Report: Nearly Half Of Detroiters Can’t Read

[Dale_M]

I honestsly think that is a better use of the money than consuming in a bureaucracy that apparently has no clear purpose or provides no clear value.

I suspect the DoE does have purpose. The fact that a few posters here are unaware of its function doesn’t mean much. I couldn’t tell you anything about the Department of Energy, either, and it has a $27 billion budget.

My point is that the criticism of the US Department of Education seems irrelevant to this thread, which is about the Detroit school system and its illiterate graduates.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

My wife, a teacher, doesn’t know what the DoE does. The two of us don’t give a rat’s…either. She worked for her school district, took orders from her principal, followed her own lesson plans, etc She wasn’t into the politics our GOP posters find so important. She did her work for the children, not for any organization’s glory.

What problems the NYC schools have don’t seem to be the fault of the DoE.

So, you don’t care that we seem to be p!$$ing $47 billion a year down a hole??? How is the federal Department of Education, with their massive budget and cabinet level Secretary NOT relevant to this conversation. If it provides no value, no guidance, no purpose, wouldnt that $47 billion be better spent where it is needed to improve the system?

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

I suspect the DoE does have purpose. The fact that a few posters here are unaware of its function doesn’t mean much. I couldn’t tell you anything about the Department of Energy, either, and it has a $27 billion budget.

My point is that the criticism of the US Department of Education seems irrelevant to this thread, which is about the Detroit school system and its illiterate graduates.

So we have a federal Department of Education that doesn’t educate, and a federal Department of Energy that doesn’t produce any energy. And people call me crazy for being a libertarian.

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

My point is that the criticism of the US Department of Education seems irrelevant to this thread, which is about the Detroit school system and its illiterate graduates.

I agree. If there is a direct nexus between the DoE and the failure of the Detroit schools, I’ll listen; otherwise, this is another digression off topic.

 

[estesbob]

My wife, a teacher, doesn’t know what the DoE does. The two of us don’t give a rat’s…either. She worked for her school district, took orders from her principal, followed her own lesson plans, etc She wasn’t into the politics our GOP posters find so important. She did her work for the children, not for any organization’s glory.

What problems the NYC schools have don’t seem to be the fault of the DoE.

She worked for the children? They didn’t pay her?

This is the problem with these discussions teachers tell us they are in it for the children so the question becomes “then why a union”? And of course when the children end up uneducated theyblame the parents…

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

I agree. If there is a direct nexus between the DoE and the failure of the Detroit schools, I’ll listen; otherwise, this is another digression off topic.

I so apologize. The DoE’s budget is $63 billion.

Here, directly from the ED.gov

ED was created in 1980 by combining offices from several federal agencies. ED’s mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. ED’s 4,200 employees and $63.7 billion budget are dedicated to:

• Establishing policies on federal financial aid for education, and distributing as well as monitoring those funds.
• Collecting data on America’s schools and disseminating research.
• Focusing national attention on key educational issues.
• Prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal access to education.

So, how is it not relevant that a significant portion of the population of a large US metropolitan area is illiterate? Their mission is “promote student achievement” and “foster educational excellence”. It seems to me that the only thing they are doing for your $63 billion is providing equal access to a terrible education.

And while we are on topic, what does your wife’s prior occupation as a teacher in New York have to do with the poor education of students in Detroit? You cast stones, but you are just as guilty of bringing up irrelevant and off topic comments.

 

[Monte_RCMS]

I so apologize. The DoE’s budget is $63 billion.

Here, directly from the ED.gov

ED was created in 1980 by combining offices from several federal agencies. ED’s mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. ED’s 4,200 employees and $63.7 billion budget are dedicated to:

• Establishing policies on federal financial aid for education, and distributing as well as monitoring those funds.
• Collecting data on America’s schools and disseminating research.
• Focusing national attention on key educational issues.
• Prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal access to education.

So, how is it not relevant that a significant portion of the population of a large US metropolitan area is illiterate? Their mission is “promote student achievement” and “foster educational excellence”. It seems to me that the only thing they are doing for your $63 billion is providing equal access to a terrible education.

