Charles Cogen

Charles Cogen (October 31, 1903 – February 18, 1998) was president of New York City's United Federation of Teachers (UFT) (1960–1964) and subsequently, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) (1964–1968). During Cogen's tenure the teachers' union demonstrated a militancy that had not previously been apparent, and was at odds with the image of the teacher as quiet civil servant. That strikes were technically illegal under the state's Condon-Wadlin Act did not deter Cogen from leading citywide walkouts that resulted in significant economic and professional advances for those he represented. To those who argued that striking teachers set a poor example for students, Cogen responded that such teachers were models of courageous citizenship. Similarly, Cogen scoffed at efforts to characterize teacher walkouts as subverting the public interest: "Who is to say what the public interest is?"

There had never been a teacher strike in New York City prior to 1960 (although Cogen threatened one in 1959 when he was leader of the Teachers' Guild) During the four years that Cogen was president of the UFT, teachers struck twice and came within 24 hours of a third. Each such crisis involved confrontations with New York City's superintendent of schools and the city's mayor. Occasionally, the state's commissioner of education and governor were also involved. These were people with national profiles, and consequently, Cogen also became a national figure. This proved to be of substantial assistance to him when he ran for the presidency of the AFT.

Born Charles Cohen on New York's Lower East Side, Cogen attended union rallies with his father Joseph, a garment worker. He graduated from Boys High School in Brooklyn, and earned a scholarship to Cornell University where he studied economics, earning his degree in 1924. While working as an elementary school teacher, he pursued a law degree at Fordham University in the evening. Cogen obtained his law degree in 1927 and left teaching to practice labor law three years later at which time he changed his name to Cogen. In 1930, he also married lawyer Tess Schnittkramer, who later became a professor at Pace College (now Pace University).

Cogen's law practice foundered during the Depression, and he decided to forsake it in 1933, but not before earning a master's degree in economics from Columbia University. He returned to teaching, accepting a "teacher in training" position in Queens. It paid $4.50/day with no benefits. Cogen worked his way up to a regular position at Grover Cleveland High School in Queens where he worked for five years, then moved on to The Bronx High School of Science where he was a faculty member for thirteen years. He completed his career in the classroom as chairman of the social studies department at Brooklyn's Bay Ridge High School.

...
Wikipedia