UPDATE: Pensions: Hearts and minds. + The in box. Rally for pensions | Fred Klonsky

The in box. Rally for pensions at Harper College. | Fred Klonsky:

Ten minute drawing. Arne. You’re fired.

by Fred Klonsky

Click on drawing to enlarge.

Pensions: Hearts and minds.

by Fred Klonsky

Public support for the Cullerton pension bill is collapsing.
For many teachers that I talk to, the fight over pension rights can be dispiriting.
Readers of this blog who are not teachers can understand that for both active and retired teachers the attempt to take away what was promised on top of what appears to be a general atmosphere of teacher-bashing seems to be a case of piling on.
Which brings me to yesterday’s Greg Hinz column in Crain’s.
Remember that Crain’s is a business publication and Hinz, although informative, is not exactly pro-union.

The in box. Rally for pensions at Harper College.

by Fred Klonsky

From Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice:

The Daily Herald and a billionaire funded, for-profit media site (called Reboot Illinois) are holding a Pension Forum at Harper’s Wojcik Conference Center next Wednesday on April 24th from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. John Dillon did some “worth the read” researchon the connected corporate-media influence that created this event.  Even though IEA President Cinda Klickna is on the panel, everything else about this event seems to be part of a coordinated push to strip teachers of their retirement, reduce funding for education, and further privatize our schools.Prior to the pension forum, the Harper College Chapter of Local 1600 is working with Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice to hold a rally outside the Wojcik center from 5:00-6:45 pm on Wednesday April 24th.  The address for both events is the Harper College campus, 1200 West Algonquin rd. in Palatine, 60067. Please RSVP for the rally so we can communicate a crowd estimate to campus police. There is ample parking for the rally and forum. (please see attached map)  If you want to attend the actual forum, you have to RSVP to the Daily Herald by writingdhevents@dailyherald.com.  Seating within Wojcik is limited to 250 people and seats are disappearing fast.  There will be plenty of room at the rally for everyone involved. Retired teacher and blogger, Fred Klonsky and other outspoken educators will share their views and alternative solutions on the pension issue.  The primary purpose of the rally is to give you and other educators a voice in the pension discussion before Springfield lawmakers vote on HB 3411, or other dramatic pension cuts.  After a few slated speakers, we will have an open microphone for anyone who wishes to share his or her opinion before going into the event and sharing that opinion with Nekritz.  Bring your opinion.  We will bring the microphone.  We do intend to give preference to educators.  The purpose of this event is to give those affected by the pension cuts a stronger voice. Show your support for fair pensions!  Wear Red Attire on April 24th and RSVP to attend the Rally at 5pm in Front of Wojcik Conference Cente.  The event will probably start around 5:15.  Bring your signs! (title unknown) by Fred Klonsky My last year’s 4th grade art class. Raising Test Scores by teacher poet Taylor Mali Praise be to the music teachers!  And the teachers of art and dance though chances are there is only one  poor fool in the entire school,  one brave and tired soul, splattered  paint on her smock and hands,  one scarfed sylph waltzing the halls,  one sunglass-wearing cool cat  spending every lunch at his piano  because the kid with the gin mother has discovered he loves the upright bass,  that he can somehow face the world— be more upright and with a stronger bass— if he can play for an hour or two every day.  Praise be the to canvas and the palette that transforms the black mascara back  into a girl, or the sheer grace that clings  to the boy like tears. Praise be to every art  that jolts the soul’s skeleton and makes  the bones rattle. If you cut the funding  for the arts, you’ve already lost the battle.