CORE Caucus of the Chicago Teachers Union... Teachers launch 'We Are Teachers!' regular leafletting campaign across city
CORE, a caucus of the Chicago Teachers Union, is once again taking the initiative with its "We Are Teachers" leafletting campaign at various CTA train stations. Inspired by the CTU’s Better Schools/Better System information cards, five CORE teachers decided to spend a few hours passing them out at the Brown Line’s Rockwell station one Friday afternoon three weeks ago. Other CORE teachers were inspired by the positive public reaction. The following week four more train stations were also leafletted.
Teachers leaflet the Brown Line L stop at Rockwell on May 27, 2011. Substance photo.The teachers were quick to notice that once people realized it was teachers passing out literature, they were quick to look up and take the information. This past Friday, May 27, 2011, at the Orange Line Midway station, a passenger confidently stated, “I support you guys — you work hard for our children.” Another passerby at the Brown Line Rockwell station was elated to receive a flier defending teacher pensions. “My husband is a fire fighter and we are in the same boat — most people are surprised to learn we have no social security!”
If a person watches too much of the news they will come to believe negative myths about teachers that too often goes unchallenged. A well-financed campaign by Big Business (Illinois is Broke) is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on print and electronic advertising attacking public worker pay, benefits and pensions.
The Chicago Teachers Union developed the Better Schools/Better System improvement plan during the Spring in order to communicate to legislators and the public what we are for. Smaller class sizes, limiting standardized tests, equitable financing, safe schools and strong teacher contract are all things that strengthens individual schools by allowing teachers to be professionals. The card also points out ways to improve the Chicago Public Schools system. An elected school board and strong local school councils are important for democracy, the teachers are telling the public. Other systemic points include TIF reform, fully staffed schools on day one of each school year (instead of waiting until the 20th day), and a complete audit of CPS performance and finances.
Kirsten and Scott (with the SuperUnionDog) at the Rockwell L stop on May 27, 2011.The other flier, Five Myths About Teachers, clarified the real importance of tenure and pensions.
A growing number of teachers and other school workers are looking for ways to stand up for ourselves. Passing out informative leaflets at train stations is a very good way of accomplishing that — teachers are being seen as real people. And the leaflets are providing the response to the prevalence of underhanded teacher bashing.
With contract negotiations a year away, and lots of anti-teacher legislation emerging, the We Are Teachers campaign has only just begun. Two teachers from Edmunds School have committed to getting a few more teachers from their school to cover the nearby Pulaski Orange Line station. And yet another teacher from Telpochcalli has offered to work on a spanish language flier for the Pink Line California station. As good teachers know, with a consistency of effort, the public will now come to see who the “real good guys” are.
If you would like to lead a leafletting at another L stop, please call Garth Liebhaber at 773/712-1402 or Jim Cavallero 773 930 0940
