VOL. 47 — NO. 9 JUNE 2009POSTMASTER: All forms 3579 are to be forwarded to Detroit Federation of Teachers, 2875 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202

ALERT!Check the DFT

Website Daily

We need members to stayabreast of union news. Ourcontract is up on July 1 andthe district has little stability.We need our members to beupdated, unified and vocal.The website is updated dailyso visit DFT231.com andstay connected.

Detroiter, 11,is NationalWinner inAcademicGames

When math teachers KarenSimister and Willie Brown gettheir Academic Games team

together to practice, they know it will payoff. The teachers bring back awards eachyear from state and national contests.

But they are up against stiff competitionwithin the district alone. Thirteen DPSteams (four from Cass Tech, five fromBates Academy, and teams from Clippert,Schulze, Hutchins at McMichael, andVernor) competed at the nationals. Thatmeant they practiced at lunch time, afterschool and over spring break.

“We hadto worktwice ashard butthat’sOK,” saidSimister, a31-yearteacher. Itall paidoff. Sixth-graderCamyreaBarnes wasthe ele-mentary

sweepstakes winner in the nationalAcademic Games in April in Ripley, W. Va.Camyrea scored the most points and had thehighest overall score in competitions inlogic, math, language arts, and social stud-ies in the elementary division.“I was sur-prised because I thought kids from Bateswere going to get it,” she said.

Camyrea, a 4.0 student, is being men-tored by Detroit Symphony Orchestra’sviolinist Joseph Striplin, the DSO’s firstAfrican American violinist. To be in suchan exclusive mentorship, Camyrea had toaudition and has played with the DSO fortwo years.

Camyrea also attended the nationalAcademic Games last year as the onlyfifth-grade girl on her school’s team withfour sixth-grade boys.

“My dad told me it doesn’t matter ifpeople talk about you, you still go on.”

Kurtis Brown, left, with teachers Marwan Wright and David Chapman and student Bakari Murrie, 11

Men’s Revolution at Mann SchoolIt’s been almost 20 years, and Detroit

teacher Kurtis Brown is still wrappinghis head around it. It is the drive-by

shooting and death of his younger brotherat the age of 16.

“I couldn’t sleep for a year,” Brown,38, says. At the time of his brother’sdeath, Brown was 19 and entering hissecond year at college. His brother, near-ing football stardom at Henry Ford HighSchool and a dynamic kid, was killed bysomeone he had never met. The chanceconditions are something Brown hasplayed over in his mind for years.

Why is life so cheap, he wondered?And what can I do to stop this destruc-tion in my community? At lunch atMann Elementary School on the westside, the computer teacher and his col-leagues always returned to the same con-versation.

“We ate lunch together every day andthe topic, over sports, over everythingelse, was how we can have a more posi-tive influence on our society,” Brownsaid. Soon Brown and seven colleagueslaunched a lunchtime program with 24

boys called Young Black Men Excelling.They meet on Thursdays for formal

and informal talks on leadership, disci-pline and responsibility. Primarily, theywant to change the way black men areperceived as being unreliable and unmoti-vated. They want to teach young men tobe responsible for their success and theirfamilies.

“At one time we had seven or eightblack men at this school who came towork every day,” Brown said. “All ofthem had master’s degrees. Even thoughwe were from similar places, we all haddifferent personalities, different routes toget where we are. We had a variety ofrole models for the kids to see.”

For Brown, he wants to be what he did-n’t have — a reliable and present father.

“I knew what it was like waiting formy father to pick me up and being disap-pointed when he didn’t show up,” Brownsaid. “I think quality time equals quantitytime. How can you have quality if it’sonly once a month?”

Brown, the father of two young girls,doesn’t feel a burden taking care of peo-

ple, even though at 19 he had to make allthe funeral arrangements for his brother.

“I relish having the responsibility ofbeing the one who’s depended on.”Winner Camyrea Barnes

and teacher KarenSimister.

U.S. Secretary of Education ArneDuncan visited Detroit on May 13,nearly three months after saying thathe was “losing sleep” over the qualityof education in Detroit Public Schools.

The DFT responded with a

poignant letter to Mr. Duncan askinghim to meet with the leadership andmembership to get a real understand-ing of the challenges we face as weprovide a quality education to the stu-dents in our charge. Of course, Mr.Duncan did not respond nor accom-modate our request. Nonetheless hedid make an appearance in Detroitand I did have the opportunity tospend some time meeting with himand other local leaders.

An old adage suggests that a littleinformation can be a dangerous thing;such is the case with Mr. Duncan.What little he knows about Detroithas prompted him to call our schooldistrict a “national disgrace,” amoniker that is neither accurate nordeserved.

While Mr. Duncan was here, hepaid a visit to Cody High School andhad a most enlightening roundtablediscussion with several Cody seniors,who by the way were extremelyimpressive. But he did not visit aclassroom or engage in any dialoguewith a Cody teacher.

He talks about Detroit accountingfor more than half of the nation’sdropouts, which is mathematicallyimpossible even if all 95,000 plusDPS students were to all drop out ofschool at the same time. When Mr.Duncan wants to make a point aboutDetroit, like so many others, heembellishes and exaggerates the nega-tives while ignoring the total truth.

Detroit educators deserve better thanwhat we are receiving from the secre-tary. While none of us are happy withthe performance of our students interms of graduation rates, test scores,etc., we also know that there are thou-sands of success stories in DPS.

While the cameras and reporterssurrounded Mr. Duncan on his visitthat morning, neither Mr. Duncan northe media bothered to come to theRiverview Ballroom at Cobo Centerthat evening to witness 384 of ourgraduating seniors. These seniorshave maintained a 3.5 or better GPA,scored at least 21 on the ACT, andexhibited exemplary academic andbehavioral performance. Theyreceived Academic ExcellenceAwards and honored some of theirteachers as Outstanding Educators

KeithJohnson

(ISSN 0011 - 9 6 9 5 )

The Detro i t Teacher is the off i-cial publication of the Detro i tFederation of Teachers,American Federation of TeachersLocal 231, AFL-CIO. Member o fthe Union Teacher Pre s sAssociat ion, InternationalLabor Pre s s Association andMichigan Labor Pre s s .

