NYC Teachers Hit Back... At Long Friggin' LAST.

[Smarmie Doofus]

37. We packed the room. Actually lobby security turned some people away...

... who came late. Apparently we were in fire code violation. Not sure how many were sent away.

We had secured a bigger space in midtown ( we wanted to hold it there) but they copped out on us late in the game so we had to settle for our original booking at CUNY grad school.

I'd say there were about 80 people in the audience. That's big for a MORE forum. Lois Weiner only drew about 40 or so when she spoke about a year ago. ( Ironically, at the bigger space that copped out this time.)

A lot of non MORE people came which was the general idea: building the ranks.

It was useful, but I think MORE should stay with that subject for a while... "there's gold in them thar hills".... But it seems the leadership wants to go back to their usual mainstays: school closings, social justice unionism ( coalitions w. other groups), wrap-around services, etc.

They're running for election in April, so i guess they favor the issues they know best.

All of these are important... and interrelated ... but I think we need to broaden the discussion. people can only hear about school closings and charters only so much before they stop *hearing*.

I, for instance, would like to attack something HUGE... like common core, for instance. High profile. It's been insuffucuently critiqued and is actually supported by UFT/AFT. ( "There's GOLD... or is that just shekels... in them thar' hills. Gold for someone, seems to me.)

I'll post part 2 of the forum tomorrow nite. That's especially good. Audience participation ( off camera, cause a lot of people were afraid to be seen.) and then a fiery wind-up by the panelists, with a barn-burner by Weiner to end it.