teachers

While Chicago’s students are frequently criticized for falling behind, the real attendance crisis at Chicago Public Schools (CPS) appears to be coming from the front of the classroom. Tensions reached a breaking point this week, April 24, 2026, as the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) launched a aggressive campaign to cancel classes on May 1st, demanding that teachers be allowed to participate in “May Day” socialist and unionist protests. At The Modern Memo, we analyze the CTU’s “International Workers’ Day” ultimatum, the growing trend of teacher absenteeism, and why parents are increasingly fed up with a curriculum that prioritizes picketing over phonics. The May Day Ultimatum May 1st, traditionally known as International Workers’ Day, has long been a rallying point for global socialist and communist organizations. This year, the CTU is treating the date not as a school day, but as a mandatory “day of action.” The Demand: Union leadership has pushed back hard against CPS suggestions that the school day proceed as scheduled. The CTU argues that forcing teachers to be in the classroom on May 1st is an “affront” to labor rights. The “Protest” Priority: Critics point out that the union is effectively encouraging a mass walkout. “Our children are already struggling with massive learning loss,” one local parent group stated. “To prioritize a socialist holiday over a day of instruction is a betrayal of the city’s youth.” Global Alignment: The CTU’s insistence on joining May Day rallies aligns the union with radical international labor groups, further fueling concerns that the Chicago school system is being used as a training ground for political activism rather than academic excellence. A Systemic Truancy Crisis The May Day standoff is merely a symptom of a much larger problem plaguing the district: chronic teacher absenteeism. New data reveals that teacher “truancy” is reaching levels that threaten the basic functionality of the city’s schools. Empty Desks at the Front: On any given Friday, thousands of CPS classrooms are reportedly staffed by substitutes—or left without a dedicated instructor—due to teachers using “mental health days” or union-sanctioned “service days.” The Substitute Strain: The surge in teacher absences has forced the district to spend millions on emergency substitutes, a cost that is passed directly to the Chicago taxpayer while student proficiency scores continue to hover near historic lows. Accountability Vacuum: Unlike the students, who face truancy officers and grade penalties, the “truant” teachers are shielded by a CTU contract that makes disciplinary action for excessive absences nearly impossible. The “Workers’ Paradise” vs. The Parent’s Reality As the CTU prepares to march under the banners of May Day, the gap between union rhetoric and parental reality has never been wider. Taxpayer Funding, Union Agenda: Chicago taxpayers fund the salaries of these educators, yet the CTU increasingly behaves as a sovereign political entity rather than a public service provider. Learning Loss: Data shows that Chicago students are still reeling from the pandemic-era closures—closures that the CTU fought to extend. Every day lost to a “protest” further widens the achievement gap for the city’s most vulnerable children. Final Word The CTU’s obsession with May Day is a neon sign flashing the union’s true priorities. When you look past the noise of “labor solidarity” and focus on the data—the rising rates of teacher absenteeism and the declining proficiency of CPS students—you gain a clearer picture of a system where the “workers” have abandoned the work. Quality information replaces the union’s “social justice” narrative with the reality of a generation of children being left behind by adults who would rather be on the streets than in the schools. It allows you to see that May 1st isn’t about “worker rights”—it’s about which side of the classroom door the CTU values more. By choosing the protest over the pupil, the union is proving that in Chicago, the only thing “truant” is common sense. Where Facts, Context, and Perspective Matter At The Modern Memo, our goal is simple: to provide clear, well-researched reporting in a media landscape that often feels overwhelming. We focus on substance over sensationalism, and context over commentary. If you value thoughtful analysis, transparent sourcing, and stories that go beyond the headline, we invite you to share our work. Informed conversations start with reliable information, and sharing helps ensure important stories reach a wider audience. Journalism works best when readers engage, question, and participate. By reading and sharing, you’re supporting a more informed public and a healthier media ecosystem. The Modern Memo may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. 📩 Love what you’re reading? Don’t miss a headline! Subscribe to The Modern Memo here!