How to describe the bizarre chain of recent events in Michigan? It began when philanthropist Robert Thompson offered to build 15 charter schools in the educational wasteland of Detroit, at a cost of $200 million. Proving once again that in education, no good deed goes unpunished, Governor Jennifer Granholm refused to sign legislation authorizing the schools unless it was "comprehensive," a code word for limiting the scope and autonomy of Michigan charter schools. [For Gadfly's earlier coverage, see http://www.edexcellence.net/gadfly/issue.cfm?issue=112#1408.] Then the Detroit teachers' union closed down the district last week when more than 3,000 teachers took personal days to protest the proposed charter schools bill. In other words, the kids lost a day of school so their teachers could lobby against better schools for them. Such strong arm tactics worked; negotiations over the bill broke down in finger pointing between governor, mayor, and legislature, effectively killing the chance to build the new charter schools in question, along with more than 100 other charter schools throughout the state. Granholm wins, the union wins - kids and parents lose. Shame, shame on the alleged adults running this circus. Michiganders might better learn from the Taiwanese parents who recently reacted to striking teachers by protesting the protestors, accusing them of setting a "bad example" for Taiwanese students.
"Teacher strike over charter schools shuts down Detroit schools," Associated Press, September 25, 2003
"Mayor is unclear on charter schools," by Darci McConnell, Detroit News, September 30, 2003
"Parents body says teachers only care about themselves," by Joy Su, Taipei Times, September 29, 2003