The Detro i t Teacher is publishedmonthly, except for July andAugust, for $4 per year by TheDetroit Federation of Teachers,2 8 7 5 W. Grand Blvd., Detro i t ,MI 48202. Periodical PostagePaid at Detroit, MI.

POSTMASTER: Send addre s schanges to The Detro i t Teacher,2 8 7 5 W. Grand Blvd., Detro i t ,MI 48202.

Editor — Margaret Weert z

who made a difference in their lives.These students are receiving mil-

lions of dollars in scholarships andhave been accepted to universitiessuch as Harvard, Columbia,Michigan, Purdue, Notre Dame, MITand other prestigious universitiesacross the state and country. Whilethese students are not the rule, theyare far more than the exception.

There is no denying the fact that wehave a lot of work to do to improveeducation in Detroit Public Schools.We must review and embrace innova-tive approaches to delivering instruc-tion and addressing the challengesfacing our students. However Mr.Duncan needs to review the backyardhe left to go to Washington. Chicagoschools are still experiencing their

own challenges and collectively theyare faring no better than Detroit.Chicago has a graduation rate of justabout 51 percent, and that is afterseven years of leadership under Mr.Duncan. While that figure representsa 7 percent increase, that is only 1percent a year – a figure we can easi-ly match and surpass.

We are not, never have been andnever will be a national disgrace as acity or as a school district. But unlikeMr. Duncan and others of his ilk, wewill never attempt to pad our ownimage by making disparaging remarksabout others, without first getting anunderstanding of what their needs areand how we can help them.

We are DPS and we are better thanthat.

Page 2 The Detroit Teacher June 2009

President’s Report

DUNCAN’S COMMENT OFF BASEU.S. Secretary of Education calls DPS a “National Disgrace”

DFT President Keith Johnson held two meetings in May to address issueswith school closings.

At the Detroit News, It’s No Show Nolan

It was a slow news day when wevisited the Detroit News EditorialBoard on a Wednesday in April.

No planes falling out of skies. Noassassinations. The meeting wasscheduled a month in advance.

The Detroit Federation of Teachersleadership was looking forward tofinally having a dialogue with theperson who can’t seem to find agood thing to write about in Detroit’s200 schools, about its 95,000 stu-dents, and least of all, its 5,500teachers.

A meeting scheduled a month inadvance. Still editor Nolan Finley,with his myopic, apparently un-changeable world view, couldn’tmanage to attend the meeting.Maybe news editors, unlike teachers,have three-hour, two-martini lunch-es. We waited 90 minutes and NolanFinley was a no show.

Simply put, Nolan Finley can dishit out but he can’t take it.

We told the reporters who coveredfor him how disappointed we werethat Mr. Finley, who only writes neg-atively about us, didn’t show up.

“Oh I’m sure he’s disappointedtoo,” a News reporter said. Why is itOK to finesse us? Why is it OK todiss the teachers who are in thetrenches and the mainstay of educa-tion in Detroit? And then not evenface them when you have a standingappointment?

And what about the News’ in-the-box thinking on everything? Takemerit pay. Do they have ANY otherreform ideas besides merit pay or isthat the only one? It’s hard to imag-ine that teachers will give morebecause there’s a monetary incentive.Do they really think teachers areholding back their talent and enthusi-asm for the day they get better pay?

If it’s such a great idea, why does-n’t the News propose merit payacross Michigan? Why is it not a ral-

lying cry in their editorials for teach-ers in Bloomfield and Livonia,Grosse Pointe and Warren?

Speaking of its support of meritpay, its opposition to seniority, andits indignation over budget deficits,perhaps the Detroit News should putits money where its mouth is. Tobecome solvent as a business and amore current news source, why does-n’t the News get rid of those cur-mudgeons who oversee the editorialpage? Apparently, they haven’t beenin the schools (or the real world) inyears while they sit within blocks ofDetroit schools?

How about hiring some new,diverse columnists who might actual-ly reflect the makeup of the metro-politan area? Let’s start by gettingrid of seniority at the News. It mightbe bad for Nolan Finley, but greatfor the rest of us.

It looks like the Detroit Newscould use a little reform itself.

June 2009 The Detroit Teacher Page 3

Retirements Announced

The following DFT members haveannounced their retirements: LorettaWood, Richard Slade, MarcelleBrown and Chalonie Hoelscher. If youhave retired in the last six months andwould like it announced, please callthe editor at 313-875-3500 ext. 776.

Chapter Chairs to be Elected

Notice to DFT chapters: You mustelect your chapter chairs by the endof this school year. Send in the namesof the new chairs to HollySabotchick, assistant to the president,ASAP so they may take effect inSeptember.

UUppddaatteess......

EASTER BASKETS FOR ALLThe students in Earlene Carter’s second-grade class at LovingElementary School received Easter baskets April 9, thanks to her sis-ters in the Order of the Easter Star Adah Chapter 125 in Detroit. Thesisters donated 25 baskets heaping with treats and toys. Carter ispictured above far right with her students.

Detroit Students Exhibit Art at DIAThe Detroit Institute of Arts showcased more than 200 pieces of art-work produced by Detroit Public School students in a special exhibitduring May. The stunning and skillful pieces, including puppets, ceram-ics, watercolor and oils, beg the question: Who teaches these kidssuch techniques? Answer: Detroit Public School Art Teachers.Pictured above, Roberto Clemente art teacher Frank Squeo and sec-ond-grader Joseph Quinterros.

