed into the Chicago Teachers Union by the 1930s. The story of John Fewkes is one that is not well known in our union. He was the first CTU President who was a reformist militant who helped led protests against the city leaders for teachers to get paid after the Great Depression cut salaries dramatically. He also led a very conservative and anti-communist union that did not embrace the Civil Rights movement like their brothers and sisters in New York. But his fight and story is still powerful. S<i>econd City Teachers featured a 3-part series based on the book in our July 2022. issues.</i></span></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>No. 3 - Reds at the Blackboard: Communism, Civil Rights and the NY City Teachers Union by Clarence Taylor, 2011</b> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is yet another fascinating history of the NY Teachers Union and the influence of the Communist Party that helped make it the leader in fighting racism and demanding better conditions for the poor inner city students. It also broadened our scope of the McCarthy Red Scare communist witch hunt that included the NY Board of Education and its purging of activist teachers in the NY Teachers Union who were at the forefront of fighting racism in the schools.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>No. 4 </b> - <b>A Fight for the Soul of Public Education: The Story of the Chicago Teachers Strike by Steven Ashby and Robert Bruno, 2016. </b>This is a must-read book for a contemporary history of the powerful Chicago Teachers Union who led the first teachers strike in 25 years in 2012. The authors are history professors who did a nice research job and filled in the blanks about how the teachers union got into the mess of privatization with Mayor Richard Daley's Renaissance 2010 and Barack Obama's Race to the Top - all hell bent on destroying the teachers union and public schools via corporate reform. The question I had on my mind was how in the hell did the Chicago Teachers Union just give up all its hard-earned union rights and allow this madness to nearly destroy us all? The authors pinpoint the time when CPS lawyer James Franzek on behalf of the business class threw a few silver coins at the union leaders to look the other way as collective bargaining and pension payments exited and non-union charter schools flooded in.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Truly disgusting!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>No. 5 - Refugee High by Elly Fishman, 2021</b>. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is the best book I've read about the lives of student refugees in a Chicago Public High School. Fishman wrote a riveting account of several students who hailed from Syria, Burma, Guatamala and the Congo and how they had to navigate the gangs, the violence and learning English. She followed the students' footsteps everywhere to give us the inside scoop of what life is like for the immigrants in a rough and tumble Sullivan High School on the North Side. These are the lives we as teachers need to know about, because what happens in a student's home, affects what happens in the student's classroom. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-60256184218667686212022-12-24T14:02:00.002-08:002022-12-24T14:15:05.796-08:00Douglass Park<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">CTU Delegates Pass Resolution to Denounce Hostile Concerts Takeover of Douglass Park</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By Jim Vail</span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBVbAMqW_WwX0eE8Nii_PwjDgg94PNM2A7wyVGYZTxbq4rUFCA7zIuKdTjXTCjMnacJEc1S_MebWQ12pDmMlFQtuinHIV-8OoN5agxDLuwOf9x1mVvpxo0E0KsWOiDF_PbdZBtmwFXqxZ0WyvA6jU2CMmpkUGSh28zFo6-CcWmEnuMJE2oD9yyr5IbA/s1224/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBVbAMqW_WwX0eE8Nii_PwjDgg94PNM2A7wyVGYZTxbq4rUFCA7zIuKdTjXTCjMnacJEc1S_MebWQ12pDmMlFQtuinHIV-8OoN5agxDLuwOf9x1mVvpxo0E0KsWOiDF_PbdZBtmwFXqxZ0WyvA6jU2CMmpkUGSh28zFo6-CcWmEnuMJE2oD9yyr5IbA/s320/image.png" width="282" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) Delegates passed overwhelmingly the Resolution to Demand the City of Chicago and the Chicago Park District Stop Allowing Douglass Park to be Used for Large, For-Profit Festivals at the Dec. 7 House of Delegates meeting.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Resolution comes on the heels of three music festivals - Riot Fest, Summer Smash and Heatwave - takeover of the beautiful West Side park that kicks out the community for a quarter of the summer season.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The for-profit festivals have forced youth soccer leagues in Little Village to relocate, increased traffic that mandate longer commute times for residents and noise levels that upset the community. The festivals also hurt local businesses because the concert goers purchase food and trinkets inside the roped off park and damage the park that already suffers from disinvestment and chronic flooding. They also cause disruption to Mt. Sinai and St. Anthony Hospitals that are located next to the park.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Resolved the Chicago Teachers Union demands that the City of Chicago recognizes that Douglass Park should remain open to the public, and we join the many community members who demand that Douglass Park and all BIPOC communities no longer be used to host large for-profit music festivals and instead be placed in designated concert venues. No privatization of public lands."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The resolution also advocated for economic development in North Lawndale and Little Village where the park is located. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A group of activists surrounding the park have worked hard over the years to bring light to the city about the takeover of their beloved park. However, Riot Fest and others have paid off the local aldermen to support the private concerts even though thousands of people in the community have signed petitions to remove the concerts.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The CTU Resolutions hold a lot of weight politically. When we passed a resolution asking that the Celebration of Columbus Day be changed to Indigenous People's Day, the Chicago Public Schools took note that the teachers were in favor of changing the name and thus changed it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The United Working Families - the political arm of the CTU - had earlier passed a resolution in favor of demanding Riot Fest and others be relocated from Douglass Park.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">However, the fight continues at Douglass Park. Organizers say that they will challenge the election of local 24 Ward Alderman Monique Scott who supports the Riot Fest. The Mayor named her to replace her brother who also supported the Riot Fest. Ward 12 Alderman George Cardenas had accepted a $40,000 donation from Riot Fest and thus did not hold one public forum to discuss the concert that prevents the community from accessing their park for almost a month.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">While the news of the privatization of Douglass Park hit the local and even national news, and the Chicago Park District pledged to review all private venues proposed in parks across the city, there is still no word whether or not these concerts will continue. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One delegate spoke against the resolution stating that the CTU should not be involved in matters that are outside the schools. However, the CTU has taken up many social justice causes, including advocating for Black Lives Matter, environmental justice and affordable housing because these issues affect the students and their learning in the schools.</span></p>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-88066138052229796992022-12-23T06:19:00.000-08:002022-12-23T06:19:55.790-08:00Who Stole My Pension?<div class="separator"><p style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="400" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1577986055i/50252196.jpg" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; display: block; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 198.5px;" width="267" /></p></div><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Who Stole My Pension?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Book Review</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By Jim Vail </span></p><p><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">This is the book every teacher, retired teacher or wannabe teacher should read if they want to know if their pension is safe.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Who Stole My Pension was written by Robert Kiyosaki of Rich Dad Poor Dad fame and Ted Siedle, who successfully sued public pension funds and writes how Wall Street money managers are ripping off the pension funds.