Retired teachers are not just about pensions. We had a lively charter discussion.

This blogger, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and S.O.R.E. organizer, Harriet Sheeley.

We often discuss politics at our Skokie Organization of Retired Educatators (S.O.R.E.) luncheons. We are a chapter of the Illinois Education Association’s Retired section.

I’m president of our local chapter, but that’s not the reason we talk politics so much.

And it’s not just talk about the politics of pensions.

Our luncheon today featured local Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and State Representative Laura Fine.

We invited Fine even though we did not recommend her at our recent IPACE hearings.

But Fine has been good on the charter issue and she was eager to talk to us.

And Congresswoman Schakowsky not only supports us on the pension issue, she is a leader of the progressive Democrats in Congress. She is an old school progressive Democrat who must feel mighty lonely in Washington.

And here at home.

Every local Democratic state legislator in her district voted for pension theft. She didn’t like it.

And although she claims Rahm as an old family friend, she was not happy about closing neighborhood schools or the explosion of city charter schools.

Schakowsky loves neighborhood public schools.

Her District has the wealthy New Trier as well as Senn and Sullivan which are Chicago public high schools.

She proudly announced her grandson was starting at Lake View this year.

The point is that for us retirees, public school issues and policies remain a big concern. Member questions and comments displayed a passion and knowledge about public school policy that has not receded just because we collect a well-earned pension.