DFT Members Must Update Information

This is a contract year. The union must update its database with currentaddresses and telephone numbers in order to keep members informed.Even if you have updated your address and other information with the dis-trict, you must also notify the union of these changes. Mail this info byJune 12 to the DFT, by fax (313-875-3511) phone (313-875-3500) or mail:2875 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202.

Name:_______________________________________________________________

File #: _______________________________________________________________

New home address:___________________________________________________

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Email address :________________________________________________________

Telephone:___________________________________________________________

Cell or home (circle)___________________________________________________

Birney Students Learnfrom High School LeadersBy Samele Ambrose

The Birney Elementary SchoolStudent Council attended theCity Wide Council Meeting

April 22 to learnfrom high schoolstudent leadersacross the district.Birney students tookthe DOT bus toBreithaupt to attendthe meeting. Birneysent 25 studentsfrom kindergartenthrough sixth grade,and their advisors,Samele Ambroseand Arlice Nobles.

Our elementary students wereexcited to be in the presence of highschool students. The students weregreeted by Council President SonaeBurks and Vice President DouglasBrooks, who briefed them on the pro-cedures and protocol for the meeting.

The students witnessed a very wellorganized City Wide Student Councilmeeting and saw Roberts Rules ofOrder being implemented. Our stu-dents were very impressed and lookforward to student council activitieswhen they reach middle school.

NAACP Youth Program DirectorLatonya Henry talked about themany programs and activities they

offer for students ages 12-18.Leaders from the DPS Social

Studies Department talked about thelack of medical services and cleanwater, and the need for improved liv-

ing conditions for the residents ofDakfar, Africa.

The students watched the video“The Promise,” written by highschool students from Danberry,Connecticut, who are encouraging allhigh school students to participate ina Dimes for Africa fundraiser. Themonies will be given to the organiza-tion Doctors without Borders who aregiving their time and medical expert-ise to the residents of Dakfar, Africa.

When we returned to Birney, ourpublic relations representative, first-grader Yaiqab Johnson, made a schoolwide public address report of thiswonderful trip.

Page 4

The Detroit Federation of Teachers took an historic step by leading aunion-driven workshop day focused on reform models initiated by localunions across the country.The workshop educated teachers about reformmodels so they can make informed decisions.

Teachers and union leaders from New York, Chicago, California,Washington, D.C. and Ohio convened in Detroit to introduce ways Detroitmight reform its schools amid a siphoning of students and a severelydepressed economy.

Sharing the stage with DFT President Keith Johnson was AFTPresident Randi Weingarten, Emergency Financial Manager RobertBobb, Acting Superintendent Teresa Gueyser, Chief Academic OfficerBarbara Byrd-Bennett, and AFT Michigan President David Hecker, aswell as other DPS union chiefs.

Johnson told the 6,000 teachersand administrators assembled thateither the DFT finds reform models itcan embrace or it will be left out of thediscussion on the reform of Detroiteducation.

“In order for us to improve, we musthave reform,” Johnson said. Teachersneed to be in on the discussion andnot “dictated to.” Taking a first step, theDFT brought in models of pay differen-tiation, peer review, school redesignand school based decision makingthat were initiated by unions across thecountry.

“How many schools have beenturned around by blaming a teacher?”Weingarten asked. “How many kidshave seen success by blaming a teacher?”Weingarten said it is common,but not right, that teachers are blamed for all the ills in society.

“There is no one who knows better what works in education than thosewho walk the walk,” she said.Weingarten says the most important path toschool reform is through collaboration. She said we need to stop talkingabout “accountability” and start talking about “shared responsibility.”Johnson called the historic day a success.

“I was overwhelmed with, number one, the turnout and, number two,the reception we received,” Johnson said about May 26. “That was verymoving.”

Randi Weingarten

Detroit TeachersAttend HistoricUnion-Led Workshop

Page 5

Gompers Celebrates Magic of MotownEvery student got into theact May 5 when GompersElementary School cele-brated the Magic andMusic of Motown. WhileDetroit celebrates 50years of Motown, ourschools are exposing stu-dents to a historic musicalera they didn’t know. AtGompers, even the fathershad an act, performingMarvin Gaye’s “What’sGoin’ On.” Pictured belowwith students are musicteacher Johna Treadwelland third-grade teacherDolly Osandusky.

TH

E

Renaissance High SchoolYearbook Wins HonorsBy Lillie Gladney

The Renaissance High School yearbook staff has been recognized by TaylorPublishing with an Award of Excellence honoring its accomplishment in yearbookdesign and coverage. In honor of the hard work produced by the Renaissance HighSchool yearbook staff, the cover is featured in the 2009 Yearbook Yearbook.Renaissance’s yearbook advisor is Pamela Daniels-Nichols, pictured above.

Work from Renaissance will be seen and used as a standard of excellence by year-book advisors, editors and designers across the entire United States.

Each year, Taylor recognizes less than 10 percent of yearbook programs with thishonor. Featured yearbooks are selected by an independent panel of judges who look attheme concept, page designs, photography, secondary packages and covers.

“Having Renaissance High School featured in Yearbook Yearbook is an award withrewards,” education specialist Judi Coolidge said. “Your outstanding work offers inspi-ration to thousands of other students who aspire to your level of excellence.”

Creating Chemists for the Future

By Demetria Hoskins, Science Teacher

Detroit PublicSchools studentscompeted in the

regional YOU be theChemist Challenge onMarch 19. The competi-tion was held at NextEnergy in Detroit andsponsored by PVS-Norwood Chemicals ofDetroit.

Mary McLeod BethuneAcademy’s team —Charles Fonkeng, ZhaneHibbit, Cierra Huston,Brianna Sanders, andShanice Schley — con-sisted of three seventh-graders for the ChemistryChallenge and two eighth-graders for the ChemistryDemonstrations.