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">These are the questions we need to ask about our Chicago Teachers Pension Fund:</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="color: var(--color-primary);">-- Pensions are becoming less transparent at the behest of Wall Street</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="color: var(--color-primary);"><br /></span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="color: var(--color-primary);">-- Pensions are gambling on high-risk, high-cost investments more than ever</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="color: var(--color-primary);"><br /></span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="color: var(--color-primary);">-- Pensions routinely lie about the investment fees they pay, their investment performance </span><span style="color: var(--color-primary);">and funding levels</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="color: var(--color-primary);"><br /></span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="color: var(--color-primary);">-- Pension are not fully audited by independent accounting firms</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">We cannot trust the government to protect our defined benefit pension in which we work a number of years and are guaranteed a pension payment each month (roughly 2.2% of salary earned each year on the job). Ted writes that the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp. that is supposed to police pensions instead has a private agenda to assist corporations. He noted the federal agency has no capacity to audit pensions.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">His 2011 forensic audit of the bankrupt US Airways pilots pension revealed profound omissions, conflicts of interest, hidden and excessive fees, and potential violations of law with dozens of firms who do audit, actuarial, investment consulting, and money management.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><br /></em></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><b>Why is the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund dragging its feet on conducting a forensic audit that would probably reveal the same things?</b></em></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">The Teamster Alliance for Pension Protection key finding was a massive $767 million gamble on high cost, high risk, illiquid and opaque "alternative' investments that cost $400 million. It too like CTPF was only 45 percent funded.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Illinois is one of the worst offenders of short changing its public pensions. But Ted writes that not enough money in the pot is not the primary cause of pension problems.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">The authors predict that the next big bailout with taxpayer money will be the pension 'too big to fail' banks selling fake, toxic assets to the world. The bailout will be in the name of saving pensioners retirements, but really just a repeat of bailing out corrupt Wall Street.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">In the US the combined value of pension plan assets held by state and local governments in 2018 was over $4 trillion. overseen by trustees of laymen who lack knowledge in investments.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">CTPF is overseen by teachers and retired teachers with little investment background.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">“Fortunately there are globally recognized experts in pensions and investments who offer sound advice on how pensions should be prudently managed.”</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Public pensions have failed to meet overly optimistic return assumptions over the past 2 decades and dug themselves into deepening funding hole as they allocated ever greater assets to highest cost, highest risk ever devised by Wall Street - hedge and private equity funds.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><br /></strong></em></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Second City Teachers is hearing reports that the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund is heavily invested in high-risk, high cost private equity funds. The question is why amidst our crisis!</strong></em></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">"In fact, every forensic investigation I've ever undertaken has exposed that the nearer a pension is to insolvency, the higher the fees and the greater the risks the pension takes on."</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><br /></em></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><b>Is the Chicago Teachers Union paying 'obscene fees to Wall Street and moving further away from transparency?’</b></em></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Every teacher and pensioner should be able to ask a simple question, like how much do we pay these private equity funds to manage our pension money.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">While CORE has boasted that their trustees have kicked out hedge funds, they still work with private equity funds who are not much different.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><br /></strong></em></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">"The workers should tell the pension fund board to refuse any secrecy agreements with investment firms. There is no justification ever for secrecy agreements."</strong></em></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Siedle writes that you need to know the assets (stocks, bonds, private equity, etc) in which your pension is invested, the names of these firms managing the assets, how much the firms get paid and how well they performed.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">"To protect your retirement security, you need to pay particularly close attention to your pension's investments in these risky "alternatives" because these deals are riddled with abusive provisions amounting to a license to steal - from you."</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">"In summary, less transparency in pension results in less accountability and greater looting."</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">If Warren Buffet says, “It’s a lopsided system whereby 2% of your principal is paid each year to the manager even if he accomplishes nothing .. and additionally 20% of your profit is paid to him if he succeeds," then it can’t be good if our beloved Chicago Teachers Pension Fund is doing this.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Pension overseers are supposed to be on the pensioners’ side, not cuddling up to investment firms. That is a question I had when I noticed how poorly Ariel Management performs for the CTPF, yet some of our trustees continue to support them. Why must our trustees take exotic trips to sales conferences?</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">A 2014 internal review by US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) found that more than half of about 400 private equity firms charged unjustified fees and expenses without notifying investors.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Senator Elizabeth Warren has even proposed new regulations on the private equity industry to end "legalized looting" by "vampire" investment firms that take over troubled companies. </p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">The CTPF should seriously consider index investment management services that can be purchased for 1 basis point (one one-hundredth of a percent) or even for free.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">“Active managers, who attempt to beat the market by stock picking, may charge pension fees up to 120 times greater (1.2 percent). Private equity may charge up to 9 percent or 900 times greater than indexing. Paying higher fees negatively correlates to superior investment performance. Overwhelming majority of active managers fail to outperform market indexes over time net of fees. The higher the fees, the greater the drag on investment returns.”</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Siedle said shifting from passive investing to active investing is a terrible idea. He recommends all of us writing the following letter to CTPF:</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">“Please disclose all fees, expenses and other costs related to pension investments, but not limited to asset based investment advisory fees and performance or incentive fees as well as investment advisory fees. Please provide this comprehensive fee and expense information by manager and for the pension as a whole.”</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">In countless investigations, Siedle said he has proven that the fees pensions disclosed to the public as just the 'tip of the iceberg,' most often due to complexity, and multiple levels of hefty fees which are not fully disclosed to pensions or participants.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">We should be suspicious when the CTPF newsletter gives glowing reports about beating their benchmark, because you need to compare the pension to relevant benchmarks like S&P 500, not their own benchmarks.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">About 60 percent of all corporate pensions in the US are not audited or they pretend to audit, or they have limited scope audits but then disclaim responsibility for fraud or mismanagement.