I just flew back from Dayton, Ohio-- a burned out inner city that just lost 2,000+ GM jobs (a SUV plant that was a cash cow for a while when gas was half the price it is now but thanks to short term thinking typical of the US auto industry--failed to see how a long term investment in hybrids would be better than continuing to milk the profits from the SUV craze)--the city is now hurting probably as badly as anywhere in Michigan. Most if not all the big manufacturing companies left--now you have roads that need repair--many full of potholes--a downtown that is still trying to look respectable but is finding it difficult to hide the boarded up shops and the encroaching semi- porno parlors. The only promising area seems to be a huge chess club that took over an abandoned building--with a big painted sign on the front that looked like it meant business although what business you can generate from chess I don't know.
I spoke to the a senior school administrator there who has a nicely appointed office of the kind you see on movie sets representing someone in authority --lots of dark wood, Victorian desk, nice paintings, heavy carpet. He really took me aside and told me his issues declining tax base--but what gets to him is that everything they try to do for education tends to be negatively perceived by the media. Two groups--basically run the show--those from Appalachia and African Americans --both groups have not benefited much themselves from public education--and therefore skeptical of its value for their kids --they don't come together on much. A good sign in a way was that one parent tried to sue the district because their child failed to graduate. The board and public opinion stood behind not giving in--with the taunt that if the family had cared so much about the education of their child they might have spent the enormous energy they directed to the lawsuit into
helping him succeed academically.
The district despite its troubles are trying very hard with a new high school and a fabulously renovated old school that used my federal program (QZABs) to turn itself into a school for the arts. Wonderful building and great atmosphere. I took photos (see some above). I would have loved to do a documentary about the city--with this guy I spoke with in the star role--he was a great story teller and wonderfully committed to the schools--profile in courage when lots of folk would give up. He has problems coming up the wazoo including 14 bargaining units he has to appease--who have not seen a raise since 2005. Charter schools that are mushrooming that he by law must fund to the tune of millions of dollars going out off the top from his budget--a special education budget that consumes about a third of the budget --every child must be given an IEP some requiring specialized personnel and smaller class sizes. Technology that is out of date and the problems of an aging workforce.
The mass media refuses to cover this -unless there is some horrific event such as a school shooting--the plight of inner city schools and the communities they serve might as well be invisible. We all seem all off on a joy ride--while the inner cities rot out--and the ones that are left turn to crime-join the military or are imprisoned. Sad times. What is the message of caring and hope? Where are the RFK's (who was assassinated on this date)/ Maybe Obama has a policy--but where is the money? Federal deficits for miles. So this is our world now.
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