After six rounds of chemistry-based questions and one final elimination round, Zhane Hibbit placed second inthis competition. Zhane prepared for the state competition in Midland on May 2 at Dow Chemical.

What makes this accomplishment remarkable is that Zhane and her twoteammates, Cierra Huston and Brianna Sanders, were given the study mate-

rials 12 days before the competition. Idebated about entering the contest becauseof the time constraints but AlyciaMeriweather, DPS Middle School Science

Supervisor, encouraged me to allowthem the opportunity to try.

These students made note cardsand flash cards, played hang-man,studied at home and on their lunch

breaks, and proved to me, and moreimportantly themselves, that they wereup for the challenge.

I am so proud of them because Iknew when I asked the students and their families to do this that it was an extremely large task to tackle.

The Bethune Academy team was supported by Ms. Leticia Givens (Writing Teacher), Assistant Principal AliciaColquitt, and parents. In the end, eliminated competitors rooted for Zhane as well. We are DPS!

The complete list of winners: 1. Antashe Howard (Hally). 2. Zhane Hibbit (Bethune).3. Yaw Wiafe Akenten (A.L. Holmes). Alternate: Roy Soto (Phoenix Academy).

Radio DJ Coco Honors Schulze Students

Detroit radio personality Coco quit hangingaround people who didn’t think she wasfunny.

“You’re funny,” some of her friends said,“but you ain’t funny funny.” Good bye.

Coco wanted to be a comedienne. Andthose loved ones weren’t going to stand in theway of her stand-up routine. The former nursehas been a comedienne for 12 years and canbe heard on FM98 WJLB.

Coco visited Schulze Elementary SchoolMay 12 for a celebration of 66 students whoperformed well on the MEAP, thanks to pro-gram organizer and computer teacher Carole

Lenton. She told parents that kids see everything.“When I was growing up my mom was 50,” she said. “It was do as I say, not as I do. I think we live in

a different time now. If you want your kids reading, let them see you reading.”To the Magnificent Meapers, she told them to enjoy youth because it slips by.“That’s what happened to me, I went to bed at 10 and woke up at 46.”

Detroit comedienne Coco, left, with teacher CaroleLenton, right, and star students.

Special education teacher Robin Bush knows a standoutwhen she sees one. Angela Owusu, 13, is such a student.

“She reads on a ninth-grade level,” says Bush, a teacher at A.L. Holmes K-8 School. Beyondthat, Angela seems to revel in competition.

“I like Angela because she motivates the other kids,” says Bush, a 15-year teacher. At a bowl-ing excursion, the other kids lamented competing with Angela. “We already know who’s goingto win — Angela,” they told Bush. “I said, ‘You don’t know that.’”

Angela gets on the computer to find an answer. She reads chapter books and has worked allyear on her writing. Now her concern is where she’ll go to high school.

But those concerns were shadowed by a balmy day May 15. Angela and hundreds of otherDetroit students competed in the Special Olympics at Renaissance High School.

“This is a wonderful day because they can compete against each other and themselves,” Bushsaid. “They’re real competitors.”

g Chemists e Future

e final elimination round, Zhane Hibbit placed second inon in Midland on May 2 at Dow Chemical.s accomplishment remarkable is that Zhane and her twoa Huston and Brianna Sanders, were given the study mate-

rials 12 days before the competition. Idebated about entering the contest becauseof the time constraints but AlyciaMeriweather, DPS Middle School Science

Supervisor, encouraged me to allowthem the opportunity to try.

These students made note cardsand flash cards, played hang-man,studied at home and on their lunch

breaks, and proved to me, and moreimportantly themselves, that they wereup for the challenge.

I am so proud of them because I this that it was an extremely large task to tackle.

eticia Givens (Writing Teacher), Assistant Principal Alicias rooted for Zhane as well. We are DPS!

s: 1. Antashe Howard (Hally). 2. Zhane Hibbit (Bethune). Holmes). Alternate: Roy Soto (Phoenix Academy).

Pasteur Hosts Curriculum Carnival

Games galore. That is, science, math, social studiesand language games. Games were the highlight ofthe Curriculum Carnival at Pasteur Elementary

School May 15.Oh, there was a clown, a face painter and popcorn too.

But playing mind games with the family was the real focus.Hundreds of students and parents poured into Pasteur on aFriday night in May. They wanted to be part of the fun.

“We’re trying to open up the school to the parents andstudents to show them how to help their children with dif-ferent subjects,” said science teacher Tracy King. “Insteadof watching TV, they can sit down and do games toenhance learning.”

King and language arts teacher Nina Harris helped planthe event, with an eye toward showing the community thestrengths of the school, which regularly meets AdequateYearly Progress.

“We’re trying to bring back the students, reach out intoour community,” Harris said. Pasteur is a Skillman GoodSchool, and is funded by a Skillman grant. Part of thosemonies went to designing 35 curriculum boards that linedthe gym. The boards follow the Michigan curriculumguidelines and serve as board games too.

The teachers were happy to re-establish the curriculumnight and it was a clear success.

“This is a good way to bring parents out.”

Students from A. L. Holmes were among the hun-dreds competing in Special Olympics. At right arestudent Angela Owusu and teacher Robin Bush.

Fierce Competitors at Special Olympics

Teachers Nina Harris and Tracy Kinghelped coordinate the CurriculumCarnival.

Page 8 The Detroit Teacher May 2009

What Success Looks Like at Clark For Detroit attorney Jerome

Watson, the keys to success arespecific.

“If you want to be a lawyer, youhave to read two hours a night,”Watson, an attorney with MillerCanfield, told students at ClarkElementary School on the east side.

Books, magazines, newspapers —

it doesn’t matter, Watson said. Butread you must. It’s not enough to say,“Reach for your dreams, work hard.”It’s all in the specifics. So teachers atClark brought in dozens of expertsover two days to talk specifics.