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Here are some more eye-opening takeaways from this must-read book:</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">1. World is faced with retirement crisis</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">2. Pension benefits promised are in danger</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">3. People overseeing your pension are not knowledgeable about pensions or investments</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">4. Wall Street firms hired to manage pension money are profiting at pensioners expense (aka looting)</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">5. You can and should get involved in scrutinizing the pension for your retirement security.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">We need to take action and start asking the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund these very same questions!</p>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-40489072694328093162022-12-22T18:24:00.010-08:002022-12-22T18:32:04.198-08:00DNH Removed!<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Former Football Star Coach Removed from DNH</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By Jim Vail</span></p><p><br /></p><p><a class="image-link is-viewable-img image2" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F167a06fb-e100-41c2-a56c-31b5399e09c9_290x400.png" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); 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font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Former Dunbar Football Star Coach Freddie Lesser who was unfairly placed on a Do Not Hire List 20 years ago was successfully removed from the black list.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">“Please be advised that the Do Not Hire designation (DNH) has been lifted from your file,” stated the Dec. 9 letter from the Chicago Public Schools Office of Administrative Hearings. “As a result, I am pleased to inform you that you are eligible to reapply for employment with the Chicago Public Schools.”</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">The letter was written and signed by Jennifer Rogers, Executive Director of Administrative Hearings.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Lesser contacted Second City Teachers just a month ago to complain that it was taking a long time for him to get his DNH removed. We then ran his incredible story and posted it on social media on Nov. 30.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">One week later CPS announced their decision to remove him.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">The power of the media!</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">“It feels good,” Lesser told Second City Teachers. “Thank you!”</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">His story was one of many outrageous stories we have featured at Second City Teachers about wonderful teachers unfairly placed on the DNH List.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">You could call it the equivalent of someone serving a prison sentence for a crime they never committed.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">In Lesser’s case, it was a clear case of mistaken identity that was easily explained. Except, it did not turn out that way.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">A provocateur accused him of being assaulted by Lesser at their football practice. Even though his co-coach admitted to everyone that he was the one who threw the punch to defend Lesser, and even though the courts agreed and threw out his case, the Chicago Public Schools still unfairly labeled him guilty and put him on a Do Not Hire List.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Lesser was not only a star football coach at the top-rated Dunbar High School at the turn of the millennium, he was also a star graphics design teacher who had a waiting list of a thousand students to take his award-winning class.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Lesser said he is not sure he wants to work again in CPS, but he did want to clear his name.</p>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-57596494305433834872022-12-05T16:48:00.000-08:002022-12-05T16:48:18.006-08:008.7% Increase<p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>CTPF Trustees Vote for 8.7% Increase</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By Jim Vail</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Carlton Lenoir Executive Director Headshot" class="image-style-large" height="400" loading="lazy" src="https://www.ctpf.org/sites/files/styles/large/public/2021-07/Carlton%20Lenoir%20Sr__FINAL.jpg?itok=uK2-qChq" style="background-color: white; border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Calibri W01", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 180px;" typeof="foaf:Image" width="286" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CTPF Director Carlton Lenoir</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Chicago Teachers Pension Fund Trustees voted at the November 17 Board Meeting to increase the fund's employees salaries by 8.7% even though the Fund has been losing money lately.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">CTPF Executive Director Lenoir Carlton spoke in favor of the motion made by CORE Trustee Mary Sharon-Reilly and seconded by Members First Trustee Victor Ochoa for the salary increase as part of an agreed Cost of Living Adjustment or COLA because he said it saves the fund money over the long-term.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Retired Teachers Association President Linda Williams and others argued against the whopping salary increase that reflected the country's high inflation rate this year.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Carlton told Trustees that the Fund had agreed to the COLA increase for its employees in 2019 to reflect the Consumer Price Index and this policy has saved the fund "hundreds of thousands of dollars."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He said the Pension Fund moved to a fixed COLA adjustment in order to make CTPF salaries competitive. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Every five years we need to make sure our pay structure is competitive," he said. "And COLA is equivalent to Social Security that provides inflation protection."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Carlton said employees have received about a 1.36% annual COLA increase over the last 10 years. He called the Board's policy "uber conservative" by following an index so that there would be no volatility which has saved the Fund $200,000.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"This has not harmed the fund," he told Trustees, "but has saved the Fund."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Retired Teacher Trustee Lois Nelson who voted against the motion disagreed.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Nelson said this was not prudent because the COLA adjustment was meant for people on social security (some people receive only $1200 a month), and not workers who earn over 100k a year.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"I love our staff, but I think our staff is realistic to see someone making high salaries," she said. "We know they work hard and deserve what they get, but they are cognizant of what is right and what is wrong."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Retired Teacher Trustee Maria J. Rodriguez who also voted against the raise said she is concerned about the pension's long-term viability noting that many teachers are leaving the system and taking their pension contributions with them. She noted that the Municipal Pension Fund (teacher assistants and city workers) did not agree to the 8.7% salary increase this year.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">She asked the Executive Director how much the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund is currently funded at. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Lenior said CTPF funding dropped from $13.1 billion to $11.2 billion today. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Teacher Trustee Quentin Washington who voted in favor of the salary increase said that this is the policy the CTPF voted on and they shouldn't changed the rules in the middle of the game. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Yeah 8.7 percent is high, but so is inflation," he said. "I want the staff to be treated with respect when we say we are going to do something, we do it."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Members First Teacher Trustees Phil Weiss and Victor Ochoa both voted to increase the salaries.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"We're doing things that are right for the staff," Ochoa said. "We need to make sure this doesn't keep getting repeated."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Trustee Rodriguez suggsted an actuarial study be conducted to evaluate the financial impact on the fund if the Fund would continue with a fixed rate.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Solvency of the fund is the most important," Rodriguez said, who added there was no need to rush the motion. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Chicago Board of Education Trustee Miguel Del Valle was not present to vote. The other CPS Board Member Dwayne Truss has not been replaced.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The motion passed 7 - 2 to increase the employees salaries 8.7 percent.