‘Exhausted’ Chicago Teachers’ Union applauds Chicago Public Schools’ decision to close for ‘Vaccine Awareness Day’

CPS students can’t be indoctrinated in any garbage educational philosophies if their teachers aren’t showing up to work, right? It’s brilliant!

CPS plans to close all schools on Nov. 12, giving parents and guardians an opportunity to get their children vaccinated.

We welcome the district acknowledging the urgent need for parents and families to vaccinate their children, and providing time and opportunity to do so.

— ChicagoTeachersUnion (@CTULocal1) November 5, 2021

We're all exhausted by daily challenges to safety and security confronted in this pandemic. CPS’ decision to close schools and give all school staff paid time off is welcome relief from the stress of trying to protect and educate students without resources to address their needs.

— ChicagoTeachersUnion (@CTULocal1) November 5, 2021

But we cannot stop here. Students are crying out for support in every way possible. Nothing during a pandemic is normal, but let’s be clear: Nothing before the pandemic was normal.

— ChicagoTeachersUnion (@CTULocal1) November 5, 2021

A school district that finds difficulty in running schools pre-pandemic, will truly struggle during a global health crisis.

And that's exactly what happened.

— ChicagoTeachersUnion (@CTULocal1) November 5, 2021

Teachers, PSRPS, clinicians, counselors, tech coordinators, librarians, cafeteria workers, security, social workers, case managers and everyone in school buildings are moving mountains and doing the very best they can in difficult times. So are our students and their families.

— ChicagoTeachersUnion (@CTULocal1) November 5, 2021

And we will continue to push CPS to provide robust outreach, school-based vaccinations during flexible hours, and collaboration with families on engagement and incentives. Give children socio-emotional support, healing spaces, and strong athletic, music and arts programs.

— ChicagoTeachersUnion (@CTULocal1) November 5, 2021

The mayor and her Dept of Public Health must also do more than the status quo in providing ease of access to vaccinations, which still has our 12-17 year-old student population vaccination rate under 50%. Reduce the stress on families trying to find shots. https://t.co/LgJJxdC1XX

— ChicagoTeachersUnion (@CTULocal1) November 5, 2021

The more that CPS, in partnership with our union, addresses the totality of safety and wellness, the more hope we provide our students, and their families and communities.

— ChicagoTeachersUnion (@CTULocal1) November 5, 2021

TL:DR version?

four day weekend https://t.co/Pj0YwVRjyx

— Corey A. DeAngelis (@DeAngelisCorey) November 5, 2021

That’s right! According the Chicago Public Schools academic calendar, November 11 is a “day of non-attendance for students.” Which in this case effectively means that the teachers don’t really have to do anything.

Teachers in Chicago get a paid vacation this month. Parents get to do their job for free. https://t.co/NlI0WBaNzX

— Emily Zanotti (@emzanotti) November 5, 2021

Sounds like CPS teachers have got a pretty sweet gig there.

The way they're nailing their own coffin shut https://t.co/OU4OpMZ8rz pic.twitter.com/xuCfSwpxo9

— RINO Hunter (@QMS_Stiffy) November 5, 2021

https://t.co/gKST2v7LPv pic.twitter.com/1op7C4N541

— Will Pearl 🇺🇸 (@WilliamPearl8) November 5, 2021

Students’ needs include in person, unmasked learning. https://t.co/9W6TBFgfaY

— Elisha (@ElishaKrauss) November 5, 2021

So you’ll close schools to educate parents & guardians about a vaccine that is readily available for anyone, but you won’t educate parents & guardians on how you have the lowest education outcomes in the country? https://t.co/MeTE4yJGxB

— Cynthia Kaui (@cynthiakaui) November 5, 2021

Chicago teachers admitting their brand is tired and not agile? You don't say…..#SchoolChoice https://t.co/xD2zm02P1Q

— Yella Mini Cooper: Jabnostic. My taxes? My voice. (@YellaMiniCooper) November 5, 2021

Defund “exhausting” teachers unions https://t.co/fVVJa8J4aa

— “Not a Bot” ReneeHart 🤷‍♀️💅🏻 (@eeners) November 5, 2021

Sounds like a plan.

If you can't learn to cope maybe its time to give parents the choice to send their kids to those that can. https://t.co/On2x1UolUi

— Bob Jeffers (@TuliusT) November 5, 2021