Clark students were exposed toreal-life physicians, carpenters, pas-tors, firefighters and attorneys at aschool-wide Career Day. A new

teacher commit-tee to bring freshprograms to theschool convenedthis year when agroup of formercolleagues foundthemselves atClark. Reunited,they formed aprogram commit-tee and put on aHarlemRenaissance playduring BlackHistory Monthand other events.

“They didn’thave a lot of pro-grams going,”

said Shellina Dearing, kindergartenteacher and one of the Career Dayorganizers. “And we’re used to work-ing.” The teachers had the school andstudents polished for the event.

Watson went through the class, ask-ing students what jobs they’d like to

Teachers Shellina Dearing, Dennis King, Gwendolyn Peoples and DetroitFire Lt. Gerod Funderburg.

Carpenter David King uses a level to show studentsabout carpentry.

do. He carefully listened, then toldthem the areas they need to be strong.

“You have to come to schoolevery single day to learn math,” hesaid. “If you shoot a thousand freethrows, eventually you’ll get better.That’s the same way with math.”

Cinco de Mayo Parade at Bennett – Bennett Elementary School in southwest Detroit celebrated the regional Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayowith a parade around the school May 5. Students, staff and parents dressed for the occasion to celebrate the Mexican defeat of French forcesat the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

Bennett Elementary Celebrates Cinco de Mayo

present PowerPoint.When Barak Obama urged

Americans to help their communities,Tillman and her colleagues askedwhat they could do. Since Dossin isone of the schools that presents atMACUL (Michigan Association forComputer Users and Learning), theteachers knew what they could give.

“Our whole staff wanted to helpthe community learn technology,”said Tillman, a 15-year teacher. Thestaff is on one page with technology.

“We have no weak links,”Tillman said. “Even our gymteacher is a techie.” When anew member comes on staff,she doesn’t have to be atechie, but she does have to bewilling to learn. Then the stafftrains the teacher.

Though the school receiveda $50,000 Skillman grantspanning three years, theschool doesn’t have state-of-the-art equipment. However,they have state-of-the-artteachers and students.

“If you go to colleges, all the kidsare on Blackboard,” said teacherKatie Devaney. “All the kids doPowerPoint.

“We’re not trying just to keep upwith kids in the suburbs, we’re com-peting with China.”

May 2009 The Detroit Teacher Page 9

Walking Toward a Cure forAutism at Marcus GarveyBy Evelyn Holmes

The ASD preschool students at Marcus Garvey Academy in the classrooms ofEvelyn Holmes and Susan Dropiewski are meeting their goals and objectives (speechand language development, oral motor skills, imitative play, etc.) as well as bringingawareness of autism outside of the classroom. ASD teacher Evelyn Holmes plannedan art project for students and parents for the month of April to celebrate AutismAwareness Month. “We owe it to our students to help bring awareness of this rapid-ly growing pervasive development disorder to the general population,” Holmes said.

Local artist Terry Johnson, who was a major participant in painting the BEAUTI-FUL postal scene mural in the Main Post Office on Fort Street in Detroit, did nothesitate to participate in the Autism Awareness Month project.

Johnson painted the gym shoes ofstudents and staff members from bothclasses with the Autism Ribbon. Theywill wear their shoes on school out-ings. As you can see, Terry Johnson isa gifted artist and did a fantastic job!Stop by the Main Post Office andview the life-like postal scene muralin the lobby. The details of the muralare incredible. You may contact Mr.Johnson at terry@ruinyourigno-rance.com. Thanks Terry!

If you’re a little rusty with PowerPoint or Excel or you want tolearn Garage Band, Dossin

Elementary School is the place tolearn it.

Dossin, a 21st Century School ofTechnology, opened its doors to par-ents, grandparents and neighbors tocome in and build their computerskill set. But the community mem-bers didn’t learn from the tech-savvyteachers on the day-long seminar ontechnology.

No, elementary students taught allof the 32 sessions, ranging fromMicrosoft Publishing to iMovie toBlackboard.

“I feel so much pride that they cando it,” said media teacher SylviaTillman, after watching a third-grader

Technology teachers Sylvia Tillman andAngelita Davis

Barsamian Prep CenterBuilds Better AttitudesChristina Dunn

thought she’dmeet tough

kids when sheentered BarsamianPrepatory Center. Butthe alternative highschool in the NewCenter area surprisedher.

“I’m about to haveall these crazy kidswho did bad things topeople,” Christinasaid. In reality, the former office build-ing is well lit and furnished and hasabout 100 students. “It’s easier to learnmore here.”

The students have been kicked out ofcomprehensive high schools for behav-ior violations like assaulting staff, gangfights, possessing firearms, criminalsexual conduct, or selling illegal sub-stances. At Barsamian they get a sec-ond chance. They have five weeks ofviolence prevention education andlearn how to better their attitudes.

Those serious violations, however,don’t mean the students aren’t brightwith top grades.

Demarius Chrite, for example, car-ries a 3.8 gpa, got a 26 on the ACT,and writes the school newspaperalmost single-handedly.

Antoine Heath has a 4.0 gpa and is

thriving at Barsamian.“There’s less drama here,” Antoine

says. “It’s not enough people here soit’s easy to get along with people.”

French teacher Joann Olivache saysthe students stay for a year, then peti-tion the student code office to get backinto a comprehensive high school.

“But they don’t want to leave,”Olivache says. “They love it here. It’s asmall environment. Everybody knowseverybody. One door you go in andone you go out.”

Barsamian’s success might under-score the need for smaller high schoolsin Detroit. The top students atBarsamian seem to think so.

“The other schools are too big,”Christina says. “There are too manykids, especially kids who don’t want tolearn and are messing it up.”

