Source: Randi Weingarten Twitter
The Detroit Public Schools district is failing its students. Despite formal and informal protests, the children continue to suffer the consequences of pervasive problems. Among the main issues are insolvency, corrupt and transient leadership, overcrowding, and harmful environmental conditions. Fed up with DPS’s apathy, teachers, students, and supporters have joined together to demand changes. The recent teacher sick-outs–which closed 88 of the district’s 97 schools at one time– have heightened awareness of DPS’s egregious state.
A city inspection revealed 152 code violations in 11 schools; atrocious conditions include the presence of mold and fungus, structural deficiencies, vermin and rodents, broken plumbing, and uneven heating. The Detroit Federation of Teachers has filed a suit against DPS and embattled Emergency Manager, Darnell Earley. According to the lawsuit, “DPS has not performed its duty to its students, parents, teachers and community to provide a minimally adequate education and to properly maintain the schools.”
The lawsuit also states that DPS and Earley have allowed the condition of some schools to “deteriorate to the point of crisis” and “forced Detroit’s school-age children to spend their young lives in deplorable surroundings risking their health and safety in the process.” Earley’s previous position as Emergency Manager for the city of Flint adds salt to this gaping wound. He boldly admitted prior knowledge of conditions at some of the schools yet, he nor DPS have taken action.
Many students are the children of parents who experienced these same issues when they attended DPS; those parents fully supported their children when they walked out of school this past week in solidarity with their teachers. Student walk outs occurred at Cass Tech, Renaissance, and Communication Media Arts high schools. CMA Principal Donya Odom received flack when she suspended students after they participated in the walk out at her school. Although the one-day suspension will not go onto the students’ records, their education remains marred by apathy and inequality.
