"This is just a political witch hunt against two union activists." OR is it?
Dec 19, 2007 - Fighting for their jobs. They've been removed from school board meetings for shouting. They've been arrested at protest after protest. They've been out front with teachers' strikes.
Steve Conn, 50, and fellow teacher and wife, Heather Miller, 37, have been accused of leading a group of middle school students who got into a confrontation with police May 1 outside Northern High while en route to a local rally -- part of a national day of rallies for immigration and civil rights. Some of the passing students apparently banged on windows in an attempt to get Northern students inside to join them.
Detroit Public School District officials have said they are investigating the two teachers for endangering children on what some have called an unauthorized field trip that diverted to Northern High without parents' knowledge. Miller said the charges against them came weeks after the incident because "this is just a political witch hunt against two union activists."
See Sidebar box for history of the white couple. Both were placed on unpaid leave in June.
WE FOUND: Here are some of their keen supporters. The other viewpoint from a teacher.
PUTTING it into perspective
Detroit is closing a number of schools. The student population in Michigan declined 25,000 this year alone as people leave the state to escape Michigan's economy and a declining birthrate. The state itself is facing a $3 billion deficit chiefly due to a decrease in business revenue. Detroit has to pay a $210 million loan to the state of Michigan for covering previous budget deficits. (AND those rosy figures are from the World Socialist Web Site.)
Even after massive tax increases, this story says the deficit is $1.75 billion.
Then there is the puzzle of the missing Detroit students who can't be found.
No online stories of the May protest but there is an article in the May 8 Michigan Education Report on lawsuits planned (encouraged) by BAMN (By Any Means Necessary) which also had this from an angry parent who plans her own lawsuit:
Parent and Detroit resident Monique Greene plans on filing a lawsuit against BAMN for placing her child in a dangerous situation.The bad news continues, as Michigan faces a $12 billion pension shortfall, the things don't look better for next year for the state budget, and there's a danger that the state will take over Detroit schools. Again.
She told The News that she signed a permission slip allowing her 14-year-old son to attend a demonstration against the school closings, but was told it would be held at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, not at other schools.
"You exploited my kids to fight your fight," Green said of BAMN, according to The News.
Detroit schools have a $20 million deficit this year. They budgeted no money for background checks and for fingerprint checks that have to be completed by July1, 2008.
In June 2006, The Detroit News reported that State Police identified more than 180 felons working in Detroit Public Schools, including bus drivers, janitors, teachers and special education paraprofessionals.The decline in school enrollment means $71 million less from the state in 2008. In addition, the state has put Detroit on notice for not providing transfers to or tutoring for children in chronically low-performing schools.
Even the Detroit News has joined the bandwagon in calling for more charter and private schools.
See the Wikipedia entry for Detroit Public Schools and the Financial Difficulties and Student Achievement.
Detroit makes Oakland, California look almost competent.
