Chicago’s school district is facing backlash for delaying the start of the academic year by a week. Originally, students were supposed to return to school on Monday, but the district pushed the start date back. They said the delay was to give students time to participate in the Democratic National Convention (DNC), which will bring about 75,000 visitors to the city.
The district believes this break will allow students to get involved in the convention. However, some critics argue that this move is politically motivated. They point out that Randi Weingarten, a leader of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), was a key speaker at a DNC event focused on climate issues.
Doug Mayer, from the Public Labor Unions Accountability Committee, criticized the delay, saying it shows how powerful public sector unions can influence decisions. He claims that political agendas are taking priority over students’ education.
Critics also mentioned that House Assistant Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn praised the Biden-Harris administration for reopening schools, which some people on social media criticized.
Rep. Darin LaHood, a Republican from Illinois, argued that the delay puts political interests ahead of students’ needs. He said it highlights the need for more school choice programs, allowing parents to choose better educational options for their children.
Corey DeAngelis from the American Federation for Children also criticized the district, saying that politics are being prioritized over education. He believes that parents should have the freedom to choose schools that truly focus on their children’s needs.
The Chicago school district is also dealing with a $500 million deficit. DeAngelis and others argue that teachers unions have too much influence over the district, and that this has led to poor decisions, like keeping kids out of school during the pandemic.
Overall, critics feel that the district’s decision to delay the school year shows a troubling trend of putting politics before the needs of students.