Video: Chicago Teachers Union organizer welcomes Occupy Chicago to new home

In the new documentary A Tale of Two Missions, Juan Williams said, "If the Chicago Teachers Union would put as much effort into improving as they do into protesting, then perhaps Chicago wouldn't be so burdened by violence, crime, and lack of economic mobility all borne of bad schools."

Yesterday afternoon one of those protesters, CTU organizing coordinator Norine Gutekanst, gave a hearty welcome to Occupy Chicago at their new headquarters at a loft on the city's South Side. Over 300 Occupy Chicago members have been arrested since they started protesting in September; nationally, over 6,000 occupiers have been busted. In my opinion it's a group of lawbreakers.



In my video, Gutekanst selectively read from the Chicago Teachers Union endorsement of Occupy Chicago.

She left this part out:

Whereas, Chicago Teachers Union represents teachers, paraprofessional and school related staff and school clinicians who work with and are members of the other 99% of Americans who have experienced cuts in their pay through the Board's reneging of 4% contractual raises...

Hmm...why did Gutekanst omit that passage?

But she did declare, "We look forward to continued partnership with the Occupy movement."

I agree with what Gutekanst said next. "Our students, their families, and our communities deserve the resources necessary to enable them to get a world-class education."

But I have to return to what Williams asserted in the documentary: "If the Chicago Teachers Union would put as much effort into improving as they do into protesting, then perhaps Chicago wouldn't be so burdened by violence, crime, and lack of economic mobility all borne of bad schools."

This is the last day of National School Choice Week. And oh, does Chicago ever need choice.

Related post:

New film narrated by Juan Williams rips Chicago Teachers Union

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