By Michael Brownstein

“Do we need to put our cell phone number down whenever we take a field trip?” asked a teacher at a recent morning union meeting at Mollison Elementary School. Teachers were addressing Mildred Porter, the Chicago Union field representative for Area 13 of the Chicago Public Schools.

“No,” Porter said emphatically, “you do not have to put a cell phone number down on your request for a field trip.”

“But what if it’s mandated?”

“Then I guess you should just decide not to take anymore trips,” she said. “If the board purchases a cell phone for you, then they can require it. You don’t have to give squat about your personal items to anyone. A cell phone is your personal property. The board does not pay your bill. You do not have to give your cell number unless they purchase it for you. Don’t do it.”

Another teacher asked about health care.

“We have the lousiest health care system. We used to have great coverage. Believe it or not, we have the best health care plans offered. The board messed up. Now they are not to be trusted. But it’s not just us. This is a national crisis.

“When you get a raise, your premium goes up,” Porter continued. “Your pay raise is wiped out. We were rushed through the contract without having adequate time to read it. I guess we learned our lesson. We cannot rush through the contract again.”

One of the teachers asked about the closing of schools. She wanted to know if the union gets advance notice.

“No,” Porter answered, “we hear it the same way your do—when the media reports it. But it has been rumored Alderpersons are going to sign on to the charter school bandwagon. The alderpersons do not know squat about what this involves.

“We don’t want to turn our public schools into something else. Too many people jump on the bandwagon without knowing anything about it.

“The board is taking tax dollars and giving individuals who are not qualified money to open charter schools. No Child Left Behind is a national disgrace.”