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A closer look at the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund and its long-term sustainability will be in order as the Fund continues to lose money. Former Executive Director Charles Burbridge doubled the number of employees as well as the number of money managers at the Fund.</span></p>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-7201630386957878502022-11-30T14:31:00.003-08:002022-11-30T20:13:00.060-08:00DNH Coach<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Do Not Hire List Unfairly Hits High School Football Star Coach</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By Jim Vail</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1q3luot39qkAInyIqQrb6MsdenBOagZgKRfJotdVR-l9ZADkfk373zgNqwNeSwEYbmG-8miquAyN15NHLMqU83ODRXkXBvz71vpKqaavIgFi9dLI3K6Xc6FmEwtOuKJxMnytRFDet2z3vjs14vHD_9gkLnp1MLK0hkt051v2y3-_wyxmCP0N2F3QRoA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1549" data-original-width="1123" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1q3luot39qkAInyIqQrb6MsdenBOagZgKRfJotdVR-l9ZADkfk373zgNqwNeSwEYbmG-8miquAyN15NHLMqU83ODRXkXBvz71vpKqaavIgFi9dLI3K6Xc6FmEwtOuKJxMnytRFDet2z3vjs14vHD_9gkLnp1MLK0hkt051v2y3-_wyxmCP0N2F3QRoA=w290-h400" width="290" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Freddie Lesser was coaching at Dunbar High School one of the state's top football teams when something completely crazy happened to him.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The crazy part was not that a man threw water on his car as he passed by on his way to practice in 2002. The crazy part was what happened after this incident that completely changed his life.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The award-winning graphic design high school teacher and offensive line coach did not think anything more of the incident until he arrived on the field and found the guy who hurled the water at him had showed up and was now threatening him. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There was another person who would prefer to remain unnamed who was one of Lesser's fellow coaches for the Dunbar High School Football. This coach did not like his colleague and good friend being threatened by someone who appeared to be intoxicated. His co-coach told the offender you can't threaten coaches and then he knocked him out.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After that the police were called. Freddie told Second City Teachers in a phone interview that he and his fellow coach who defended his colleague looked very similar with bald heads. The victim who had threatened Lesser told the police that he was assaulted, so the cops took both Lesser and the other coach to the police station.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The police released both men within an hour.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Lesser returned to the school parking lot to discover that his car had been set on fire. He told the Dunbar Principal Barbara Hall who did nothing about it. A few weeks later Lesser got a letter from the Chicago Board of Education informing him he was no longer employed as a Chicago Public School teacher. He was placed on the Do Not Hire List. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He would also go on trial for assault and battery.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Criminal Circuit Court Trial lasted a couple of weeks and was also attended by the Hall of Fame Dunbar Head Football Coach Glen Johnson, who passed away a couple of years ago.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"I went to trial accused of battery or assault, and they said I beat up a guy 6'6" and 300 lbs. by a guy who is 5'10" and 200 lbs.," Lesser said.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Coach Johnson had to recuse himself during the hearing because he knew the Judge. So they got another judge, and within a few minutes the judge said this was all bull and he dismissed the case.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Once his criminal case was dismissed, Lesser's lawyer petitioned the court to expunge the arrest so that it would not be on his record. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Lesser did not know that he was placed on the DNH list until he went to look at his personnel file when he wanted to teach in Arizona in 2003. His fellow coach who did not work as a teacher at Dunbar like Lesser called him after he left and told him they were having a hearing scheduled at the Board of Ed because the victim/water assailant had filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Public Schools.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"I never knew about this hearing," Lesser said. "I was in Arizona. The Board of Ed thought I was running away. They didn't know I had another job and was transferred to Arizona. I couldn't make it to the hearing."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">His defender told the hearing officer that Lesser had nothing to do with the incident. His fellow coach said he was the one who knocked out the guy, but it seemed the Board of Ed did not want to hear this. He told Lesser after the hearing that their body language told him that they were nonchalant about what he had told them and the Board probably thought it would be easier to pin the blame on Lesser because he was absent from the hearing.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Lesser said he believed the only reason the police got involved was because the third coach on the field that day was also a Chicago cop - Larry Stewart.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"He tried to protect me," Lesser said. "At the time Dunbar was the best team in the state, and I was the key to their success. I was the line coach. We were the team of the decade. Dunbar was well-known in football. Dunbar was the hub for recruitment ... (CPS) couldn't do anything to Jonathan or (co-coach Larry) Stewart because they didn't work for CPS. I bore the brunt because I was working for CPS."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As the years went by, Lesser went on with his life. He petitioned the Board of Ed to remove his DNH. His file was not on the district's computer system, so he sent them his paperwork, but the Board of Ed said they needed more information. He sent a letter to former CPS Chief Arne Duncan informing him about what had happened and that it was not fair. He included a letter from an investigator exonerating him along with 50 witnesses present when the incident took place. However, the Board never called any of the witnesses. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"They didn't do an in-depth investigation," Lesser said. "No one ever contacted me. They just wanted to sweep it under the rug because it would look bad for them."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Lesser just recently sent in his appeal to have his DNH removed. People can appeal once a year if they have been placed on the infamous Do Not Hire List. He got the following reply from the Office of Administrative Hearings (formerly Office of Employee Engagement): </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"We are in receipt of your petition and it is still in queue to be reviewed by the Committee. When a decision is made, you will be notified via email soon. We appreciate your patience with this matter."</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">At the time of the incident Lesser was about to become a tenured teacher. Unfortunately, at the time he was still a probationary assigned teacher and did not have full union rights which would have included the ability to appeal his dismissal. He ended up replacing Nate Dixon as the graphic design teacher, who left to become a Chicago Teachers Union Field Representative. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"We knew the whole case was fabricated," he said. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Lesser did not let this miscarriage of justice for him at the Chicago Public Schools deter his career. He continued to teach at schools outside the district. He knows a lot about computers and he is a product of the Chicago Public Schools. He attended South Shore High School and he inspired his niece to become a teacher at Hyde Park High School today.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Lesser exemplifies the essence of a hard worker the Chicago Public Schools should be proud of. He used to work the night shift as a graphic designer at the old Chicago Tribune printing plant and then would come in the morning to coach at Dunbar. He would stay at the high school until 10 pm to review films as a championship coach.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Lesser was a linebacker at Illinois State University. He earlier worked as a graphic designer at the Chicago Park District, and his first supervisor was Arne Duncan. He also worked the night shift as security at the Hyatt Hotel at the McCormick Center and then head to nearby Dunbar at 3000 S. King Dr. to teach and coach.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Recently he earned his doctorate in educational leadership at North Central College. At the time of the incident he had been accepted into the prestigious program to be a National Board Certified Teacher. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"I got accepted into the Board certification program that a lot of people can't get in," he said. "But they didn't care. So instead of the certification because of the incident I got my Masters and PhD."