The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) responded Friday to a newspaper editorial about chronic absenteeism among Chicago Public Schools (CPS) teachers, who are paid an average salary of $95,000.
“CPS teacher Roxanne Piersanti condemns the Tribune Editorial Board's recent criticism of teacher absenteeism, saying it unfairly targets working mothers and ignores the reality of the physical strain of caregiving, illness, and teaching. “I pointed out that there was a problem,” CTU posted on its X account.
“Have you ever thought about how often educators, especially those 75% of whom are women, are on the front lines of the classroom and their families? Do they think they don't deserve time off? Educators don't think that way.'' They don't just teach, they sacrifice, they care, they persevere. It is time for the Tribune to reflect the facts,” CTU wrote.
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According to a 2022 Gallup poll, the number of Americans who support unions is increasing even as union membership has declined since 2000. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
The union also highlighted Mr. Piersanti's remarks to the Tribune's editorial board.
“I find the editorial very one-sided and completely misogynistic,” Piasanti wrote in an article criticizing the Tribune. “It needs to be better.”
Piersanti added that the Tribune is “lacking the facts about why teachers take time off.”
“What about COVID-19? Board members work with over 100 different children every day? How will their immune systems be protected?” she asked. added.
The Tribune editorial wrote: On Nov. 25, the state announced that more than 41% of teachers missed 10 or more days of class during the 2023-24 school year, citing state records. The media added that 10 days of absence is a statistical benchmark used by the profession to monitor chronic teacher absenteeism.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson during his inaugural ceremony at Credit Union 1 Arena on May 15, 2023 in Chicago. (Jamie Kelter Davis/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Surprisingly, poor CPS teacher attendance is a recent and emerging phenomenon. For example, in the 2022-23 school year, CPS teachers performed even worse, with 43% absent for at least 10 days. Previously, CPS teachers' performance was even worse. But the rate was pretty good that year. In the 2016-17 school year, the chronic absenteeism rate for CPS teachers was 31%, and from there the numbers worsened slightly, but still improved. than what we currently see,” the editorial board wrote.
The median salary for teachers in Chicago is $95,000, significantly higher than teacher salaries in the suburbs and higher than “any other large school district in the country,” according to the Tribune.
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The Tribune added that CTU's request for a 9% annual salary increase is an “outlandish request.”
CTU President Stacey Davis Gates wrote an editorial in response to the editorial board on Nov. 29, saying the board “continues its agenda of smearing the Chicago Teachers Union and demeaning itself with a series of half-truths and cherry-picked statistics.” said.
“When numbers are not squeezed to advance an agenda, teacher attendance at CPS is consistent with statewide trends,” Davis Gates wrote. “They call this 'chronic absenteeism' and imply that teachers should be ashamed of such things.”
Stacey Davis Gates is president of the Chicago Teachers Union, executive vice president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, vice president of the American Federation of Teachers, and president of United Working Families. (YouTube/Screenshot | Fox News Digital)
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“At CPS and across the state, teachers are making better use of their allotted sick time than they were before the pandemic. Among school districts with more or less generous leave policies, Chicago neither the best nor the worst “When it comes to teachers' use of paid leave,” she added.
CTU, Davis Gates and the Tribune immediately responded to requests for comment.
