| Detroit Schools battle the classic struggles | | | | might be further from their homes. Even if |
| of a major city: high teacher turnover, high | | | | these Detroit Schools are allowed to keep |
| dropout rates, low test scores, and on-going | | | | their doors open, they face an uphill battle. |
| violence. For some of Detroit Schools, | | | | Detroit Schools are trying to stomp out the |
| however, all these problems may soon | | | | culture of violence that has given them such |
| disappear. 34 Detroit Schools are slated to | | | | a bad name. Unfortunately, that isn't proving |
| close by fall of 2007. Problems such as | | | | easy. Recently two 17-year-old boys were |
| deteriorating buildings, failing test scores, | | | | killed outside Henry Ford High School in an |
| and shifting populations compelled board | | | | incident attributed to a gang clash. The two |
| members of Detroit Schools to recommend the | | | | boys are students in Detroit Schools. Both |
| closing of such facilities. Apparently, some | | | | used to attend Ford, and one is currently at |
| of the students like school a bit more than | | | | Mackensie High. One boy was shot in the face |
| they had let on. Several hundred students | | | | and the other received a superficial wound. |
| from Northern High School and Murray Wright | | | | Where are the answers? Voters in Detroit |
| High School arranged protests and rallied the | | | | Schools apparently believe that money is not |
| Detroit Schools at the District Office. | | | | the answer. Frustrated board member have seen |
| Another organized protest at Northern ended | | | | bond after bond voted down for items like |
| in 2 arrests, and several students being | | | | roof repairs, better technology and athletic |
| pepper-sprayed or detained. But it worked. | | | | fields. Many blame the overall economy for |
| The Boards Human Resources Committee turned | | | | the refusal of voters to dish out more |
| over a recommendation to take both schools | | | | funding Detroit Schools. Detroit Schools have |
| off the list along with Mackensie High School | | | | turned to polling companies to help them |
| and Higgins Elementary School. Parents of | | | | assess how much in funding they can ask for, |
| Higgins Elementary students kept their | | | | and what segment of the population to target |
| children out of school last week to protest | | | | for it. Yet critical items like boilers and |
| the closing. Now everyone waits. The Board of | | | | crumbling buildings get left out in the cold |
| Education will vote whether to take those | | | | if the equation is not exact. Detroit Schools |
| schools off the list permanently, or let the | | | | are likely to see many more closings in the |
| ax fall. School closings cause controversy | | | | future is administrators and voters can't |
| because the schools effected tend to be in | | | | come to some consensus. |
| poorer areas. Detroit Schools face the | | | | |
| decision of whether to pour more money into | | | | Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools |
| these old buildings and failing schools, or | | | | K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all |
| to force children into other schools that | | | | U.S. public and private K-12 schools. |