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Even though I had some rough times in my life, I didn't let the setbacks in CPS curtail my education. I just used that as a motivation."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He is currently working as a case investigator at the Cook County Department of Health.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Lesser is also an exemplary model for how someone could escape the hard life of drugs and gangs and become a model for students in this rough city. His brother is Herman Williams, one of the original members of the Black Stone Rangers. Black Stone leader Jeff Forte was his next door neighbor when he was little and Lesser used to beat up his brother all the time.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"We used to go on all those marches," he said. "There were thousands of people wearing red cams and black outfits, marching for equal rights and against police brutality."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">His mother who was a nurse moved further south to 79th Street to avoid the gangs.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">His fiancee is a police officer and many of his former football players became police officers. He had earlier applied to teach at Tilden High School but was told they can't hire him because of the DNH. He has also worked as a tutor at Malcolm X College. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Lesser was a star teacher at Dunbar. He was nominated for the Teacher of the Year Award for the best graphics class. His class went to the suburbs to compete at the Triton College graphics program contest and one person there told one of his students that it was the first time ever a Chicago public school student won. His student who won the design contest is currently working for Apple, and according to Lesser he still talks to this day about the contest he won back in 2001. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"We had 1,000 students who wanted to take my graphics design class," Lesser said. "They couldn't find anyone to take my position so they had to cancel the position and no more graphic design."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Lesser is also a part of the Woodlawn Project, where they interviewed him first at age 6 and they follow his life as he grows up. They just recently re-interviewed him on the phone.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Not a day goes by that I don't think about something that happened," he said. "I got all the memories. I kept a lot of my work and the students' work. Even though I moved on, I haven't moved on. Something in my mind won't let it go."</span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">Let's hope CPS quickly rectifies this gross miscarriage of justice so that Coach Lesser can put this all to rest.</span></div>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-8994742245321085572022-11-24T13:13:00.001-08:002022-11-24T13:13:10.371-08:00Peter Pay Paul<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">POOR PETER PAYING PAUL </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">By Stephen Wilson </span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Things are falling apart in Britain as school teachers are feeding pupils out of their own pockets. Child hunger has soared as austerity goes on and on.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">More and more Scottish school teachers are witnessing the devastating impact of over a decade of uninterrupted austerity policies being ruthlessly enforced. And there is no reprieve for hungry school children. Teachers have reported seeing more hungry school students turning up at their lessons. They often can't afford a school meal so their dinner might be a bar of chocolate, a cheap hamburger or a tray of leftover rice. Teachers can often spot the look of hunger on children straight away. They have those bleak and listless eyes or sleepy look on their faces. They are less alert and attentive in the classroom. Then they have this dizziness that constantly accompanies hunger.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The NASUWT {a union of school teachers} stated that they had received reports, from a survey, that their members were handing out money, food and clothes to many children and families who can't make ends meet. The survey of 360 teachers which was undertaken by the union found that as many as 65% had witnessed increased numbers of children coming into school hungry at the start of the day. As many as 58% teachers claimed that the students lacked the equipment they needed for lessons and 55% claimed that more families can't afford school uniforms. {So much for the argument on behalf of school uniforms that school uniforms obscure inequality and so conceal poverty. Families can't even buy the means of hiding their glaring poverty.} </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What does a teacher do when confronted with hungry school children? They often try to feed them. More than two thirds of teachers stated they had handed out food or clothing to pupils, while 27% had assisted a pupil's family to obtain aid from a food bank. As many as 23% said they had lent or given money to pupils.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is not surprising that teachers not only feel embarrassed and awkward about all this. They are angry. A spokesperson of the Union Mike Corbett succinctly summed up the mood by saying "It's outrageous!" It is not only physical discomfort. Some school students can feel the indignity of humiliation, shame and possible teasing from a few insensitive students. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The world is also watching Britain. The United Nations Human Rights Council demanded that action be taken by the British government to prevent homelessness and provide better food security and equal rights for disabled people. Countries such as Brazil, Angola and Romania all called upon the British government to take firm action. Brazil stated, 'The United Kingdom must improve food security, in particular for young children and adolescents and persons with disabilities.' The proportion of consumers who cannot afford to eat a healthy and balanced diet rose by 36% last month. The United Nations rapporteur on extreme poverty, Olivier De Schutter, warned the British prime minister that prolonged austerity policies will increase hunger and malnutrition in Britain. You'd think that the British state would be concerned about how the international reputation of the United Kingdom had sunk to a new low. How humiliating that Angola has to remind an affluent United Kingdom to take steps to fight poverty. But they seem oblivious. If I tell Russians those facts some don't believe me. They think it must be old Russian state propaganda that tends to run down the West. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"You don't need to believe me," I retort, "just consult the Reports of the United Nations, charity groups such as Oxfam and academic research readily available on the Internet." </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is true that the Scottish government itself has made an effort to extend school meals and that free school meals have been extended to primary school children in years one to five and that some councils have taken the special steps of providing all children with free school meals in some schools. But it is evidently not enough! Free school meals should be available to all school students and any attempts to cut welfare benefits must cease. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Cutting benefits for the poor is as crude as the blood letting treatment used to treat patients during the plague. The cure is worse than the disease. You end up killing the patients. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately the government is out of touch and remote from the ordinary day lives of people. Imagination is not their strong point. Some can't even imagine why a person from a working class background might actually enjoy a visit to the opera. They think that the opera and the theater is something reserved for the rich and well to do.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And how does it feel to be hungry? After just two days you can feel slightly dizzy and then feel amazingly light. At the beginning you feel more lucid and aware of things around you. You can have the sensation that you are not walking but floating on the streets. But after that you begin to feel dense, tired and can easily succumb to sleep. You start dreaming of food more and more. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">That was my experience of living in Dublin during the early 1980's. I'd often drop into a shelter in Church Street that fed poor people. Once I made a mistake of walking in with a brief case. The guy who handed out sandwiches noticed this and asked, "What are you doing? " as if I was pretending to be hungry. After some persuasion I got two sandwiches. Another two Irish guys with a fellow Scot also noticed me and asked me 'Why are you here?" The Scotsman answered on my behalf: "Well the man has to eat." I think it's great how fellow Scots stick together abroad! </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then another strange incident happened in Dublin which sounded like a miracle. I had not eaten for some time and was very hungry. While in the city center I spotted a twenty pound note floating down like an autumn leaf on to the road. I quickly walked out and grabbed it. A lorry driver noticing it told me, "It looks like your lucky day." I immediately went to my favorite cafe to get a decent meal. Who ever said that Guardian angels don't exist? If only the current government could be guardian angels to British school children!