And while we are on topic, what does your wife’s prior occupation as a teacher in New York have to do with the poor education of students in Detroit? You cast stones, but you are just as guilty of bringing up irrelevant and off topic comments.

How many $ per employee is that???

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

How many $ per employee is that???

If you just divided $/employee, you get around $120,000 per employee. Still doesn’t answer the question. What are we as a country getting for our $63 billion? I say nothing.

 

[iamrefreshed]

If you just divided $/employee, you get around $120,000 per employee. Still doesn’t answer the question. What are we as a country getting for our $63 billion? I say nothing.

So, nearly the whole budget goes to employees?

What a racket!

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

So, nearly the whole budget goes to employees?

What a racket!

I don’t think so. I think some of this budget is for things like educational grants and study projects, etc…

It is still $63 billion that isn’t providing any value to anyone other than the employees when they get their paychecks.

 

[iamrefreshed]

I don’t think so. I think some of this budget is for things like educational grants and study projects, etc…

It is still $63 billion that isn’t providing any value to anyone other than the employees when they get their paychecks.

With salary and benefits it’s pretty close.

 

[Dale_M]

So, how is it not relevant that a significant portion of the population of a large US metropolitan area is illiterate? Their mission is “promote student achievement” and “foster educational excellence”.

So what would you have the US Department of Education do differently to improve Detroit student performance? Are you seriously suggesting greater federal involvement in local schools?

 

[Mystrx]

That’s the sign of the times I’m afraid. Pretty sad. Detroit as well as the entire country better get with it or we’re going to have big trouble some day.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

So what would you have the US Department of Education do differently to improve Detroit student performance? Are you seriously suggesting greater federal involvement in local schools?

Ummm, quite the opposite. SInce this department is utterly failing in its mission, it should be disbanded.

 

[a_priori]

You tell my wife to her face that she is destructive, and that she created the conditions that produced unteachable students.

Point? Are you suggesting that if we give teacher’s unions all they ask for (and vote for in the aggregate) then the quality of education will go up?

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

Point? Are you suggesting that if we give teacher’s unions all they ask for (and vote for in the aggregate) then the quality of education will go up?

Did I suggest giving teachers’ unions everything they ask for?

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Which is why when some counties wanted to drop the R and D after a candidates name, the Democrats rushed to sue, stating that it was the only way that some of their constituents would know who to vote for. Priceless! Democrats acknowledge that a portion of their constituency is ignorant and the only way they can get their vote it by marking it with a clearly identifiable letter.

Do they hold workshops to teach people to recognize the letter “D?”



really, there’s nothing funny about this. When will people take a look at what has been done in the name of …helping people… and voting for more of it???

 

[Elsport1]

I’m not disputing that a large segment of Detroit is functionally illiterate however one must remember that being functionally illiterate allows one to receive a welfare check. Many people claim an inability to read just to receive this check.

 

[Raskolnikov]

I’m not disputing that a large segment of Detroit is functionally illiterate however one must remember that being functionally illiterate allows one to receive a welfare check. Many people claim an inability to read just to receive this check.

Hmmm, I didn’t know that. Maybe Detroiters are smarter that we thought.

 

[Elsport1]

Hmmm, I didn’t know that. Maybe Detroiters are smarter that we thought.

At least that’s what my husband who’s a state trooper told me. Illiteracy and back pain are the most common reasons people in our poor rural Pennsylvania county use to get on welfare…both are quite easy to fake. What is also interesting is that people on welfare, at least in this part of the country, make more money from their welfare check then they would if they got a job at minimum wage.

I often blame our mandatory public schools for the dismal education children receive today in America, however I think the points about how children in other socialist countries, specifically Norway, achieve more than American students are interesting. I personally would love to see govt sponsored education go away in this country but I don’t see that happening very soon; so how do we work within the system we have? Why do kids in Norway do better in school than Americans? I know they don’t start school till they’re 7 or 8 compared to American kids who often are starting school as young as 3 with the majority starting no latter than 5. Perhaps we should rethink early learning equals success?

People were asking what the dept of education does…how about the implementation Bushs’ horrific “no child left behind” policy?