Detroit Teachers Rally in the Rain — Torrential rains didn’t hold backDetroit teachers from rallying to have our voices heard April 30 infront of the Fisher building. Teachers want the Detroit PublicSchools administration to know that we didn’t cause the currentbudget deficit. Detroit teacher pay is in the bottom 10 of 83 dis-tricts in the metropolitan area, despite some of the most tryingwork conditions in the country. DFT President Keith Johnson saidthe union gave concessions in 2006 so the district could get itsfinances in order. Obviously, that didn’t happen. “We have nothingleft to give,” Johnson said.

Dossin ElementaryHolds Tech Out Day

Page 10 The Detroit Teacher May, 2008

WHY DO I STAY HERE? ——

— DETROIT TEACHERS SPEAK UP —

YOUTEACHERS!

By Thomas E.Van HulleOsborn HighSchool

Have youeverheard

that? Or haveyou ever “felt”that sentiment?

Well it’s true; we teachers stand forsomething that often conflicts with

administration. Okay, this is not goingto be just another anti-administrationarticle, but I did hear that statementthis year — YOU TEACHERS! Itwas offered with such disgust. It wasso pejorative and pious. It was utteredby an administrator.

But not so fast…Now, rumor has it that Mr. Bobb

wants to eliminate some administrativepositions. Oops! I wonder if union pro-tection is still such a bad idea for theseadministrators. I recall this happenedabout seven years ago when many cur-riculum leaders were sent to the class-room. You have never seen such anunhappy group. Of the three assignedto my school that year, one was a goodteacher, but the other two were justhorrible to the students and other teach-

We Don’t Need More Schools, Just Fix the Ones We HaveBy Virginia WhiteheadFinney High School teacher

As a parent of four children whohave all graduated from DPS,and a DPS employee, I’d like

to respond to Mr. Alvin Sims state-ment in last month’s Detroit Teacherconcerning the need for the creation offour alternative high schools.

Even though I agree with some ofthe statements he made concerning thestudents and the teacher’s workingenvironment i.e., recycling AT (admin-istrative transfer) students from build-ing to building, and teachers having tolock their classroom doors, I disagreewith his solution. In my opinion, we

need to “fix” thehigh schools wehave.

I presentlywork in a highschool whereone third of theceiling panels inthe room aremissing and thetwo-thirds thatare left are waterstained. In the rear of my room is astack of old out-dated Spanish books,which no one uses since the Spanishteacher retired years ago (these highschool students receive no foreign lan-guage before graduating).

Virginia Whitehead

ers. One was so disgruntled, the princi-pal found a promotion for her just toget her out of the building. Call menegative, but too often aspiring admin-istrators are poor teachers. It seems asif they couldn’t wait to get out of theclassroom. But watch their changingattitude as new DFT members.

If administrators go back to theclassroom, they won’t mind seniority,if they have it. They won’t mind col-lective bargaining. They’ll take thepay and benefits. They’ll even com-plain about the district’s inability torecruit and maintain substitutes.

They won’t like losing their prepa-ration period to cover another classand they also won’t blame themselvesfor using sick days. They will liketheir duty-free schedule. They will

like their uninterrupted lunch. Andwhat about the P.A. system they wereonce so eager to use? I'm sure theywill now consider it an interruption ofinstruction.

I bet many will think their lessonplans are for them and need not be“approved” by someone else. I betdiscipline problems will be more ofan issue – even the “out of seat” or“tapping on desk” referrals.

We teachers welcome all into ourunion. But please don’t forget us, thereal educators, when a new superin-tendent or initiative comes around andyou find yourself finally out of theclassroom. After all, when THAT whimchanges, we’ll still be here for you!

Stand fast DFT, education needsyou most!

The students comment frequentlyabout the room and their ceiling andhow no one cares about them. It’s nowonder they are angry and disruptive.

While the creation of four alternativeschools may “sound” good, I don’tknow if opening more schools whilethe district is threatening to CLOSE 50,makes good fiscal sense. Why not takethe money you’ll need to open moreand use it to create a “sensible learningenvironment” in the schools youalready have? Why not wire the roomsfor computers, and fix the intercomsystem? Why not bring our schools upto the standard of those in the suburbs?

We have a ZERO TOLERANCEpolicy on violence and I feel the

administration and the teachers goabove and beyond to do everythingthey possibly can to help studentslearn in spite of the condition of the“physical plant.” But I also feel that ifour schools were updated, our studentscould compete with the best of them.

Sure that’s not going to solve all thedisruptive behaviors that go on inschools because a lot of those comefrom the home and there’s nothing wecan do about that, but if you’re work-ing in an environment that couldpotentially be unsafe, the teacher feelsbad and if the teacher feels bad, thestudents are going to feel bad as well.

Open more, I think not. Fix the onesyou already have!

It’s all about DeJuan. When artteacher Peggy Collrin thinks shecan’t go to work, she thinks about

DeJuan. “There are times I’m very dis-couraged,” says Collrin, who teaches atthe Detroit Day School for the Deaf.

“You know how difficult it is toteach in Detroit. You have to gothrough layers and layers of adminis-trative stuff to do simple things forkids. Sometimes I just don’t want toget up. But I think if DeJuan can showup, what do I have to complainabout?”

DeJuan is deaf and mostly blind. Ontop of that he has health issues. ButCollrin, a Detroit teacher for 34 years,says he is her biggest teacher in life.

“He uses every moment he has toenjoy life. He looks forward to having ajob one day.” Collrin has knownDeJuan since he was a healthy pre-

schooler, before a serious diseasekicked in. A couple of years ago, hewas not doing well.

“I had to come back to work toknow he was still here,” Collrin says.Today DeJuan’s health is stable.

Like so many Detroit teachers,Collrin pours herself into her job. Sheis endlessly writing grants to buildnew programs at the school. She sub-mits student artwork to the DetroitInstitute of Arts, where eight of herstudents work was at a level highenough to be exhibited in the juriedStudent Exhibition.

