Chicago City Wire

Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) President Stacy Davis Gates has been vocal in her criticism of former President Donald Trump, aligning with Mayor Brandon Johnson's rhetoric on historical conflicts. In a recent address at the City Club of Chicago, she stated, “Trump has picked his side. He is here to win the relitigation of the Civil War and finish the work of the Confederacy.” This statement comes amid ongoing debates about the state of education in Chicago.

The Chicago Public Schools (CPS), under significant influence from CTU, have faced criticism for limiting educational alternatives for families in low-income neighborhoods. Critics argue that this approach maintains a monopoly over public education, focusing on expanding union membership and benefits rather than accountability or performance.

Despite being one of the best-funded urban school systems, spending $30,000 per pupil annually, CPS shows low proficiency rates among Black and Latino students. Only 11 percent of Black students are proficient in reading and eight percent in math; Latino students fare slightly better with 18 percent proficiency in reading and 15 percent in math.

The CTU has actively opposed initiatives like the Invest in Kids scholarship program and capped public charter school enrollments. These actions have limited options for many families seeking better educational opportunities for their children. The union also pushed against equitable funding for charters, which educate predominantly minority and low-income students.

Research indicates that charter schools often outperform traditional public schools academically. Stanford University's Center for Research on Education Outcomes found significant academic progress among charter school students compared to their peers. Economist Thomas Sowell's book highlighted similar findings within New York City's mixed-education buildings.

Catholic schools consistently show strong performance metrics across various assessments compared to public schools. The National Assessment of Educational Progress reports Catholic schools leading nearly every category.

At City Club, Davis Gates emphasized community ownership over children's education but faces criticism for her stance against school choice while enrolling her own child in a Catholic school. Her critics argue that such policies disproportionately affect poor Black and Latino families by restricting access to higher-performing educational institutions.

The CTU's influence led to prolonged school closures during COVID-19 lockdowns despite evidence supporting safe reopenings by private institutions. This decision reportedly worsened academic outcomes and increased dropout rates among CPS students.

Davis Gates' use of Civil War rhetoric contrasts with accusations that current policies perpetuate systemic inequalities within Chicago's education system — a system critics claim discriminates against those it purports to support most fervently: minority communities making up over 82 percent of citywide student enrollment.