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Home Front: Politix
Detroit may close 'half of its public schools'
2011-01-18
Detroit Public Schools would close nearly half of its schools in the next two years, and increase high school class sizes to 62 by the following year, under a deficit-reduction plan filed with the state.
Of course, they're also saying if they just got a few hundred million bucks, this would go away. For just this one city only. Forget the rest of the state. The rest of the country. Forget that this is mostly glorified juvie.

And just where would this aid come from? From my school budget, I guess. My kids' success. My country's.

Thanks, liberal politicians! Thanks, shortsighted automaker companies! Thanks, unions!

But hey, you and your buddies got theirs. Now it's our children's problem. Your parents would be so proud.

Coming soon to a school system near you!
Posted by:gorb

#15  A couple of weeks ago there was a short lived story about Detroit school kids being given laptops. Don't remember all the details but $20 says better than 50% of them end up in pawn shops.
Posted by: USN,Ret   2011-01-18 22:26  

#14  Welcome to the Progressivism. Welcome to the third world.
Posted by: Slens Dark Lord of the Apes8066   2011-01-18 21:10  

#13  Someone needs to set up trade schools under a voucher/charter school system so that the folks that are going into the workforce instead of college can at least learn the basics to do their job and survive in the world rather than simply dropping out or clogging up the system.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2011-01-18 19:55  

#12  Fewer than 25 percent of freshmen go on to graduate.

So, institute a gate examine at the end of 6th and 9th grades. Those who pass move up to fill the available seats. Those who fail won't waste everyone's time and resources. Your resources will match the demand.

I suspect as it is around here, if a surprise audit was conducted on classroom attendance 4 and 7 months into the school year, there will be a drastic difference between what the school reports as on hand and what actually is on hand.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2011-01-18 15:52  

#11  It's not like they are learning anything anyway.
Posted by: newc   2011-01-18 13:48  

#10  pursuing "renaissance" legislation to free up $400 million in future tobacco settlement funds

Shell game, which shell is the Possible future Settlement under.
(Sounds like openly planned extortion)
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2011-01-18 12:57  

#9  I'm sure when the all of the families (and their tax dollars) that can leave Detroit do leave Detroit things will be much better. If this isn't a bluff it is the dumbest thing I've ever heard.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2011-01-18 12:31  

#8  Detroit High School Graduation Rate
A new study from Education Week shows that at least a third of teenagers in the nation are dropping out of school without earning their diplomas. Detroit has the worst rate: Fewer than 25 percent of freshmen go on to graduate.
Posted by: George Hupaviger4591   2011-01-18 12:06  

#7  Those plans include splitting the district in two to put its debt obligation with an "old district"...State revenue would pay off the debt, allowing the "new district" to move forward debt-free with undetermined start-up funds.

District officials said they are pursuing "renaissance" legislation to free up $400 million in future tobacco settlement funds that could help mend DPS' deficit and those of 40 other districts statewide.

So lets take a looksie at some of the creative solutions the "officials" are proposing.
First, they want to cook the books to create a phantom district in order to have the state pay for their debt obligations. Next they want to raid money from tax incentives that was intended to encourage private economic growth and job creation. And for good measures they want to shift settlment revenue legislated specically for scholarship programs twoards the funds that pay for day to day operations. Hmmm, and you were wondering how they got into this position in the first place wern't you?
Posted by: DepotGuy   2011-01-18 11:38  

#6  Public High School Graduation Rates by State

Michigan - slightly above the average !
Posted by: Goodluck   2011-01-18 11:14  

#5  Yeah, somebody's trying the old "Washington Monument" gag. If you look at the article, they're ramping it up as you get into the older class cohorts. The idea is that nobody can control 62 rampaging high school juniors, and thus the resulting chaos will loosen the purse strings.

Well, that, and when you pay teachers twice as much as what they're worth, you can only afford half as many teachers.
Posted by: Mitch H.   2011-01-18 10:20  

#4  Hey Detroit Teachers,

How's that Teacher's Union working out for ya?
Posted by: CrazyFool   2011-01-18 08:25  

#3  Now if they would just close the other half and give vouchers to all the kids, then most of their education problems would be solved.
Posted by: rammer   2011-01-18 08:19  

#2  There are large parts of Detroit that rival the worst 3rd world cities .... filthy, rat-infested, decaying buildings, half collapsed, utilities barely or non-existent.

It's a national disgrace. Worse - it's home to an increasingly active Islamicist community.
Posted by: lotp   2011-01-18 08:03  

#1  If it's like a lot of city school districts, closing half the schools would be an improvement over the current situation.
Posted by: Glenmore   2011-01-18 02:57  

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