Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for February 1, 2008 RAIN

"Rain" has been on my mind the past couple of weeks...which is why I would even think of the topic below in this context. (Readers of julieanewell.com will get the REAL story this weekend.)

As they say: "Into each life some rain must fall."

This saying implies a negative context for rain, but it depends on your perspective. There are other analogies that put a positive spin on weather-related events, like "It's an ill wind that blows no good" or "Behind every dark cloud there's a silver lining."

Whether it's a coincidence or "a sign"...the letter below is certainly a morale booster for me after the failed mediation session on Wednesday that led to my (almost) expletive-laced rant of yesterday!

"Friend Barney"..."Keep-the-meter-running Barney" certainly did everything within his power to rain on CATs during his tenure with Robbins, Schwartz et al. All of you CATs who were here in 2002 felt the direct impact on your pocketbook of his tactics...bragging that shutting the District down would hurt teachers more than the school district. (Actually, that statement could definitely be debated in light of what has happened to the District since...going belly-up and having to be taken over by a Financial Oversight Panel...a direct result of Barney's legal advice!)

Well, Barney's reign/rain is now getting a closer look! Couldn't happen to a nicer guy!!!

And, as you will notice...it ain't just Barney...it's all the law firms whom Barney has had association. Yes...the "Chicago Lawyers" who are currently handling the District's dealings with Lorenzo Nelson and James Gibson are falling under the scrutiny of the Illinois Education Association...folks that have the resources to give them a close and intense examination! Hey, to use a nonweather analogy: "He who lives by the sword..."

(Incidentally...by my count, a total of seven (7) attorneys have represented the District in the James Gibson case...so far! Damn, with that much fire-power and resources being spent, you would think that we would have had James Gibson's mediation at Guantanamo or Abu Graub...he's gotta be a terrorist. Oh, forgot...he IS a member of the National Education Association...even President Bush will tell you about "those people"!)

As I hear more, I will pass it along. Most of you out there certainly paid the price of admission!

Maybe we will finally find the hidden numbers...the amount of money that the District spends to keep people FROM working. This will put into the proper context whatever "the broke school district" offers to those people who do work!