December 2020
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BOSTON TEACHERS UNION, LOCAL 66, AFT Non-Profit Org. ATTENTION! 180 Mount Vernon Street U.S. Postage th Boston, Massachusetts 02125 PAID 75 Anniversary of the Boston, MA Boston Teachers Union Permit No. 52088 Celebration Party BBOSTON TEACHERSU postponed until TUNION October 16, 2021 75 EVERYONE ¡TODOS IS SON WELCOME BIENVENIDOS BBOSTON TEACHERSU HERE! AQUÍ! TUNION BT U BT U The Award-Winning Newspaper of the Boston Teachers Union, AFT Local 66, AFL-CIO • Volume 53, Number 3 • December, 2020 President’s Report Jessica J. Tang Welcoming a New Year and Leaving 2020 Behind 020 will be a year for the history families and educators deserve. This also more compassionate union of edu- 2books: an unprecedented pandemic, work will continue to be challenging, cators. It is up to us to build the type of a reckoning of racial injustice, a historic unprecedented and without easy solu- community we believe in. This is what election with record voter participation tions. my late mentor and former principal and a turbulent school year throughout The New Year will continue to require Jinny Chalmers instilled in each of us it all. All of us have been tested in so patience, empathy and forgiveness as that became a part of the Young Achiev- Jessica J. Tang many ways—our capacity for adaptation, we heal not just divisions within the ers community—the community she BTU President isolation, anxiety, and working under nation politically, but within our own was integral in building. duress to name a few. It has been a year communities as well. Our neighbor- At Young Achievers, we had a song passing, we also hold in our hearts every- of chronic stress, trepidation, anger and hoods, schools and our union has been or anthem of sorts. It went (with drum one who is holding grief, pain and loss frustration for so many, and as we emerge tested and divided during this pandemic: beats, of course): from this year and prior. These experi- from a divisive election that felt like a teachers pit against parents; school versus “As a member of the Young Achievers ences indelibly leave their mark on all of battle for the soul of our nation, many school; and also union member to union Science and Math School, I believe I have us, but as we leave a year of pain behind, of us are also exhausted—emotionally, member. It was a difficult year because great powers and important things to we can remember why we came into this physically and mentally. tensions were high, needs were great, learn. I know my power will build a very work in first place—what inspired us, The good news is that a new year is resources inadequate and emotions ran strong and caring school. I have the power. who inspired us—and the joy that those just around the corner—we can finally high. In this environment trust was run- I have the power. To respect myself and memories and people brought us. leave 2020 behind and welcome in what ning low when we needed it most and we others. To make my school safe. To make As the YA anthem goes, “I have the we hope will be a new era. The hope that all had to dig deep to not just take care of good choices and work hard to succeed. power within me. You have the power a new presidency comes with—including ourselves, but strive to self-regulate not To focus and be the best student I can be. within you.” We, both—individually and a new Secretary of Education and a First just to support our students, but so that To make connections in math, science and collectively, have the power to make a Lady who is an educator herself—is one we could take care of our families and technology. I have the power within me. difference and carry on the legacy of all that we have long hoped for. President- others as well. You have the power within you. To study those fought bravely before us to cre- elect Joe Biden has promised to imme- My hope is that in this New Year, we and act in ways that make a difference in ate a better, and more just world. As we diately reverse many of the most harm- will find the kindness that I know is in our school, our neighborhood, our coun- leave 2020 behind, and welcome 2021 ful policies dismantled by the Trump each of us to help us heal, reflect and try, Young Achievers, we rule!” ahead of us, let us remember that we are and DeVos administration. He has also strengthen. It is what brought us to this As we hold Ilene Carver (our BTU stronger and better together, and we have committed to choosing an educator for work as educators—love for our students organizer and widowed wife to Jinny) in the power to make the new year what we the new Secretary of Education. Our and love for others—that will help us to our hearts during this holiday season need it to be, through learning, kindness national unions have many members on prevail as a stronger, more powerful and after Ms. Chalmers’ tragic and untimely and believing in each other. his transition team. These are all promis- ing developments. On the horizon is also hopes for a vaccine, that by next summer, is believed to be ready for the larger public and available for essential workers even by early next year. This gives the possibility of herd immunity by next fall. There is light at the end of the tunnel. The hope that next school year will return to “nor- malcy” is finally within sight. “ N o r m a l c y,” however, will likely be redefined and revisited, as we have all been impacted during this year in ways that we have perhaps yet to fully understand. We also know that what was “normal” before the pandemic was not what so many in our community needed. This pandemic exacerbated inequities and laid bare the injustices we already knew existed, but was not so easy for the larger public to ignore anymore— whether it was within education, hous- ing, health care or many other ways. We cannot make the mistake as a district, community or nation to accept the past as our new normal, and we cannot auto- matically count on new leaders to do what is right. We have much work ahead of us as we continue to advocate for the schools and communities our students, Members of the Boston Teachers Union were very active on the campaign trail this Fall. See more photos on page 8. Commentary Garret Virchick Open Letter to the Labor Movement – Defend Each Other – Demand Democracy! ur country stands at a moment of against systemic white supremacy, and of and the cities and states during the COV- Operil. A rejected president threat- the Women’s March. This was a demo- ID-19 crisis. It means defending the vote ens to overturn the clear verdict of the cratic uprisings against systematic voter with the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. American people. suppression and intimidation, the result It means expanding Medicare to cover Our country stands at a moment of of many years of grass-roots organizing. us all. It means passing the PRO act to peril. A rejected president threatens to These movements can rightfully claim make it easier for workers to form unions Garret Virchick overturn the clear verdict of the Ameri- this victory as their own. -- a democratic voice in the workplace. It Boston Union Teacher can people. Presiden-elect Joe Biden has prom- means making the District of Columbia Co-Editor We urge everyone to take President ised to bring America together. a state, giving those largely Black com- Trump’s threats seriously, and prepare to We too, want to bring the country munities a say in their governance. It reform, protections from evictions and act: to defend democracy in the courts, together: around a program that that means investment in infrastructure foreclosures, drivers’ licenses for undocu- in the streets and in our workplaces, if serves the vast working class majority – another broken promise by Trump. mented residents and much needed rev- Trump tries to steal the election. who suffered during the pandemic while It means defending LGBTQ rights. It enue from progressive tax measures. We The Biden/Harris victory by nearly the billionaires enriched themselves. means comprehensive immigration need increased unemployment insurance six million votes resulted from the mas- We speak of the nurses, the food service reform. It means rejecting the free trade for mothers and fathers who have to stay sive turnout of Black, Brown and Native workers, the first responders, the postal deals that benefited the multinational home, emergency paid sick time, equi- voters in the large cities like Atlanta and workers, the educators who risked their corporations at the expense of workers tably funded and safe K-12 and public Detroit, and in Arizona, Nevada and lives. We speak of the poor and immi- here and abroad. higher education, and safety protections other states, and of union voters in key grant communities, hardest hit by the These measures are widely popular. and paid leave for essential workers. swing states pandemic due to inadequate housing, Only the billionaires – the one percent We did not win the presidential elec- The record Biden/Harris vote was health care and job safety protections. – and the unwillingness of many of our tion to return to the status quo. The teach- the expression in the electoral arena of This means passing a Green New leaders to fight for them, stand between ers’ strikes, the mobilizations of the Black the strike wave of educators against the Deal to protect our imperiled planet by us and progress.