Good morning.

So, you parents of high schoolers, do you get something out of the parent-teacher conferences that take place at this time of year?

We have an op-ed from a teacher arguing that such meetings, while critical for younger students, are more or less a waste of time at the high school level and make teachers a useless mess the next school day. I for one would be interested in parents' reaction to this one and would love to see some letters from readers.

The editorial board is getting oh so close to finishing endorsements as we near Election Day, and today, we have our recommendations for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation Board and the Cook County Board. I highly recommend the MWRD endorsements if only for the instruction on the duties of this obscure but important agency.

Consumer spending continues to be strong despite all the discussion of how inflation is pinching households. A senior fellow at NORC at the University of Chicago offers some valuable insights on what's behind this seeming puzzle.

And, finally, the right to a trial before a jury of one's peers is one of the most fundamental pillars of Anglo-American citizenship. But there are reasons to worry about the health of our jury system. And what does TikTok have to do with all this? Check this op-ed out.

Of course, we've got reader letters as usual. Have a great mid-October Thursday, and we'll be back here tomorrow.

— Steve Daniels, editorial board member

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