Karen Lewis is an outspoken president with poor professionalism
Credits:
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Chicago Teacher's Union President Karen Lewis allowed her lack of professionalism “shine” in a speech given on Oct. 1 before the Northwest Teachers for Social Justice in Seattle, Washington. According to theChicago Tribune, “Karen Lewis was elected President of the 30,000 member Chicago Teachers Union on June 11, 2010. A CTU member since 1988, Lewis taught high school chemistry in Chicago Public Schools for 22 years. Lewis has served the Union as a member of the House of Delegates, High School Functional Vice President and as a member of the Illinois State Certification Board. She received National Board Certification in 2002. In July 2010, Lewis was elected Vice President of the American Federation of Teachers and in October 2010 she was elected Executive Vice President to the 70,000 member Illinois Federation of Teachers. Lewis transferred from Mount Holyoke College to Dartmouth College where she was the only African American woman in the class of 1974.”
In her speech, her credentials and respect became immediately stained by her snide commentary. As NBC Chicago reports, “some say she crossed the line by mocking U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who speaks with a lisp. ‘Now, you know he went to private school ‘cause if he had gone to public school he would have had that lisp fixed,’ she said on stage. ‘I know – that was ugly wasn’t it? I’m sorry.’” This outburst not only undermines the integrity of the purpose of her speech, but also allows administrators, teachers, students, and parents to see that “bullies” are a constant in schools. If we are to keep students safe, we need to cut bullies at the source. “Kyle Olsen of the Education Action group which released the video, criticized Lewis' comments about Duncan. ‘I think it was ridiculous. It was unnecessary. And it goes contrary to what we hear in school about no bullying, treating people with respect,’ Olsen said” as found by NBC Chicago.
Lewis begins her speech by stating that she is a nerd that she is a “nerd and a sucker for a book club”. She explicitly expressed has she had no worry of ever losing a job due to her employment at a selective enrollment school. She says outright, “I look damn good on paper. I am the only black woman in the class of 1974 from Dartmouth College. Whoo. People are impressed – let me tell you, I spent those years smoking lots of weed – self-medicating. Self-medicating – thank you! [cheers] Sounds like you all did, too. [laughs and cheers] Oh, I’m sorry – there’s kids here. I wasn’t supposed to say that, right? [laughs] Too late!” She goes on further to say, “I taught really good Chemistry, let me tell you.” This not only tells others that you can get through college on illegal drugs, but even the highest paid individuals are open elicit drug addicts. The question of why students are failing should turn into recreational and non-prescription drug testing for all employees before allowing a contract to be signed.
Lewis believes that Chicago teachers have been “under a terrible, terrible burden since 1995” when the “state of Illinois gave the Chicago Public Schools to the mayor.” She points out that the school board is not elected, but appointed. She describes each member’s background, qualifications, and why they are “poor” people for the position due to faults made in previous years. After undermining the individuals on the board, she publicly announces that “Chicago is not a particularly safe place in certain areas. Certain areas are run by drug gangs.” Given that she openly admits earlier that she “self-medicates,” she may even know and stay in these areas for her own personal illegal gain.
Lewis wants the nation needs to know that our students have the choice of either “go to school or get killed, most people don’t get that.” How is promoting drug use and bullying techniques going to solve this issue? According to Lewis, it is all about crunching numbers to determine which schools stay in session and not closing any of them. With the cost of schools, small attendance, and high drop-out rates, how is crunching numbers going to save students? Sitting in “air conditioned rooms looking at the data” does not put the elected school members in the heart of the working conditions for students and teachers. Meetings outside of school times does not open school members’ eyes to the nature of the students of today. If you want change, allow these professionals to see what life is really like for a Chicago student instead of whining about it in a Seattle conference setting Lewis.
Further in the speech, Lewis quotes Chicago readers as saying, in a snotty teenage voice, “it can’t be as bad as you say it is. It’s not like that where I live.” Lewis, without providing her sources goes on to state that “Chicago is the most segregated city in America. It always has been.” Later the adds, “I’m not here to complain.” She becomes irritated when she mentions that it is a democratic institution and she only gets “one vote” in the decision making process.
She appears to justify her actions by referencing a Chicago Tribune editorial cartoon that paints her in an unflattering light. “You all should go to the Chicago Tribune editorial cartoons," she says."There is a vicious, nasty cartoon of me with my fat butt sitting on a little tiny chair in the corner with a dunce cap on and they made sure they darkened me up in case people didn’t know…had my locks, you know…My husband wants to beat somebody up. … And I have to say, ‘baby, let them do it because you can’t go to jail.’ And I’m too fat to go to jail is what I tell him – I can’t fit in the cell, so I have to behave a little bit. But I’m losin’ weight because I’m preparin’ to go ‘cause they’re sending me to jail, I just know it at some point. I’m goin’ to jail. That’s why I’m losin’ weight – so I can fit in that cell and sit on that little toilet – that’s the only reason.”
She finishes her speech by noting that the Chicago Public School system watches everything she does and that what has been said will return to Chicago. Why not use a filter or professionalism? Why destroy the roles of Chemistry teachers in Chicago? Wait, because Lewis is an illegal drug addict that is paid too much to leave her chair and fight for students and learning outside of public speeches and stunts. Lewis finally concludes with “you can make a difference and you should make a difference.” Well Lewis, you definitely made an impact in Chicago, Illinois education. Please pack your bags and don’t forget your toiletries, such as your pipe.
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