The hot, sticky dog days of summer in the Chicago area prompted public school teachers to call for a "snow day" for schools with no air conditioning.

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Warnings of excessive heat for three days, including Friday, led the Chicago Teachers Union to urge Chicago Public Schools officials to let any of the 200 year-round public schools without air conditioning use "snow days" to cancel classes, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Among the idea's supporters was Morgan Park High teacher Loretta Balsam, who estimated the temperature in her classroom Thursday topped 90 degrees -- and the two fans didn't help.

"I don't even let my dog stay out in heat like this," said a teacher at Emmett Till Elementary who supported the snow day use. "It's inhumane."

Public school officials say they oppose using snow days on hot days because "schools are the safest place for children to be, even under these extreme circumstances. Many families cannot make alternative plans for their children," district spokeswoman Monique Bond said.