Teachers: The Unsuspecting Power Players of Chicago Politics
If you’re not mayor of Chicago, thank a teacher.
Teachers have long been revered as dedicated professionals who educate our children and shape their future. However, in the eyes of some, teachers have become a threat to democracy, good governance, and fiscal responsibility. Specifically, Paul Vallas, a former mayoral candidate, has been portraying the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) as a malevolent force that seeks to take over the city and undermine its governance.
Vallas, who lost his bid for mayor to a former social studies teacher, has been writing editorials criticizing the CTU’s plans for the upcoming school board elections. According to leaked budget documents, the union has pledged $1 million to its slate of candidates, aiming to increase its ranks, protect its members, and reduce workloads. Vallas alleges that the union plans to deploy its funding and activists to boost far-left progressive and Socialist candidates who are anti-police, anti-incarceration, and anti-accountability.
In this article, we examine the role of teachers in Chicago politics and explore what lies behind the fears of Vallas and others about the CTU’s involvement in the upcoming school board elections.
The Fear of Teachers’ Power
Teachers have already taken over City Hall, or at least, that’s the perception. Now, they want to take over the school board. If left unchecked, who knows what they’ll be running next? A teacher could potentially pilot the International Space Station, command the 82nd Airborne Division, or even become the next President of the United States. This fear-mongering is fueled by concerns about the union’s supposed socialist agenda and its disregard for accountability and results for children and families.
But what has the CTU done to inspire such fear and loathing? Have teachers become too powerful in their pursuit of better salaries and working conditions? Did they become too politicized after former Mayor Rahm Emanuel closed 50 schools without consulting the teachers affected? Whatever the reason, the CTU’s critics are determined to stop its candidates from winning the November elections.
The Importance of Teachers
Despite Vallas’ criticisms, most Americans love and respect teachers. According to public opinion surveys, teaching is consistently ranked as one of the most respected professions, after doctors, nurses, and firefighters. Target even gives teachers 20% off everything storewide. Teachers were once admired for educating children as a "labor of love" and for low pay. But after years of under-resourcing and neglect, many teachers have become politicized, seeking better working conditions and higher salaries.
Furthermore, teachers are good organizers. Any group of people who can keep the attention of 30 eighth-graders all going through puberty at the same time can certainly get out the vote in a precinct. As the CTU becomes a more entrenched power, however, some critics argue that it has become less focused on accountability and results for children and families.
A Different Kind of Leader
Teachers didn’t become powerful by spending a lot of money to get elected to office. They didn’t self-fund campaigns like wealthy politicians do. Instead, they got organized. They used their strong relationships with their colleagues, their communities, and the children they serve to push for change. And for the most part, these efforts have been successful. Mayor Johnson, for instance, lives in the low-income neighborhood of Austin and has inspired people who lack financial resources to knock on doors and sing his praises to the voters.
However, other professions have run the city with varying degrees of success. Lawyers like Ed Burke and Lori Lightfoot have both been notable failures, with Burke set to serve time in prison for using his office for personal gain and Lightfoot unable to get along with the City Council. Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel earned a fortune as an investment banker before being run out of office for covering up a police shooting. Who’s to say that another profession, like engineers or dentists, couldn’t run the city just as effectively?
Conclusion
In conclusion, the idea that teachers are a threat to democracy, good governance, and fiscal responsibility in Chicago is a flawed argument. Teachers are dedicated professionals who have become politicized due to years of neglect and under-resourcing. Their efforts to organize and advocate for better working conditions and higher salaries are hardly unusual in the context of labor movements. While we can debate the merits of the CTU’s influence on the school board, we must recognize that other professions have run the city with varying degrees of success.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are teachers really taking over Chicago politics?
A: According to some critics, including Paul Vallas, yes, teachers are becoming a powerful force in Chicago politics.
Q: What do teachers want?
A: Teachers want better salaries and working conditions, as well as a greater say in how schools are run and managed.
Q: Who are the CTU and what do they stand for?
A: The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) is a labor organization that represents public school teachers in Chicago. They prioritize better working conditions, higher salaries, and greater representation for teachers in school district decision-making.
Q: Is the CTU just a bunch of Socialist fanatics?
A: Some critics, like Vallas, have accused the CTU of being too beholden to socialist ideology, but the union’s actions are largely driven by the need for better working conditions and higher salaries for its members.
Q: Is this really a battle for the soul of Chicago politics?
A: While overblown, the argument that the CTU represents a threat to democracy, good governance, and fiscal responsibility in Chicago is hardly without merit. The conflict highlights the ongoing struggle for power and influence in Chicago, with teachers, unions, and other interest groups seeking to shape the city’s future.