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-55745909542744285672022-11-22T09:23:00.000-08:002022-11-22T09:23:44.771-08:00AFT & CIA<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">The American Federation of Teachers and the CIA </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">by George Schmidt</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Book Review</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><img height="400" src="http://www.substancenews.net/assets/images2/1526505560.jpg" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #191919; float: left; font-family: "times new roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.5em;" width="299" /></p><div><br /></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Almost all the books we read have been censored in some way by the US government via the publishing industry.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You cannot go to a book store and find The American Federation of Teachers and the CIA written by George Schmidt in 1978. These type of books that expose the lies of our government have to be self-published.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">George Schmidt who founded Substance News in 1975 to fight for substitute rights and exposed the corruption and lies of not only the Chicago Board of Education and the Chicago Mayor but also the Chicago Teachers Union and its collaboration at times with the power structure.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">His book The AFT and the CIA exposes this lie that the union is just there to protect workers' rights. The American Federation of Teachers has in fact been used to help install right-wing dictatorships around the world via its collaboration with the Central Intelligence Agency which is focused on protecting US corporate power at the expense of the people.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This was the time of the Cold War and the battle with the Soviet Union to control the world. It is no different today.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"These same leaders generally neglect to mention that their own "free" labor movement has been similarly by the American Secret Police, the CIA."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The collaboration with Irving Brown from the CIA with the American Federation of Teachers reminded me of CORE's fight with the AFT when they invited Bill Gates to the AFT Convention in Seattle. Both entities represent corporate power that opposes unions and worker organizing.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">George's book is a fascinating narrative of the different groups that work with the unions and the intelligence services to subvert governments across the world. He connects the U.S. Agency for International Development or USAID as another CIA front. I worked with USAID when I reported in Russia in the 1990s to promote the free market. Little did I know!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The American labor groups with CIA money would work with a particular worker organization tied to dictator's like Pinochet in Chile or Bautista in Cuba.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Chile is a good example. In 1973, Chile lost its democratically-elected president and regained its "free trade union movement" with the help of AIFLD, the Pentagon, the Chilean oligarchy, the right wing of the Catholic Church and a group of freedom loving generals who proceeded to execute at least 30,000 people, most of them trade unionists."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">George writes further when the horrors of Chile were exposed that the AFT passed a resolution condemning the coup, but an amendment asking the AFT to investigate its relationship to the 1973 coup was defeated. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">George's research is quite extensive. He noted that Sec. of State Henry Kissinger had planned a NATO intervention of Southern Africa to prevent a radical takeover. The CTU and other labor unions tied to the Democratic Party today have not criticized NATO intervention in Ukraine that has provoke the Russian attack.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He also noted that the war in Vietnam began before US soldiers were sent to die when the CIA worked with French trade unions to make sure no strikes stopped the arms shipments in the early 1950s.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">George's acerbic wit matched by his brilliant pen puts a literary spin on some of our more darker moments in trade unionism: "The massacre of half a million Indonesians has opened the door to successful 'free trade union' activity in another country."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But it was not only the AFT but also the NEA or National Education Association that worked extensively with the CIA to kill labor activists around the world on behalf of big business.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">His last chapter entitled The New York Road to Power noted that after the NY's United Federation of Teachers established themselves as a liberal union that supported civil rights and desegregation in the 1950s then later purged all their activists as a cold hard business unionism took hold.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This book has more than enough to prove that history repeats!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You can access The American Federation of Teachers and the CIA by George Schmidt at -</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">https://www.scribd.com/doc/106238989/The-American-Federation-of-Teachers-and-the-CIA-by-George-N-Schmidt </span></p>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-54083010289976271982022-11-20T14:54:00.001-08:002022-11-20T14:54:12.297-08:00Media <p><span style="color: #404040; font-family: SF Compact Display, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, Apple Color Emoji, Segoe UI Emoji, Segoe UI Symbol; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white;">What the Media Wants You to Believe</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #404040; font-family: SF Compact Display, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, Apple Color Emoji, Segoe UI Emoji, Segoe UI Symbol;"><span style="background-color: white;">By George Schmidt</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #404040; font-family: SF Compact Display, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, Apple Color Emoji, Segoe UI Emoji, Segoe UI Symbol;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #404040; font-family: SF Compact Display, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, Apple Color Emoji, Segoe UI Emoji, Segoe UI Symbol;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDYodPQixwB6PfgZ0nhNuJfmczA7_YlHQa4PB9c6fjXuLK1vv2qZv6YF7MZXscDtBaQIcmk0n3v8eHbvDEOcMGUyvWA5u-4cHrVhTqF7aqs392G93JmSBcZMyLZZRww8WklrHx5Q-Z98S568YQp44ok6mr-WdDTajYe0kRboP1Fs-UY9THxyu5l_GTg/s264/george.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="264" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDYodPQixwB6PfgZ0nhNuJfmczA7_YlHQa4PB9c6fjXuLK1vv2qZv6YF7MZXscDtBaQIcmk0n3v8eHbvDEOcMGUyvWA5u-4cHrVhTqF7aqs392G93JmSBcZMyLZZRww8WklrHx5Q-Z98S568YQp44ok6mr-WdDTajYe0kRboP1Fs-UY9THxyu5l_GTg/w400-h289/george.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George Schmidt's words of wisdom live on.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Substance is reprinting my short book “The American Federation of Teachers and the C.I.A.” in its original form (save for an increase in page size and an increase in price) after several years of renewed interest in it.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">I was at first pleased—but surprised—to find that intelligent and committed people were still interested in this brief study nearly a quarter century after it was researched and written. Looking back on the 26 years we have been publishing the teachers’ newspaper Substance in Chicago, however, it should not have been as surprising as it first seemed to me. There is the same connection across generations now as there was when my generation struggled to locate and learn the history of American radicalism during the Orwellian brainwash of the early 1960s.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Those who grew up, as I did, in the working class towns of industrial America during the 1950s were cut off from our past, often by our own parents. We were denied access to the legacies of protest and militancy that had a long and honorable tradition in the United States of America. The unions had been built by others. Civil rights was for rich college kids and black preachers. Feminism was not for our mothers or sisters. And woe betide our brothers (or sisters) if their sexual preferences deviated from the “Leave it to Beaver” orthodoxies of the mass media—or the even more viciously policed barriers to love erected by the Archbishop of Newark.