As I meet teachers and PSRPs on the campaign trail, I am often asked why I joined CORE. I joined CORE because I heard there was a group looking at the real effects of "school reform." We found that the privatization of public education is a deliberate attack on this truly democratic institution; an attack that is funded by billionaires who have never believed in equal access for all. What makes this all the more intolerable is that well-meaning people who earnestly desire school improvement are hoodwinked by the "bold" proposition that "failing" public schools should be closed.

Politicians and educational entrepreneurs use standardized test scores as a hammer to destroy schools in high-poverty African American and Latino communities. Standardized tests do not tell us how much children have learned. They do a better job of telling us how much money their families make. Parents across this city send their children to ISAT prep classes so their children can get into selective enrollment high schools. When you're poor, this isn't an option. This is why the use of these tests for teacher evaluations, merit pay, bonuses, student promotion, or school closings is morally reprehensible.

When I saw that our union stood by and watched helplessly while our members lost their jobs, I couldn't believe the callousness. I attended school closings hearings with CORE. I was in shock to see the CTU president absent from those hearings. Where was our union? Why did the field representatives say "There's nothing we can do"? Why did I read how terrible CPS schools are and how awful the teachers are without a word from Marilyn Stewart? Why did I read about "the powerful teachers' unions" obstructing progress when I saw people who were clearly powerless? That's when we knew we had to do something different.

CORE studied the problems and decided that the time was right to act. We developed partnerships with parents, students, and community organizations. We pledged to support their actions if they pledged to support us. We realized that we must have the support of the community if we're going to take on the power brokers in this town.

We need union leaders, not company sellouts who show contempt for the membership. Last year, Marilyn allowed Huberman to take an extra week of our pay because "That's how it's done in corporate America". Now Huberman says the Union must take concessions. We know Marilyn will make these concessions -- despite her "tough talk" -- because it is UPC's practice to make backroom deals and shrug off member input. They think these sellouts will keep them "at the table".

We, as rank-and-file members, have not been brought to the table. We want the dinner, not the crumbs.

We need a fighting union that will put an end to the bullying tactics of administrators, the tyranny of tests that are never used to inform, but only to subjugate. We need a union that studies the problems and provides answers. We need CORE.

It's a New Time. We are The New Way.

Remember to Vote on May 21st.