On a Positive Note with Detroit Public Schools…

Okay, you hear all of the negative things that happen within the Detroit School District on a daily basis right?  Believe me, it’s very difficult as a teacher within the district to work through the politics, mishaps, and inadequate funding woes.  When you know that you’re giving your personal best and you can see progress within your classroom, the constant negative reminders are literally, “a slap in the face.”  I know that DPS is the largest district in the State of Michigan so everything that happens gets magnified 200x.  Is it fair to even use certain statistics when, no matter what we’re being evaluated on, DPS will almost always have the highest numbers when compared to the other districts in Michigan?  There are plenty of good things going on in the district. Not every student is a dropout, not every school is a haven for crime, and there are alumni from Detroit Public Schools who are doing very well in their chosen professions/careers.  Unfortunately, most mediums are always looking for a ”juicy story” and the positive achievements that go on within DPS often gets overshadowed. 

To drive my point home, I have attached a link created by my superintendent, Connie Calloway Ph.D that showcase some of the “good news” from Detroit Public Schools.  Enjoy!

       http://www.detroit.k12.mi.us/docs/2008.06.25_Detroits_Success_Points.pdf