Chicago teachers vote to teach from home, defying district

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By SOPHIA TAREEN

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Teachers Union said Sunday that its members voted to defy an order to return to the classroom over concerns about COVID-19, setting up a showdown with district officials who have said that refusing to return when ordered would amount to an illegal strike.

Chicago Public Schools, which is the nation’s third-largest district, wanted roughly 10,000 kindergarten through eighth grade teachers and other staffers to return to school Monday to get ready to welcome back roughly 70,000 students for part-time in-school classes starting Feb. 1. No return date has been set for high school students.

The teachers union, though, opposes the plan over concern for the health of its members and called on them to continue teaching from home in defiance of the district’s plan. The union said the district’s safety plan falls short and that before teachers can return safely to schools, vaccinations would have to be more widespread and different metrics to measure infections would need to be in place.

“There’s no doubt we all want to return to in-person instruction. The issue is CPS’ current unpreparedness for a return to in-person instruction, and the clear and present danger that poses to the health of our families and school communities,” the union said in a statement.



FILE - In this Monday, Jan. 11, 2021 file photo, elementary 1 and 2 teachers prepare their desks and laptops for a virtual class outside of Suder Montessori Magnet Elementary School in Chicago. The Chicago Teachers Union said Sunday, Jan. 24 that its members voted to defy an order to return to the classroom before they are vaccinated against the coronavirus, setting up a showdown with district officials who have said such a move would amount to an illegal strike. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP, File)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/us-news-teaching-coronavirus-pandemic-chicago-d51f2ebe1504cfe36eb5ea8467567389

[questionseverything]

1. We are so close

Let them wait for the vaccine and be safe

Illinois has handled this situation better than most places, don’t screw it up now

[SheltieLover]

2. Good for them!

Their job is to teach, not to self-sacrifice as babysitters.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

3. Michigan teachers will face the same question.

The governor (Hi, Gretchen!) declared that Mar 1 should be a return to in-class school.

It's a nice goal, but the vaccine availability lags way behind.

Unless they want to push teachers ahead of seniors in the next vaccine availability scrum.

[NEOBuckeye]

4. Ohio too.

DeWine is pushing for March 1, with some schools bringing students back on Feb 1–the same day they are making the vaccine available to teachers.

This plan doesn’t make sense at all. Teachers are disposable is what it actually says.

[catrose]

5. I'm so glad the union is standing up for its members.

[blue-wave]

6. I'm with the teachers

They obviously care about the kids they teach and society at large. There is no need to spread this virus. We have had too many transportation workers, medical personnel, grocery clerks and other front-line workers become infected resulting in death.

Retroactive mandatory hazard pay for essential workers should be front and center in any covid relief bill. Our country should demand it out of honor and respect for their dedication to duty. It's the least we could do for essential and front-line workers.

[Withywindle]

7. Good for them! Stand strong!

They're doing this for the protection of everyone - teachers, students, school staff, families. Nobody should be forced to work in unsafe conditions, and in-person schools are not safe until everyone is vaccinated.

[greenjar_01]

8. Parent rage is building

Parents supported the CTU heavily in the last two strikes.

CTU needs to cut the shit now, because they are losing tons of good will on this. Our kids need to be in school. Get it together.

[Coventina]

9. Parents are enraged that teachers don't want to die?

Lame.