Eighty-eight schools in Detroit closed Wednesday after teachers in the city called for the biggest sickout in the state of Michigan, in which 46,000 students were affected. The sickout was scheduled when President Barack Obama visited Cobo Hall for the North American International Auto Show, to bring the grim situation of Detroit schools, such as hazardous conditions and safety issues, into light.
POTUS has arrived. Hope to catch his eye. #supportDPSteachers pic.twitter.com/zKEbJk00nw
— Detroitteach (@teachDetroit) January 20, 2016
Just a little mold on that nutritious breakfast. #supportDPSteachers pic.twitter.com/AHUDPeK0FK — Detroitteach (@teachDetroit) January 16, 2016
The Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) website shows an updated schedule of their movement and causes. DFT Interim President Ivy Bailey on Monday expressed to her co-teachers how the issue was finally recognized on national media.
"As the national media shined a spotlight on Detroit Public Schools, people all around the country got a glimpse into the appalling conditions in our city's schools and began to hear the voices of Detroit teachers who are fed up," Bailey said on the website.
#supportDPSteachers pic.twitter.com/JJPDlBRPfG — Detroitteach (@teachDetroit) January 15, 2016
"What started as a local story with the familiar 'blame the teachers' pitch is turning into a national call about educators fighting for safe, welcoming learning environments for Detroit students. We have begun to capture the hearts and minds of people nationwide who believe Detroit students and teachers deserve better," she added.
The Detroit Public Schools' (DPS) specialist for special education, Lacetia Walker, thought that the awareness for the situations of the schools in Detroit was long overdue.
"Things have been happening for so long, and I think teachers felt like they had no voice," Walker said, according to The Detroit Free Press.
"This has been a way for us to draw attention to the conditions of the buildings, the fact that teachers' STEP pay has been frozen for years. We realized that nobody is coming to save us, so we have to save ourselves," she added.
Classroom @Cody DPS #supportDPSteachers @DreaMcCoy @DetroitEducator @PedroniTom @ktwomeyMEd pic.twitter.com/mDg19aLHjG — Detroitteach (@teachDetroit) January 13, 2016
However, a DPS lawyer issued a proposal for a restraining order and preliminary injunction for teachers who are planning more sickouts. DPS spokeswoman Michelle Zdrodowski said that the issue has been brought to court.
"DPS has requested the court's intervention in addressing the ongoing teacher sickouts that are plaguing the district," Zdrodowski said, WESH.com reported.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan talked to some teachers regarding the issue, but he doesn't think that calling a mass sickout is the best solution.
"(The mayor feels) the best thing for them to do is go back to school and teach," Duggan's spokesperson John Roach said, according to CNN.