Collrin is a mother of three adultsand two grandchildren. After 34 years,she will need to take care of her ownhealth and family. But leaving DeJuanand the Detroit Day School is an emo-tional and difficult decision she is put-ting off for one more day.Detroit teacher Peggy Collrin and student DeJuan Carter

May, 2009 The Detroit Teacher Page 11

Please visit the

New DFT Web site

www.DFT231.com

DFT officials and more than 50DFT members spent a day inLansing May 13 lobbying

state legislators on issues important toDetroit. Turns out, we had a little helpfrom our friends.

Teachers from across the statedealing with charter schools in theirbackyards attended the event andvehemently questioned lawmakerson the unequal treatment of char-ters.

Why aren’t charters on the lists offailing schools, when so many ofthem are clearly not the panacea theypromised?

Why are charter school students ableto return to a public school midyear,without the money following?

One educator, also a parent of anautistic child, said she intervieweddozens of charter schools and nonewould take her child.

During a panel discussion, the edu-cators turned up the heat on four law-makers — State Senators RonJelinek, R-Three Oaks, WayneKuipers, R-Holland, MickeySwitalski, D-Roseville, and GretchenWhitmer, D-East Lansing.

Mike Pumford, education lobbyistand former Lansing lawmaker, toldthe 400 teachers present that more ofthem ought to run for state govern-ment “and take back this city.”Teachers need to return the discussionto quality education.

“You show me a school that ischallenged and I’ll show you a chal-lenged community,” Pumford said.

Multiply the room by a hundred,Pumford said, and a single charterschool operator gives more money tostate lawmakers than all those peoplecombined. Is it any wonder, Pumfordsaid, that charters have an ear inLansing?

Notice Regarding Union SecurityAgreements and Agency Fee Objections

As a general matter, employees covered by a collective bargaining agree-ment containing a union security clause (such as Article 4, sections A-C of theDFT-Detroit Board of Education collective bargaining agreement) are required,as a condition of employment, to pay an agency fee equal to normal uniondues. While the wording of these clauses is not perfectly uniform, none requiremore than the payment of this agency fee to retain employment.

Under the DFT’s current policy on agency fees, employees who are notmembers of the union but who pay agency fees pursuant to a Union securityclause may request a reduction in that fee based on their objection to certainkinds of Union expenditures. Such persons are termed “objectors.” Employeeswho do not elect Union membership or wish to terminate same shall notify theUnion President in writing. Non-members are not eligible to attend Union meet-ings, run for Union office, serve as building representatives, vote on ratificationof the collective bargaining agreement or participate in special benefits formembers.

The DFT agency fee year runs from October 1 to September 30 of each year.

Briefly stated, the DFT’s agency fee procedure works as follows:

1. The agency fee payable by objectors will be based on the DFT’s expendi-tures for those activities or projects normally or reasonable undertaken bythe Union to represent the employees in the bargaining unit with respect totheir terms and conditions of employment.

Among these “chargeable” expenditures are those for negotiations with theemployer and employing departments, enforcing collective bargaining agree-ments, informal meetings with representatives of the employer or employingdepartments, discussion of work-related issues with employees, handlingemployees’ work-related problems through the grievance procedure, administra-tive agencies or informal meetings and union administration. In the past, approx-imately 85 percent of the DFT’s expenditures have gone for such activities.Reflected in this percentage is the chargeable portion of the affiliation fees (percapita) paid to AFT Michigan and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

Among the expenditures treated as “non-chargeable,” which objectors willnot be required to support, are those for community service, legislative activityunrelated to wages, hours of working conditions of represented employees,certain public relations activities, support of political candidates, cost of affilia-tion with organizations (and unions) other than the AFT and AFT Michigan andmembers-only benefits. In the past, approximately 15 percent of the DFT’sexpenditures have gone for such “non-chargeable” activities.The percentage ofthe AFT’s expenditures on “non-chargeable” activities has been generallybetween 20-25 percent and 6 percent of the AFT Michigan’s expenditures.

2. Those fee payers who file timely objections will be given a full written expla-nation (“report”) of the basis for the reduced fee charged to them.The reportwill include a more detailed list of the categories of expenditures deemed tobe “chargeable” and those deemed to be “non-chargeable,” and the inde-pendent certified public accountants’ report showing the Union’s expendi-tures on which the fee is based. Objectors will have the option of challeng-ing the union’s calculation of the reduced fee before an arbitrator, pursuantto the AAA Rules of Impartial Determination of Union Fees. Details on themethod of making such a challenge and the rights accorded to those whodo so are found in the DFT’s current policy on agency fee objections, a copyof which will be provided to objectors along with the report.

3. Written objections must be received by DFT by September 30 of each year.Agency fee payers who are new to the bargaining unit may object within 30days of receiving this notice, either in the new employee packet or in theDetroit Teacher (where necessary, retroactive to the commencement of theirunion security obligation and for the duration of the current agency fee year)and employees who resign union membership may object within 30 days oftheir resignation. Employees filing late objections for either of these reasonsshould so indicate in their letter of objection.

4. The letter of objection should include the employee’s name, address, andschool at which employed. Objections must be sent to: Agency FeeObjection c/o DFT, 2875 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202.

Charter OversightQuestioned at

Lobby Day 2009

All meetings will be held at 2875 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, unlessotherwise noted. Dates and times are subject to change. TheDFT telephone number is 313-875-3500.

JUNE1 Executive Board Meeting, 4:30 p.m.4 General Membership Meeting, 4:30 p.m.5 Building Representatives Dinner at the

Doubletree Hotel, 4:30 p.m.8 School Social Workers, 3:45 p.m.

