After 10 months of unsuccessful contract negotiations, members of the
Kansas City Federation of Teachers decided to voice their frustration in tune with the season last night. Dozens of winter-coat-clad educators gathered outside the home of Kansas City School Board Vice President
Arthur Benson to serenade, in mocking fashion, the man they believe is humbug-ing teachers out of a happy holiday.
Name: Judy Morgan
Claim to activist fame: President of the local teachers' union
Nothing but a lump of coal: Morgan said last night that educators are losing their patience with the district. For five months, she said, there's been virtually no progress on the new teachers' contract. "We want to get it settled so that everybody can focus on educating our kids," she said. "We want to be part of the process. We don't want to be excluded."
Who's the Scrooge?: According to Morgan, Arthur Benson has been "the primary roadblock" between the teachers and a fair contract. "He's going around saying our contract impedes teaching and learning and making false statements about our contract, like it limits teachers to one parent contract per semester," she said. "Things that just aren't true."
The personal is political: "So we said, 'It's time to bring it here. We got to do something to get this thing moving.' "
Teachers as lyricists: The caroling idea came up at a recent meeting. "One of our teachers thought of it and then the teachers thought up the lyrics," Morgan said. "So it's all very bottom up."
New songs for the season: Teachers riffed on a number of popular carols. They retooled the lyric Frosty the Snowman was a jolly, happy soul to Arthur Benson is a very greedy man! And to the tune of "Jingle Bells," they bellowed, Arthur, Arthur, please give us a break!
Keeping the spirit: Despite the picket near Benson's front door, Morgan kept her message positive, saying her favorite sign read, "We love teaching; please respect us." In the spirit of giving, the teachers also left Benson a copy of their protest-inspired carols.
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