Chicago City Wire

Northwest Side GOP Club President Ammie Kessem thinks Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) leaders could use a lesson in integrity.

“What a joke,” Kessem told Chicago City Wire of reports that one of the union’s demands is that teachers who volunteer to conduct remote-learning sessions from empty classrooms should receive hazard pay.

“Once again, the CTU is trying to scam the taxpayers,” Kessem added. “And the politicians whose campaign coffers rely on big donations from them will most likely give in to this ridiculous demand.”

Critics argue top CTU officials are using the COVID-19 crisis as a tool to extract more from the system for their members at a time when students are being forced to do with less by the day. 

“Hazard pay to sit home; their homes must be absolutely disgusting,” Kessem joked. “This is just shameful. What’s next a clothing allowance?”

Kessem has been a constant critic of Chicago Public Schools remote learning plan, including the way she feels it cast students and their educational pursuits as secondary.

“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.”

As far back as when Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson announced that students would only be attending in-person classes two days a week, critics of the plan swiftly went on the offensive with CTU officials planning to hold an emergency House of Delegates meeting to talk about potential strike options.

Since then, top officials have instituted a total remote learning plan and 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.”