Drop the drama and get to work on longer school day

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Updated: May 9, 2012 9:48AM

I was invited last year to talk to students at Ruben Salazar Elementary School about journalism.

I was impressed by the kids’ enthusiasm, their knowledge of current affairs and their informed questions.

I left Salazar thinking that the future of Chicago was in good hands with students like those bright kids who will become entrepreneurs, doctors, teachers and — why not — journalists.

Unfortunately, the reality is that about half of the Chicago Public Schools students do not graduate from high school. And many of those who graduate are not ready for college and end up dropping out.

Most high school dropouts have little chance of success in the current economic crisis. Most end up unemployed or worse — selling dope, in jail or dead because of gang warfare.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel pointed to this permanent crisis in education in his inaugural address. He had no alternative but to make education a high priority for his administration. The future of a vibrant, diverse and world-renowned city is at stake.

The mayor and Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard took a step trying to extend the school day by 90 minutes starting next year.

The Chicago Teachers Union opposes the plan. And now the issue has turned into a prime-time tug-of-war.

The latest episode included an alleged infuriated Emanuel shouting an obscenity and pointing a finger at CTU president Karen Lewis. Fortunately, the climax of this bizarre episode came in the form of a hug, according to the mayor.

The saga has turned legal. The CTU filed a lawsuit against Emanuel’s school board for allegedly coercing CTU-represented teachers “to waive their labor rights and vote in favor of lengthening the school day by 90 minutes.”

So far, seven schools have signed on to Emanuel’s pilot program that offers $150,000 in discretionary funds for schools if they start the longer day in September and $75,000 if they start in January. Teachers get a 2 percent bonus for the extra time worked.

After the initial salvos in this all-out war, it is time now for both parties to put the interests of students first.

Lengthening the school day is a tool to achieve the ultimate goal of graduating more students and better preparing them for college. After all, this is how the success or failure of the school officials and the union will be measured.

The CPS and the union should find a negotiated solution for the benefit of students, teachers and parents. On Tuesday, the union presented a proposal for lengthening the school day by 75 minutes modeled after the private University of Chicago Lab Schools where Emanuel sends his kids.

The CTU proposal is a start. Both parties should sit down now to determine exactly how students will spend those extra 75 or 90 minutes so that teachers’ valued time is not spent baby-sitting and students get the most out of an extended schedule.

As part of the negotiation, the teachers union should understand that any salary increase must be measured — particularly under the current economic crisis.

The union will get no sympathy from a public confronted with high unemployment and growing poverty.

I hope that a fruitful agreement comes soon.

Most people are tired of politicians in Washington playing mind games, and no one has patience for an endless quarrel between the Chicago mayor and the teachers’ union leader.

Both sides have a unique opportunity to show schoolkids how to resolve a conflict in an effective and pragmatic way — sparing everybody the drama.