DetNews RW columnist Nolan Finley: "Death may be best for Detroit Public Schools"

[Bozita]

The game plan has been obvious for some time now, but it's nice to see it in print.

http://detnews.com/article/20100801/OPINION03/8010305#ixzz0vOBEchUQ

Last Updated: August 01. 2010 2:57PM
Nolan Finley
Death may be best for DPS


As they celebrated their victory at the City Council, opponents of school reform cheered, "It's all over!" That shout has a prophetic ring. Not over yet, perhaps, for the Detroit Public Schools. But soon.

With the City Council's refusal to move the issue of mayoral control of the schools toward the November ballot, the district is on course to fall back under the authority of the elected school board.

That means resumption of the incompetence, corruption and mismanagement that has made DPS the worst urban school district in the nation.

Inevitably, the school board will complete the collapse of the Detroit school system. And that may be the best outcome.

The public schools are likely already beyond the tipping point.

'Culture of failure'

Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb is doing heroic work. But he lacks a community mandate to enact his long-term vision -- as evidenced by the caving of the City Council last week before a raucous crowd of reform foes.

Even with more support, and even if the mayor takes control when Bobb leaves in March, it's doubtful the schools can overcome such a deeply imbedded culture of failure.

Better to let the train wreck screech to a finish. Then DPS can be replaced with the network of independent charter schools and private academies that are waiting to take over, with the financial backing of the foundation community.

That is the best hope Detroit children have for getting a quality education.

more...

[Hannah Bell]

1. "Robert Bobb is doing heroic work" = lie. bobb's doing the work of the ruling class,

which is privatize, charterize, union-bust, economic cleansing.

[Royal Oak Rog]

2. Nolan Finley is a Donkey

and Obama is playing a political shell game, "we'll blame the teachers this time"!

[Starry Messenger]

3. Yep, they've been lying to try to save face.

They are getting bolder now. I wonder where Bobb is going in March. I have a bad feeling he's coming to Sacramento.

[Octafish]

4. Game plan has always been to blame the people of Detroit for their socio-economic circumstances.

The conservative mind is always in search of an excuse for its hypocrisy.

[rpannier]

5. What I found quite interesting was not as much the article, but the comments

The phrase, "The political elite..." appears an awful lot in the comments section.

It may be a common phrase used by people in eastern Michigan, I don't know. I'm not from there.
But it seems to be used quite a bit by people who are in support of Noah Finley's article and Robert Bobb.

[Odin2005]

6. We are so fucked.