Our union is facing a serious challenge from a determined enemy. The Chicago Teachers Union can only beat Huberman's attempts to gut our union and profession if we stand strong and united. So, it makes sense to ask how we can do that if members and caucuses openly challenge and criticize our President. Don't attacks on our officers weaken us?

The President's job is to lead the union, but she alone is not the union. Our union is the combined efforts and ideas of our 30,000 members. A strong leader doesn't fear constructive criticism because critiquing actions and ideas helps bring clarity. A strong leader knows that she can incorporate new ideas and learn from other perspectives to strengthen our base.

CORE hopes that, in criticizing Stewart, we also provide some useful ideas to strengthen our union. Actually, we think we've already helped the officers and the union by leading the charge against school closings. Before CORE began fighting closings and turnarounds last year, not one was stopped. This year, our union officials have come out a little stronger. Since the union's begun to fight, our combined efforts have saved a higher proportion of schools this year than last. CORE's criticism and efforts have made the leadership and the whole union more effective.

Of course, not all criticism is helpful. Some criticism actually is divisive. Personal sniping based on jealousy, vengeance, or simple lust for power weaken us by wasting our energy on pointless posturing. For too long, our union (in fact, the whole labor movement) has been corrupted by the spoils of union office. A lot of union members throw up their hands in frustration. Behind every bid for leadership they sense some cynical motive. Too often, they're right.

Still, leadership matters. With the future of our union and our profession on the line, dedicated union members might still have to contend for power. If our officers lack the insight to adequately defend us, we need to replace them.

So, how can you tell principled opposition from personal ambition? Look at what we do. Real rank-and-file leaders take aim at the boss. We suggest strategies and take action when we can't get our official leadership to do it. We want to be recognized for our efforts, but we keep our feuding in the family. We know that our officers may be an obstacle, but they are not our enemy.

There has to be room in the union to disagree and engage in a battle of ideas to move forward. Lately, our House of Delegates has seen so little constructive debate. We've been told that criticism only divides us. We've been told that if we're not with the President, we're against her. Does this sound familiar? Our country is just beginning to wake up from the nightmares this type of thinking breeds. The CTU can't make that same mistake.

If Karen Lewis becomes the next President of the CTU, she won't fear disagreement. The House of Delegates will become a place for reasoned discussion. Our publications will actually inform the members. As Financial Secretary, I will look for more ways to bring our members together, both formally and informally. We need all 30,000 educators working together, hashing out our direction, making sparks fly; together, with CORE.