“If the lesson doesn’t work, do we give up?” asked UFT President Mulgrew of the more than 1,600 UFT members at the union’s Spring Education Conference at the New York Hilton Midtown on May 17. “No! We’re teachers — we never give up.”

In a rousing speech, Mulgrew praised UFT members’ fortitude in the face of challenges both past and present to public education and labor unions.

Mulgrew didn’t mince words about the current threats to public schools and public school communities. “We are going to war,” he said emphatically. “We’re facing an administration that hates public education and will do everything in its power to weaken our schools and harm our communities.”

He asked members to steel themselves for the battles to come. “We’ve been to war before and won,” he said. “And we’ll win again because we do our jobs with passion and love.”

Local politics also figured prominently at this year’s conference. The union hosted a mid-morning mayoral forum at which Mulgrew and UFT Political Director Vanecia Wilson grilled six candidates for the Democratic nomination for mayor on issues of pressing importance to UFT members, including preserving premium-free health insurance and reforming mayoral control [see story on page 5].

This year’s conference theme, “We Teach This City,” was reflected throughout the day. The five CTLE workshops on offer were all grounded in New York City culture and history. New York City museums had tables at the exhibit hall. Members also took advantage of activities organized by Share My Lesson/Colorín Colorado, the Tenement Museum and the Sloomoo Institute, a New York museum that offered opportunities to explore the sensory possibilities of slime.

The step squad from JHS 123 in the Bronx and the string ensemble from Legacy School of the Arts in Brooklyn both performed in the common areas.

Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, one of the luncheon speakers, spoke warmly of the relationship between her office and the UFT and especially the UFT Teacher Center. “Under my leadership, and in partnership with Michael, we are going to make sure that we continue to do things for teachers, by teachers,” said Aviles-Ramos.

AFT President Randi Weingarten and NYSUT President Melinda Person also gave remarks in the gala ballroom.

Kelsee Kimmel of the musical “Hell’s Kitchen” and New Dorp HS teacher Charlie Romo, a contestant on “American Idol,” entertained the large crowd. Romo, in keeping with the spirit of the day, sang “New York, New York.”

Dr. Deatrice Bacchus, a pre-K teacher at PS 277 in the Bronx, said she found this year’s conference theme to be an apt description of the work of public school educators. “Teachers prepare students for all professions,” Bacchus said. “We do teach this city!”

Crystal White, a 6th-grade ELA teacher at PS 126 in Manhattan who was attending her first Spring Education Conference, said she appreciated the opportunity to spend time with other educators who also experience the daily struggles and triumphs of teaching.

“It’s interesting,” she said, “to be with other people who understand the difficulties as well as the joy.”