Friday, October 28, 2011

Thousands of Detroit Students Waiting For Books

Students from Woodward Academy on August 8, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Earl Gibson III/WireImage)

The 2011-2012 Detroit Public School year started on Sept. 6, with thousands of homes and streets all over the city adorned with signs that had the two-word slogan "I'm In" everywhere. Nearly two months into the school year, the one thing that is not in a lot of Detroit Schools right now are books.
"I know there is a shortage and there is an order and they are still sharing books," said Andrew Hayes, whose son is a third-grader at Fisher Magnet Elementary on the city's east side. "There are a lot of frustrated parents. They want the kids to have what they are supposed to have. At the beginning of the year, we were told that every student would have the textbooks. It's seven weeks into school."

Teachers at Cass Technical High School -- the city's largest high school -- say that they are short nearly 2,400 textbooks in all grade levels. According to the Detroit Federation of Teachers, the deficiencies range across all subjects including English, chemistry, geometry, Spanish, and U.S. history.

I read Jay Scott Smith's full story in the Grio, then looked at the bright eager faces in the photo by Wire Image.  These students deserve more. I felt so disappointed in the state of education in our country today. We need to do something and do something fast if we are to compete in the global economy of today. It's our choice.
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