The only things I know about the Chicago Teachers Union are what I read in the newspaper, so my first impressions of that local are not good. On the merits of extending the school day, however, the CTU has the better arguments. CTU President Karen Lewis says that the district should use this year to plan for a better school day. As she told NBC Chicago, "Quality is infinitely more important [than quantity]." The Chicago Sun's Rosalind Rossi reported that Lewis told Mayor Rahm Emanuel that adding ninety minutes to the school day without planning would just be warehousing and baby sitting. And on the biggest issue, the divide and conquer tactic of seeking individual school waivers, the mayor is clearly wrong. Catalystpresents the case that he is violating the law. In addition to offering $150,000 to schools where teachers agree to work longer hours for almost no increase in pay, it has even been charged that some teachers were warned of