12 Last Day for Teachers

Have a Wonderful and Safe Summer

Page 12 The Detroit Teacher May 2009

MR. FINLEY, Don’t Pretend to Care about Detroit Children

The following is a written exchangebetween DFT President Keith Johnsonand Detroit News Editorial PageEditor Nolan Finley.

Dear Mr. Finley:I read your May 6 editorial com-

ment regarding my decision as presi-dent of the Detroit Federation ofTeachers to unionize charter schoolsin Detroit.

As usual you distort the truth onour motives and perspective on char-ter schools. The reality is that charterschools in Michigan are not regulatedby statute nor collective bargaining.Our goal is not necessarily to causecharters to fold, but to hold themequally accountable relative to estab-lishing a clear and concise curricu-lum, measureable objectives, certifiedteachers and administrators, andaccessible to all students includingthose with special needs.

You attack the right of dueprocess, just cause, paying into aretirement system, and competitivesalaries and benefits as though theyare the true impediments to qualityinstruction. You often cite CBA's(collective bargaining agreements) asbarriers to educational quality. I chal-lenge you to find one provision inour contract (if you've ever read it)that impedes student achievement orteacher accountability.

Everything I do as president of thisunion is designed to create the opti-mum opportunity and environmentfor teachers to teach and students tolearn. If you ever had the nerve totalk with me face to face you wouldunderstand what my motivation is.

Perhaps you are a new breed ofsegregationist; one who wants chil-dren in Detroit to be divided into twogroups. One group that can be taughtin a clean, safe and wholesome envi-ronment where parents are compelledto take an active role in their child'seducation, where books and suppliesare readily available and schools arefor-profit institutions that will elimi-nate any behavioral or academicproblems and no regulations oraccountability systems.

The other could be dirty, gang andviolence plagued institutions whereteachers and students are subject toviolent threats and attacks, havingtheir cars and personal items stolen,

yet being held accountable despitenot being adequately equipped withthe basic materials necessary forquality instruction.

Me, I want every Detroit child toreceive a quality education, and Iknow that despite the dysfunctionthat has plagued DPS, our studentscontinue to out-perform students inthe same failing charter schools thatyou seem to champion. While allcharters are not failures, you arehard-pressed to identify those that arenot.

You know where to find me Mr.Finley, why don't you stop by some-time? You might accidently learnsomething!

Nolan Finley: Talk to me when theschool district staffed by the teachersyou represent isn't the worst in thenation.

Keith Johnson: Why not talk tome now Mr. Finley? What schoolshave you visited? I can take you tosome schools in some of the toughestareas of the city where teachersremain enthusiastic about their com-mitment to their students, studentsare excited about their education, andgreat things are occurring. But youaren't interested in those stories areyou? It is too convenient for you tosit back in your office and bash agroup of overworked, underpaid ded-icated teachers who spend thousandsof dollars out of their own pockets topurchase supplies and materials thattheir employer should provide.

Why do they do it? Because theirstudents need them, that's why!

You're not interested in thoseteachers who have paid the rent fortheir students so they wouldn't behomeless, bought food so theywouldn't be hungry, and boughtclothes so they wouldn't be cold,dirty, or ragged.

You don't care about those teach-ers, for example, who will be hon-ored next Wednesday by Detroit stu-dents who single them out for mak-ing a difference in their lives. Theseare the students who make the super-intendent's achievement lists, gradu-ating seniors who have performedwell, tested well, and are going off tocollege.

You're not interested in the 2008graduating class from Finney HighSchool, a class of only 162 studentswho received more than $2.7 millionin scholarships last year, includingAdaishia Pickett, who received$190,000 in scholarships and scored28 on the ACT, or Victor Jones whoreceived $202,000 in scholarshipsand is now on a full ride scholarshipat U of M, and just finished his fresh-

man year with a 3.7 GPA. These kidscame from one of the toughest neigh-borhoods and schools in the city, butthey achieved because of the dedicat-ed staff at Finney.

You don't want to talk to mebecause you know I can negate all ofyour negative rhetoric about DPS. Idon't deny that the district is and hasbeen dysfunctional. But those teach-ers I represent commit their lives andtheir futures to these students, some-thing that is apparently beyond yourlevel of comprehension and apprecia-tion.

Take up my challenge and take awalk with me to see what is reallyhappening in our schools, not justwhat you want to print to defame usand attempt to humiliate us.Something that you will never do.

Nolan Finley: You got that right. Idon't care about your teachers, yourunion, your jobs or your benefits. Icare about Detroit's schoolchildren,three-quarters of whom are beingfailed by a system the DFT is verymuch a part of and you still have thegall to defend. And as long as youstand in the way of children having ashot at a quality education and hopefor the future, I don't care muchabout you.

Keith Johnson: You don't give adamn about Detroit's children other-wise you would not attempt to vilifythe very people who give them the

chance to be a success. I don't needyou to care about me. I have beenwhere you don't have the guts to go.When was the last time you were in aclassroom? Fifty years ago? You evertaught class in an inner city K-12school? Of course not.

You are pompous and self-right-eous and a step above ignorant whenit comes to knowing what it takes toeducate children.

I have dedicated the last 30 yearsof my life to educating children.What have you ever done for aDetroit child?

You will never hear me defend ateacher who does not do their job. Iwant the best and most dedicatedteachers working in this system. ButI will not stand silent when peoplelike you condemn those who consis-tently sacrifice of themselves to giveour students love, guidance and achance to learn. As tough as mybrother Bill was on DPS in his edito-rials, he was never as insulting andmean-spirited toward the teachers asyou.

Like I said, you don't have the gutsto take a walk with me in our schoolsto see what my teachers are doingand doing without. Your cowardicebetrays your passion.

Nolan Finley: As I said, the miser-able results posted by the systemyou’re invested in speak for them-selves. Your self righteous rantingdoesn't change that basic truth.