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Our histories were not our own. Born in places like Elizabeth, New Jersey, and raised in Linden, New Jersey, we were supposed to view militant labor radicalism, the anti-war movement, civil rights activism, feminism and the vast poetries and potentials of human affection as something alien and subversive. The outsiders who practiced such things were not welcome on our block, or on Broad Street in Elizabeth, or on Wood Avenue in Linden. The people who wrote books about us were not our neighbors.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><br /></strong></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">The children of American workers were not supposed to think subversively about the reign of American capital, either at home or abroad. </strong><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">The propagandists who brought that world view to the minds of children like myself 50 years ago are still working today. This little book is about some of them, and how they do their work among teachers. The people who tell America how to think about itself today are telling us that those industrial places where most of us live are rendered realistically in the media. They tell us that “The Sopranos” is a better way to understand white working class people from Elizabeth, New Jersey, than other methods. Certainly no one is to go to the area and walk through downtown Linden, Rahway, Elizabeth, or Freehold and visit our high school classrooms, gyms and sports fields. Brainwashing is a long discussion for a different time, but it is quite relevant to why we are reprinting this little book about one union at one moment in history.</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">In order to make people do what they want, any ruling class first has to make people think that a certain way of viewing the world is the only way. Conversely, in order to act more clearly and liberate ourselves, we have to develop critical thinking skills quite different from the ones presently sanctioned in our schools. We have to counter many of the official lies. As one character says in the movie Platoon—“Free your mind and your ass will follow.”</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><br /></strong></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Maintaining the slavery of people’s minds is one of the main jobs of every ruling class. </strong><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">This involves a twofold dialectical process of suppressing (or distorting) the truth and of elevating banal fictions about persistent facts. Together today, these activities are called “Public Relations,” in politics, “Spin.” They are always lies in the service of power. There have been some changes in the tactics used to suppress the truth since this little book was first published, but not in fundamentals.</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><br /></strong></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Propaganda still parades everywhere as “news.” </strong><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">The law is still invoked to suppress dissent. It’s still expensive (albeit perhaps not as physically dangerous) to publish and speak the truth about those who run the world. One of the things accomplished by the end of the Cold War was the unleashing of thousands of trained propagandists on the rest of the world. No longer in the employ of the governments that fought the Cold War, these men and women offered themselves for employment to the highest bidder.</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Truth, again, was to be the first casualty. A dozen examples could be offered on any single day. In July 2001, anyone who paid careful attention to the media could read that the deceased owner of Newsweek was a heroine of free speech and a free press. We could then turn to the pages of Newsweek and read that protesters who threw things at police should be shot dead with a bullet in the head. This “They are only getting what they deserve” version of reality has its roots as old as history itself. Less than a week after dozens of peaceful activists from around the world were hospitalized by the brutality of Italian security forces (now led by fans of Benito Mussolini), most of us were supposed to believe that the dissidents got what they deserved.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><br /></strong></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Those who confronted official lies have long known that the liars usually are better funded and more polished than those who try to bring out unpleasant truths. </strong><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Gone with the Wind is still more widely read and profitable today than The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass. How does all this relate to the republication of a little book written a few years after the last American C.I.A. operative was pulled out of Vietnam (or disgracefully left behind to the not-so-tender mercies of the victors in that terrible conflict)? Our monthly teachers’ newspaper Substance bridges a few generations in the annals of critical reporting. Founded the year Saigon was liberated and Vietnam reunited, Substance has continued publishing continuously since. We have been around from the days of the Killing Fields to the years of the Battle of Seattle, the insanity of the “anti-drug” war on the poor in Colombia, the vicious official brutality of Genoa, and the daily attacks on the poor in all of the largest cities in the United States of America. And we came under attack, too, from the same people.</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">As readers of Substance know, in January 1999 the “Testocracy” sued me for $1 million and suspended me from my 30-year teaching job in Chicago’s inner city. Officially, the “Chicago School Reform Board of Trustees” sued us for a million dollars for “copyright infringement.” In January 1999, Chicago public schools CEO Paul Vallas (praised nationally for his fictitious “miracle” in the city’s public school system), with the full support of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley (the man whose brother ran Al Gore’s election campaign) began the process of legal maneuvering against us. That maneuvering led to my termination as a public school teacher at the August 2000 meeting of the Chicago Board of Education. Still pending is the claim that our act of publishing facts entitles the Chicago Board of Education to get $1 million from us.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><br /></strong></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">What was our crime? Publishing a handful of dumb tests that Chicago had just forced its high school students to take. Our crime was publishing facts that didn’t jive with the official version of The Truth.</strong><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"> It’s been difficult to face off once again against the thugs who rule Chicago today. The assault on my career and the newspaper I edit has also provided me with an opportunity. It has given me the chance to meet a new generation of activists and to have some time away from the daily demands of classroom teaching to study and understand the movements that are growing today.</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">One of the strange highlights of the past three years was arriving in June 1999 at a conference of the Rouge Forum and Whole Schooling Institute at Wayne State University in Detroit. We had been invited there by people in Detroit who had heard about our struggle in Chicago over the Internet. My wife Sharon and I had driven from Chicago to Detroit and were late. As we walked up to the sign-in table, I was asked, “Who are you?” “I’m the guy who wrote that little book,” I said. Displayed among the literature near the registration table were a number of photocopies of “The American Federation of Teachers and the C.I.A.” I was told that people in Detroit had been reading the book as part of their study of the forces once again arrayed against the rights of the majority of people. Many, I was told, had thought the person who wrote the book was dead or out of political life. In fact, we had remained in the politics of Chicago and its schools, while others had gone elsewhere. We had stayed at the grass roots while others found that their “movement” pasts could be brokered into quite comfortable presents and futures.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Rereading “The American Federation of Teachers and the C.I.A.” 23 years after we first sold it at the 1978 convention of the American Federation of Teachers, I am glad for several things. Reading the accounts of the C.I.A. speaker Irving Brown at the 1977 AFT convention still gives me chills. I am glad that the facts we reported then still stand up now. I am glad to have worked with thousands of men and women who had the courage to oppose U.S. imperialism—both abroad and in our own cities—during those decades of the 1960s and 1970s—and beyond. I am proud that I can tell my sons what I did to halt the terrors of white supremacy during the century when it was at its most vicious.