Summary: Spain Elementary-Middle School in Detroit, Michigan has an enormous amount of internal and external problems. The gym is unusable because of the warped floor due to rain falling through the patchy ceiling, the playground is unsafe because of steam constantly pouring over it, forcing the students to play in the hallways, the air conditioning does not work at all, the bathrooms are unusable, textbooks are unavailable, roaches and bedbugs infest the classrooms, they had to get rid of their special arts program they were once well-known for, and the school district is in massive debt. These problems, paired with the dry air and changing temperatures inside the school, take a toll on the children's health. The nurse's log reports daily incidents of headaches, stomachaches, nosebleeds, and vomiting. The school has been in this condition for years, and the teachers became so fed up that they organised a "sick-out", forcing the school to close for 2 days. This got the attention of the district, the district's emergency manager, the mayor, and the governor. The teachers want to help their students as much as possible and hope changes finally occur.
Analysis: The fact that authorities expect students to learn and thrive in this type of environment is sickening. Improving this school (and the hundreds of similar schools all over America) is necessary for the future of our country.
This event can be related to U.S. history because it's similar to the Labor Unions of the Gilded Age. The laborers had unsafe working conditions just like these Detroit kids. The teachers and the Unions are alike because the Unions pushed for many changes, like higher wages and more sanitary conditions, and the teachers want change, too. The Unions also held protests, and the teachers organized a "sick-out", which brought attention to the problems they're facing.
Link: http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/15/health/detroit-school-teacher-frustrations/index.html
Education is important, but come on kids also have to stay healthy. A student's and teachers health should take top priority over making sure they are in class.
ReplyDeleteI like your comparison to the gilded age and I agree. Yes I think that children can learn anywhere, but to some extent. It needs to be a safe and healthy environment.
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