On today’s episode of The Confluence: The state Supreme Court selected the map dictating the commonwealth’s congressional districts, but some lawmakers continue to argue the map is partisan; teachers are reaching a breaking point, after two years of teaching in a pandemic and instances of violence; and the founder of the Pittsburgh Labor Choir explains why singing is an important part of social justice movements.
The state Supreme Court chose a congressional map, but that decision is expected to be appealed to federal courts
(0:00 - 6:59)
On a 4-3 vote, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court selected a new congressional map for 17 house districts. Stanford University political scientist drew the map on behalf of a group of Democratic voters.
The accepted map, known as the Carter plan, was submitted by a group of Democratic voters represented by a nationally prominent Democratic election attorney, Marc Elias.
“He's been involved in litigation elections that are either very close or that require some legal maneuvering after the fact,” says WESA’s Capitol Bureau Chief Sam Dunklau.
The person who drew the map, Jonathan Rodden, suggested the court adopt a “least change approach,” keeping districts largely the same as they already are with some adjustments for population shifts.
“The biggest change that we observed was that in the 15th Congressional District, which now spans 18 counties in northern, north central PA, Republican Congressmen Glen Thompson and Fred Keller have been drawn into the same district,” says Dunklau.
Keller, although he lives in the 15th congressional district, has said he intends to run for reelection in the 9th District against Dan Meuser.
Three justices dissented to the map, including two Republicans, Kevin Brobson and Sallie Mundy, as well as Democratic Justice Debra Todd.
So far, state house Republicans have expressed their unhappiness with the map.
“[Speaker of the House Brian] Cutler himself had actually said that by choosing a map that was admittedly drawn by a group of Democrats, the court has confirmed that they don't abide by the state and federal constitutions. He's talking about, or trying to hint, that the state legislature should have the ultimate say in agreeing on a map,” says Dunklau. “But you know, one of the justices had commented that just because a map is agreed to by the legislature, it doesn't necessarily mean that that map is the right one.”
An appeal to the federal courts is already in process, challenging the state Supreme Courts’ involvement in drawing the map. A hearing is scheduled in Williamsport Federal Court Friday.
Schools are experiencing fewer incidents of violence, but those occurring are compounding on an already difficult year
(7:04 - 13:27)
Nationwide, more educators left their jobs in 2021 than in any other industry. Earlier this week, Pittsburgh Public School board members heard from those concerned about violence inside of a school.
“It turns out that schools reported significantly fewer violent incidents this year,” says WESA Education Reporter Sarah Schneider. “As of last month, they reported 45% fewer violent incidents than in the last year that students were in buildings full time, that was 2018-2019.”
Schneider says although the data does not show an increased number of violent incidents, any incidents are happening at a time when teachers are more and more burned out, and students are returning to school after a traumatic year.
This data also comes a month since 15-year-old Marquis Campbell was shot and killed outside of his school, which is under investigation. Schneider says there have also been a few violent incidents at Brashear High School in the last couple of months.
“Teachers told me that students are at different developmental stages than they expected. They came back after, you know, 18 months of being out of buildings and in a lot of ways they're still at the same level socially that they were when they left.”
A fifth grade teacher at Arlington Elementary, Laura Goins, told Schneider students are also having a hard time connecting with peers.
“Almost two years talking into technology, they don't know how to socialize. They don't know how to be friends with each other, and that is a huge issue,” said Goins.
Schneider says the staff shortage, affecting both faculty and support staff like counselors, is creating further tension.
Pittsburgh’s Labor Choir brings support and song to strikes and other social justice movements
(13:27 - 18:30)
Labor songs in support of unionization and improved working conditions have been around for at least 150 years. In the 1870s, Billy Pastor wrote “Eight Hour Strike” promoting the idea of the eight hour workday and Laura Griffing wrote “The Workers’ Anvil,'' celebrating “the cause of labor.”
These kinds of songs and more are in the repertoire of Pittsburgh's Labor Choir.
“It's not about sounding good,” says Edwin Everhart, the choir’s founder. “It's about having a good time together and learning, and also getting out there and supporting the picket line, getting out there and supporting the movements.”
Everhart says the group sings songs spanning the U.S. Civil War, the Spanish Civil War, the Civil Rights and Black Lives Matter movements.
“We sing one that's really old from the 1650's, which is from the Diggers movement and the English Civil War, and all of them [the songs] tend to have themes that are in common, themes of people's self-determination and people getting a fair shake and being in control of their own workplaces, and not being exploited,” says Everhart.
When the group goes to sing at picket lines or demonstrations, Everhart says they encourage other attendees to join them in song.
“We have a pretty diverse membership in terms of age and other things, so … we're always trying to teach each other,” says Everhart. “We all have more to learn, including music skills and all kinds of other stuff.”
The Confluence, where the news comes together, is 90.5 WESA’s daily news program. Tune in Monday to Thursday at 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. to hear newsmakers and innovators take an in-depth look at stories important to the Pittsburgh region. Find more episodes of The Confluence here or wherever you get your podcasts.