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">It has been an honor to work with those who continued to oppose the atrocities of the “system”—even in the sugarcoated forms that were being prepared then (and which would be unleashed after the Reagan presidency began in 1981) and the cloying, trendy seductiveness of the “New Democrats” who ascended to power under Bill Clinton.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">A great deal has happened since 1977 and 1978, when this book was researched and written. Most notably, for those interested in the topic covered in this book, was the collapse of Soviet-style Communism and its replacement by a brand of rapacious capitalism, often led by criminals and former intelligence operatives, throughout the former Soviet Union and across what was once called the “Eastern Bloc.” There have been attempts by the U.S. business press to present the nastiness of privatization and the “free market” in Russia as something unique, as if it stems from a Slavic gene.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><br /></strong></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Even a brief but honest history of capitalism in its various national inceptions shows that the abstract “market” preached by professors is really closer to the drive-by version practiced in places as diverse as Moscow, Manila, Los Angeles, Chicago, Santiago or Mexico City.</strong><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"> </span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><br /></span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Who are they kidding?</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><br /></strong></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Capital bares its fangs behind the apologetics of those who abstractly preach about “free markets” and a “free world.”</strong><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"></span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">This little book is about what one American trade union did during one period in its history. Why is it relevant today? I would argue that the international corporate capitalism practiced by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency during its Cold War heyday is the predecessor to the “globalism” that is generating a new generation of protest today.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Similarly, the class collaborationism of many trade union leaders is part of that process of subordinating people across the planet to the global reign of unbridled capital.</strong></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">The saga of the American Federation of Teachers and its subordination to the agendas of America’s corporate leaders continues today in the union’s reluctance to support militant trade union organizing throughout the United States and, especially, in those nations were working people are most clearly the victims of globalization.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><br /></strong></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">The American Federation of Teachers today is also the main union supporting the corporate drive—led by those we call the “Testocracy”—to subordinate the desires of the majority of people for democratic public schools to the agenda of the ruling class.</strong></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Just as during the Cold War, we are presented with “accountability” for the majority of people while those who run things are only accountable to themselves.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px;">The growing international protest movements against “globalization” and the vicious attacks on these movements—and especially on their leaders—are nothing new in the ongoing struggle between capital and the majority of humanity. Hopefully, the republication of this small book will help to put some of the less visible portions of the history of our struggles into perspective. During the coming years, much more will need to be published about these issues. The republication of “The American Federation of Teachers and the C.I.A.” is meant to provide people with one additional tool for understanding the facts of history, rather than the glib generalizations which serve only those who wish to abuse humanity and the history we are all creating.</p>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711470281998032448.post-24755422797126693462022-11-17T19:21:00.002-08:002022-11-17T19:23:54.624-08:00Pension Committees<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Despite Harsh Rhetoric MF & CORE Join Forces on Pension Board</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By Jim Vail</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0Aj8m0G-53NQEu9RWdgD3I1cy5lrJ2UHQDeK_sxIuzJBkNRdj-qaK8OyMI0B6QJdrbrUt7mKl0cXjm1yf8hvXHQ6NJtxlqd5LdSI2yNqC_-J46RLg6eGIqqojhC5NIqNsldJcaJ4Oif_7vKHYocJc_JBqsLVsd0xs98jjMLDP0NOIxE-hxEICO4d-w/s275/viktor%20ochoa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0Aj8m0G-53NQEu9RWdgD3I1cy5lrJ2UHQDeK_sxIuzJBkNRdj-qaK8OyMI0B6QJdrbrUt7mKl0cXjm1yf8hvXHQ6NJtxlqd5LdSI2yNqC_-J46RLg6eGIqqojhC5NIqNsldJcaJ4Oif_7vKHYocJc_JBqsLVsd0xs98jjMLDP0NOIxE-hxEICO4d-w/s1600/viktor%20ochoa.jpg" width="183" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MF Pension Trustee Victor Ochoa</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There is rhetoric, and then there is reality.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The war of words between Members First and CORE have heated up lately after Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates accused MF of being a part of the Illinois Policy Institute. The IPI helped lead an attack on the CTU by trying to get members to opt out of the union.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Gates even called MF Teachers Pension Trustee Phil Weiss the campaign manager for failed Republican Governor candidate Darren Bailey.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But despite these incendiary words - CORE, who controls the number of seats on the Chicago Teachers Pension Board, voted in favor of Phil Weiss to continue as Chairman of the Fund's Investment Committee and voted for MF Pension Trustee Victor Ochoa to chair the Technology Committee.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In fact, Trustee Weiss endorsed CORE Trustee Jeffery Blackwell during the campaign before his re-election.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The public fight between the two union caucuses apparently turned into a love fest.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And independents be damned! Retired Teacher Pension Trustee Maria J. Rodriguez and Teacher Pension Trustee Tina Padilla who is not affiliated with either CORE or MF will not chair any committees. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Recently elected Teacher Pension Trustees Jeffery Blackwell will continue to be the President of the Pension Board, and Jaqueline Price Ward will be the new Vice President.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The new Committee heads were named at the Chicago Teachers Pension Board meeting on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Financial Secretary will be Retired Teacher Trustee Mary Sharon Reilly and Recording Secretary will be Retired Teacher Trustee Lois Nelson.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Finance and Audit Committee chair will be (CORE) Mary Sharon Reilly. This Committee is powerful because it provides oversight of management's administration of the Fund's annual budget and financial operations.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Pension Laws and Administrative Rules Committee will be chaired by (CORE) Jacqueline Price Ward. It establishes CTPF's legislative agenda.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It recommends or proposes pension legislation.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Claims and Service Credits Committee will be headed by (CORE) Quentin Washington. This committee recommends action by the Board on applications for pensions, including disability and refunds.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Personnel Committee will be headed by (CORE) Mary Sharon Reilly who will review, evaluate and make recommendations regarding staff compensations, and hiring and firing. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">MF Teacher Trustee Victor Ochoa will be the chair of the Technology Committee.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Elections Committee Chair will be (CORE) Quentin Washington and the other members will be (MF) Victor Ochoa and (CORE) Jaqueline Price Ward.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Policy Committee chair will be (CORE) Jeffery Blackwell, and include (CORE) Jaqueline Price Ward and (CORE) Mary Sharon Reilly. This Committee makes recommendations to write new policies and amend them.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Executive Committee consists of (CORE) Jeffery Blackwell President, Financial Secretary (CORE) Mary Sharon Reilly, Price-Ward (CORE) Vice President and one elected trustee (CORE) Lois Nelson.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">CORE controls the Chicago Teachers Pension Board, and they are playing ball with the caucus they claim to disparage.</span></p>Jvail900http://www.blogger.com/profile/03786050285260494603noreply@blogger.com0