CPS students need more time in classroom, not May Day off

The Chicago Teachers Union's push to treat May 1 as a day tied to political activity is being framed as a stand for workers’ rights. But for many Chicago Public Schools parents, the reality looks very different: an added burden of taking off work and finding a sitter for their kids. What’s presented as activism ultimately functions as a three-day weekend for most staff, with no meaningful systemwide disruption and no clear educational benefit for students.

Meanwhile, the instructional time lost is simply shifted, not recovered, raising legitimate concerns about priorities in a district already struggling with academics, truancy, absentee rates and dwindling enrollment.

If this arrangement results in a paid day off followed by a low-impact “makeup” day later in June, it’s fair for parents and taxpayers to question whether students are being put first. This switch ensures that a real day of classroom instruction is replaced with a late-year “do-nothing” day, when no students are present and staff are more likely left to self-directed time while watching Netflix on their laptops rather than meaningful teaching on May 1.

CPS should be focused on maximizing classroom time and stability, not enabling schedule changes that appear to benefit the CTU's political agenda more than students. Transparency and accountability, not political symbolism forced onto students by the CTU, should guide decisions that affect over 300,000 students.

Walter Brzeski, Dunning

Sox, Hawks and Bulls letting fans down

I think that Chicago has the best sports fans in the country. Why is it that many of our sports teams don’t reciprocate with good-performing teams? We currently have three teams — the White Sox, Blackhawks and Bulls — that can be described as poor to mediocre. Management claims it's a rebuilding season. But every season? The Blackhawks should follow the Bulls lead and clean out the front office. These teams should get people with the experience and success to guide these teams to the playoffs.

There are still a few rough edges with the Cubs and the Bears that need to be smoothed out. But they are headed in the right direction with postseason play. I feel that they’re at least giving back to their loyal fans.

Considering what these teams take in at the turnstiles, they should use that money to invest in experienced people in the front office so we can have more wins than losses.

Thomas Norlock, Darien

A word to the wise

Alden Loury's lamentable column headlined, “Segregation, racism stifle economic mobility for many in the Black community,” is painfully true regarding Chicago neighborhoods and schools. Black youths need to heed a statement by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor: "I would warn any minority student today against the temptations of self-segregation: Take support and comfort from your own group as you can, but don't hide within it." That's good advice!

Jesse Prince, retired circuit judge, Orland Park