On the Nature of Things

In Chicago, the entire school board resigned this past weekend rather than go with the mayor who wants Chicago Public Schools to issue a high (very high) yield junk bond to fund teacher raises. The school system is so bad that the head of the teachers union sends her kids to private schools. People feel powerless and so leave.

It's a total disaster and an example of the inmates running the prison. Chicago Teacher's Union is making outrageous demands that the city simply cannot afford, including $50 billion in pay hikes and pet projects, a freeze on new charter schools (harmful to better education for minorities), fully paid abortions for all members, a bunch of mandated positions at all schools, such as “Climate Champion,” “restorative justice coordinator,” and “gender support coordinator;” housing subsidies for CTU staff and CPS families; creation of 180 new “sustainable community schools;” total teacher autonomy over the curriculum; the implementation of a 100% electric bus fleet; a district-wide carbon neutral mandate by 2035; ESG pension investments; weight-loss drug coverage for all members; and $2,000 for each undocumented student.

Meanwhile, in Chicago Public Schools 16% of elementary students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 12% tested at or above that level for math. Also, 16% of middle school students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 12% tested at or above that level for math. And 14% of high school students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 14% tested at or above that level for math.”