Chicago City Wire

Northwest Side GOP Club President Ammie Kessem fails to see the logic in Chicago Public Schools turning to a remote learning plan for the upcoming fall semester.

“Science, which the Democrats love to talk about, and factual evidence has proven this pandemic is not affecting children and healthy individuals,” Kessem told Chicago City Wire. “If a CPS teacher has health conditions that could make them more susceptible to dying, then by all means they should take proper precautions and ask to be put on disability status until a vaccine can be distributed.”

In just about any other case, Kessem argues kids need to be in school for the benefit of society.

“We need to get these kids back in school,” she said. “The repercussions of that not happening are catastrophic. Many, many doctors have said so. Children’s brains learn and retain knowledge at very distinct times throughout their growth cycle. The harm that is being done to them is irreversible.”

After Mayor Lori Lightfoot and CPS CEO Janice Jackson announced late last month that students would attend in-person classes at least two days a week, critics of the plan swiftly went on the offensive with Chicago Teachers Union officials planning to hold an emergency house of delegates meeting to talk about potential strike options.

Kessem admits she’s afraid to think of what could come next and the longtime damage it could lead to.

“Many parents are unable to teach their kids using a remote system,” she said. “I was told that there were over 40,000 students that had zero contact with teachers after the shutdown. This is unacceptable. Get these kids back in school immediately.”