The conditions of the Detroit Public Schools, as well as teacher sickouts, have been brought to light in the news recently. On January 20, the Detroit Free Press reported that 88 Detroit schools were closed due to teacher sickouts. Nine of the district's schools remained open—46,000 children did not go to school.
The problem is not that 46,000 kids lost a day of school. The problem is not that 88 schools were closed in the Detroit district. But, this is what it seems the Detroit officials are focusing on. Not that their buildings have mold, are growing mushrooms from the mold, the overflow of students in classes, rooms that are too hot, rooms that are so cold students need to keep their jackets on, rodents, flooding as a result of the combination of rain and leaky ceilings, among others. Not to mention the teachers' pay continuously being cut and their health care packages becoming more expensive.
Would you want to learn in this environment? Would you want your child to learn in this environment? Do you think it'd be possible to achieve the best possible education in conditions like this? Because I don't.
Would you want to go to work in conditions like that? Would you like your pay to be cut but your responsibilities to increase? I wouldn't.
According to ABC News, Detroit classroom sizes have grown to 45 students per room. I know for a fact that is not just happening in Detroit Public Schools. This is happening around the state. Teachers do not have enough desks for their students. Some students have to find alternate solutions for seating or pull up chairs but do not have desks.
DPS has asked a judge to stop the teacher sickouts and make the teachers report to work, according to CNN. Detroit teachers say "Detroit deserves better."
I'm going to take this a step further and say that all schools deserve better.
Teachers want what is best for their students. I would know—I live with two. These sickouts are not an act of selfishness; they are an act of selflessness. Their students will not thrive in these current conditions. Having to learn in an environment like reported in the Detroit Public Schools, as well as overflowing classrooms throughout the state of Michigan, is not ideal for a child to get an education.
Education should not be a second priority, nor a third or fourth—it should not be anything but first. Learning is a part of growing. It's a part of becoming a successful human being. Students should not have to learn in an environment like that. Teachers should not have to work in an environment like that. Period.
