Blast His Likening UFT to NRA
Teachers: Mayor Firing Wildly

By MEREDITH KOLODNER

Reactions by rank-and-file Teachers to Mayor Bloomberg's comments characterizing the union as a single-issue group akin to the National Rifle Association ranged from irritated to enraged last week.

The Chief-Leader/Pat Arnow  'NRA COMPARISON IS SICKENING': Jackson Farrell, a veteran Teacher at I.S. 347 in Bushwick, was among those offended by Mayor Bloomberg's likening of the United Federation of Teachers to the National Rifle Association.

The Mayor made the remarks, singling out the United Federation of Teachers as an opponent of reform, at an April 9 press conference showcasing 100 community leaders who supported his school reform plans.

'Why Go After Us?'

"I don't know why he would want to make us into his enemies," said Elissa Goldstein, who has been a Teacher for 23 years and is currently teaching English and Physical Education at the Queens High School for the Sciences. "The NRA? We don't want guns in schools."

When the Mayor was asked at last week's press conference who was standing in the way of meaningful reform, he answered, "Number one, there's the UFT. All they want to do is roll it back."

The Chief-Leader/Pat Arnow 'MAKING US HIS ENEMIES': Cardozo High School Teacher Jocelyn Brathwaite (left) and Queens High School for the Sciences Teacher Elissa Goldstein said they thought Mayor Bloomberg's accusations that the United Federation of Teachers was standing in the way of education reform missed the real problems in schools, such as overcrowded classrooms.

Expanding on his comments, he remarked, "You always do have the problem of a very small group of people who are single-issue focused having a disproportionate percentage of power. That's exactly the NRA.

'Have to Stand Up'

"Not very many people in this country want to put guns in the hands of criminals," he continued, "and yet Congress is afraid to stand up against putting guns in the hands of criminals because of a small single-issue group. That's what we've got to make sure doesn't happen here."

The NRA portion of the comment seemed to hit a nerve. "To compare us to the NRA is sickening to me," said Jackson Farrell who has taught for 22 years and is now at IS 347 in the Bushwick area of Brooklyn. "In my opinion, what the NRA stands for is illegal guns in our neighborhoods. We're the strongest education union, so the Mayor just goes after us."

When asked the following day whether he regretted likening the UFT to the NRA, Mr. Bloomberg said, "I didn't compare those critics to the NRA," but rather suggested that like the NRA they wielded influence that was out of proportion to their size. They also, he said, shared a knack for "focusing relentlessly, distorting the facts [so that] they gin everybody up to believe" that a problem exists. Some Teachers were more sanguine about the Mayor's remarks. "It's unfortunate," said Matt Panetta, who is in his fifth year of teaching in the Bronx. "I think he said something off the cuff that wasn't appropriate. I take it all with a grain of salt. We have a contract, so we're okay. We're just asking the Mayor to listen."

But Mr. Bloomberg maintained the same level of combativeness the day after the initial press conference, asserting that opposition to his school plans has intensified because "there are groups whose livelihoods would be changed and they're willing to sacrifice [educational improvements] for their own selfish interests."

'Take a Step Back'

Patricia Trocchia, who voted for the Mayor in the last election, said she was disappointed with the comments, but thought the Mayor might come around. "I don't think we're standing in the way," said Ms. Trocchia, who's been teaching math for 20 years in Queens. "I think we want to know what direction we're going in. I believe the Mayor has vision and I think for the city he's a good mayor, but he's got to take a step back and take a look at education."

Several other Teachers were less forgiving, becoming visibly upset when asked about the comments.

"I think he is being a fool," said David Pecorano, a 24-year veteran Teacher at Beach Channel High School. "You sell a lie so big that the union doesn't care about kids; we're the ones teaching the kids."

And many Teachers wondered if Mr. Bloomberg was out to get the union. "If we are single-issue, then our single goal is having smaller classes because we know that would let children learn," said Jocelyn Brathwaite, who teaches English and English as a Second Language at her alma mater, Cardozo High School. "I have had 50 kids in a class before. We're not the problem here."