Over the past generation, Detroit has suffered from de-industrialization, middle-class flight, high poverty, joblessness, and abandonment by the state and civic elites. One reform after another has failed to “save” its schools, because reformers ignored the root causes of poor academic performance.
Now, conservative Michigan Governor Rick Snyder plans to get rid of public education and turn Detroit into an all-charter district like Néw Orleans. This is now public officials’ favorite way of getting rid of their responsibility, by handing it off to the private sector.
Here is one analysis of the continuing abandonment of the children of Detroit. I don’t usually cite partisan sources but this is as good an in-depth a review as I have seen. If you spot any errors, let me know.
It is a sad story. Our nation can’t afford to educate its poorest children. Actually, it can afford to but chooses not to. They need small classes; arts programs; experienced teachers; stability. None of that is part of the plan. We lack the will to help those who most need a good education.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
What is pathetic is that our nation cannot afford NOT to educate our poorest students. There is adequate funding if we have the will to make it happen. We simply have to make it a priority. We have to come up with new revenue streams to pay for strong public schools. It is our obligation to do our best for the future generations as democracy requires an educated populace.
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“We have to come up with new revenue streams to pay for strong public schools.”
Or perhaps old revenue streams such as the concept of progressive taxation. The middle class of this country grew to its highest levels under progressive taxation from the end of WW2 to the 70’s and then started to recede with the whole “Piss on People” Reagunomics taxation schemes in the 80’s.
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Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Texas Education.
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Exploiting the weak via forcible taxation spent by those with severe conflicts of interest.
Proving intentions is difficult though….
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“The Michigan affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers has already approved of Snyder’s plan to create a new DPS district, with union officials telling the Detroit News that all union contracts and membership will transfer into the new district. The only concern of the union apparatus is defending its own income and institutional interests.”
What’s it say about the AFT when even the WSWS is saying that the “union apparatus”, i.e., the leadership, only are concerned with “defending its own income and institutional interests”???
Sad indeed, quite sad that the AFT leadership is a big part of the problem and not the solution.
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Duane, I zeroed in on that paragraph too. Our unions are no longer trustworthy on the national and state level in too many places.
I was reading this morning about the new state superintendent of education, another non-educator.
http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/2015/06/27/brian-whiston-new-state-superintendent-question-answer-michigan-department-education/29364075/
“Work background: Whiston was director of government and community services at Oakland Schools from 1997 to 2008; assistant to a director at the Oakland County Road Commission from 1995 to 1997; owner of Survey Research Associates from 1991 to 1997, and a legislative staffer for Sen. Rudy Nichols from 1986 to 1991.”
Another teacher blamer:
“Q:Some have criticized the fact that most (97%) of the teachers in Michigan have been rated effective or highly effective under the new system — and very few have been rated minimally ineffective or ineffective. Is that a problem or does it reflect a strong teaching force in Michigan?
A: It’s a problem. I mean it is, let’s be candid. In Dearborn, though, if you look at my data you’ll say, gee, Brian, most of your teachers are effective or highly effective. But what you don’t know is I’ve gotten rid of 80 teachers. So of course I’ve been dealing with the problem for seven years. I haven’t waited for someone to come in and tell me to do it. So, sure, if you look at my data, you might say, you guys aren’t really doing evaluations right because you’ve got so many effective or highly effective. But what’s not in the data is the 70 or 80 teachers that we no longer have teaching here. Secondly, a lot of administrators went in to become administrators because they love kids and they love their staff and they love education. And some, not all, but some administrators find it difficult to have these tough conversations. In Dearborn I made it very simple. If I won’t put my grandkids in your classroom, then I don’t want to put anyone’s kids in your classroom. And that’s the way every administrator has got to look at it.”
Perhaps when the pension theft hits more municipalities and states then teaches will be willing to stand up and fight back?
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Wow, another non-teacher in charge of teachers. Many a lieutenant was fragged in Nam due to not having any clue what “grunts” were doing/experiencing.
Talk about not having a clue! How about Whiston’s statement: “Secondly, a lot of administrators went in to become administrators because they love kids and they love their staff and they love education.” What a beautiful self paean. Utter nonsense but makes him look angelic doesn’t it?
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Smash and grab, smash and grab is the so-called reformer strategy…
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Hooray for the “great corporate minds” in Detroit.
This started back a few decades ago. Deming went to Detroit to try to get them to improve their product, automobiles, which were not all that great
but
at the time Detroit was making money so why listen to this man. So he went to Japan and the rest is history. SAD, SAD history.
Corporate minds led to the debacle of bank failures leading to our recent “recession”. SO
We should listen to these “great minds” which seek to “improve” education. They will led us to the promised land.
Regarding poverty:
The same “American Prospect’ mentioned before has superb articles
a “Cover Package” including articles by 5 writers including Robert Reich.
Again, a GREAT read.
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As a teacher in the Detroit area I agree with many of the statements in your linked article. However, there are a few HUGE inaccuracies that diminish the piece as a whole. The biggest being where it said Gov. Snyder is a Democrat. He is NOT. He is a uber Republican who has a GOP super majority in all branches of Michigan government. Yes, Mayor Duggan is a Democrat, but under Emergency Mgt. he has no power. Detroit Public Schools have been under State management for most of the last 20 years. The Legislature has been under GOP control the whole time and has been deliberately and systematically starving Detroit City & their Schools into failure. So even though this linked piece has value, take things with a large grain of salt.
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