From Detroit Free Press
August 14, 2011
The tone was optimistic and the interaction spirited today as MSNBC presented a national show about public education live from Detroit.
About 400 local Detroiters gathered at Detroit School of Arts in the city’s cultural center to discuss problems, solutions and questions for the two-hour broadcast of, “A Stronger America: Making the Grade.”
The discussion, sponsored in part by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, was taking place in the epicenter of Detroit Public Schools which has drawn national attention over the past few years as the city has experienced historic reform and state intervention due to systemic academic and financial struggles also seen in schools nationwide. The district has implemented a new five-year academic plan and is considering converting a third of the district to charter schools in coming years.
A panel of experts from around the country addressed questions on early childhood education, parental training and higher education with audience members - along with MSNBC anchorwoman Tamron Hall and Jeff Johnson, contributor to Grio.com.
The panel switches by topic and includes DPS Emergency Manager Roy Roberts, comedian and film maker Robert Townsend, Jose Diaz, anchor on Telemundo and others.
Panelist Ben Chavis, former director of American Indian Public Charter School in California, fired up the energy in the conversation when he said the gap between achievement levels of students by race – known as the achievement gap – is “BS.”
“There’s no achievement gap in America, there’s a preparedness gap,” he said.
Wes Moore, best-selling author of, “The Other Wes Moore,” and U.S. Army veteran, said the most nefarious gap in America is “the expectation gap.”
The discussion turned to teachers and Nkenge, a 15-year teaching veteran, moved Hall and others to a standing ovation with a passionate plea. “I want respect for teachers!” she said.
Posted By: Siebra Muhammad
Sunday, August 14th 2011 at 3:08PM
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