Your response to the story about Detroit closing Catherine Ferguson Academy, the farm school for pregnant girls and young moms, was visceral. "NO! No. No. No," wrote commenter @Kirk. "This is seriously devastating. What can we do?"
Right now, those of you in the TRMS audience who are looking for a way to save Catherine Ferguson Academy are a lonely bunch. It's not that other people don't care -- it's that most of the world still hasn't gotten the news. Even the local Detroit press hasn't picked up on the story yet. You're some of the very few who know about it. The World Socialists have the lone other report up today -- it's worth reading.
Before this news broke, Defend Public Education had a petition going, and so did Change.org. We started compiling a list of resources here. The answer to the question of what you can do, in this case, really does rest with you. Feel free to use the comments here as a jumping-off place for discussion.
What I did find in the Michigan press today is a story saying that Michigan's economy has begun growing again after many, many hard years:
Michigan's long recession is officially over. According to government data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Michigan's economy grew 2.9 percent last year, outpacing the national average of 2.6 percent. The gain follows declines of 5 percent in 2009 and 4.3 percent in 2008.
Last year, Michigan's economy was the 15th fastest-growing in the country and the second-fastest in the Midwest, behind Indiana, which grew by 4.6 percent.
The state's overlong misery created opportunity for conservative policymakers. This spring, the largely black and poor town of Benton Harbor became the first in Michigan to have its elected leadership removed from power by a state-appointed emergency manager. As Eclectablog reports, he has continued to tighten the reins and to put his own stamp on how things are run; Eclectablog counts 18 recalls in connection with the emergency manager law.
And now the emergency manager of the Detroit schools has decided to close Catherine Ferguson, even as the first tiny glimmers of hope for a revived Michigan come into sight. Principal Asenath Andrews told me yesterday that the emergency manager is also closing two other high schools for at-risk kids. The view seems to be that Detroit can't afford to help them anymore, not right now. In which case the next question is whether the city, the state or the rest of us can afford the long-term cost of not helping them.
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So, the best thing we can do right now is... spread the word?
Thank you for doing so. It's an amazing school in an awful situation, and I'd never have heard of either if not for you.
the best thing you can do (if you're not able to physically come to Detroit next Thursday) is to call the Detroit Public Schools & contact emergency manager Roy Roberts directly to tell him CFA must remain open (& tell your friends to do the same).
Roy S. Roberts
Emergency Manager
14th Floor, Fisher Building
3011 West Grand Blvd.
Detroit, MI 48202
United States Phone: (313) 870-3772
Fax: (313) 870-3726
Rachel, I enjoy your show very much and watch it whenever I can. But when Michael Steele is on, I zap it. I've been zapping it a lot lately.
Victor Davidson
Bravo Victor,
I too try to be open minded and listen to the opinions of all sides. But...that guy creeps me out. the republican party does just fine on it's on....The don't Need An Uncle Tom. i understand you have to feed your family, but come on! Rachel, no one is watching when Michael Steele is on your show. Not to get away from the subject about Detroit, just had to give Victor proops.
I'm watching. And I'll continue to watch. So don't say "no one is watching". Michael Steele brings another point of view. Period. Republicans ususally make me unbearable uncomfortable when I listen to them. But listen I do.
I enjoy listening to Michael Steele and I appreciate hearing his point of view on the program. I may not agree with 95% of what he has to say, but he at least has helped me understand why some conservatives believe the things they do. I always think it is valuable to understand alternative perspectives.
I enjoy when Michael Steele is one because he gives a balanced point of view and he and Rachel have some great, lively, civil, debates.
And why are we discussing this in the thread on Catherine Ferguson School?
Aside from grassroots efforts, I think the obvious and immediate answer is to hit Hollywood and find a celebrity to attach their time and attention to the cause. Whether it's Michael Moore or some other Michigan native...in today's media, that is what will get attention. Ideas?
This is a fight that Kid Rock and Eminem could (should) get involved in fighting.
Where is Oprah?
Where is Michael Moore? He has been the champion of so many causes. We here in Michigan need some celeb clout. Jeff Daniels is another local celeb with a conscience. We don't want their money, we need their visibility. Please come and help your state.
Yes, what is the long-term cost of not helping them? How does anyone not see our interdependence? We all benefit from one another's good health and sound education in very real, concrete ways.
I fear we are watching the balkanization of this country into regions of ignorance/rejection of social ties vs knowledge/embracing social interdependence. It's going to make all of us weaker.
I'm going to go to the links, Laura, to see what can be done, but I am weeping as I type these words.
It's a simple calculation, people: pay (a little) now or pay (a lot) later.
When these ladies don't get high school diplomas, don't get inspired to go to college or trade school or other furtherance of their education, they end up in financial trouble and on welfare. Simple, simple math: if we help these ladies now, they will be much better equipped to help themselves for the rest of their lives.
Closing any school or district is always a daunting task. Many because the community that attends resists with all their might even if it is the smartest economical and educational decision (which I am not saying this is the case).
Ms. Conaway, in your home state of MS (I think you've written that before) there are 152 school districts in the 82 counties. Some districts are smaller than a large high school but still has a full district staff.
When Gov. Barbour proposed consolidating some of these a couple of years ago he picked a losing fight even though his assessment was correct (his method and plan may not have been).
I wish the young girls and their families the best and hope that whatever happens to the Academy, they find the resources and support system they need.
I get your point but the main problem with that logic in this case is that many of the programs that make CFA so special are not even funded by DPS (aka they get outside grant money for things like teacher salaries & on-site child care.) So the economic rationale Roberts is using to close CFA is completely not supported by reality.
Rustbelt, do you have reference for costs associated with the school? The school district published these numbers:
I'm not saying closing the school is the right thing but if you are trying to make an argument to keep it open spreading incorrect information does not help so I'd be interested in knowing about your numbers and source. Thanks!
This school is "educating" 2 students for that amount of money. So when you break it out that way, its cheaper...
How are the figures arrived at? How much of the money comes from specialized additional funds the district is supposed to apply for and use for that purpose? Has the district been applying for the funds it for these students such as Title 1, "at risk" funds, etc. I seem to recall the District having to return unspent federal money because it had not been used. There was a similar confusing "cost" given to educating deaf and hard of hearing students at the School for the Deaf but did not include the building being used for a large program for early intervention as well and staff that served student out in other schools, etc. Students with specialized needs do cost more to educate. One must look at all the sources of added funding those students are entitled to from state and federal sources. Resourceful administrators also write grants for added services. So, the "numbers" given can be misleading.
I am always dumbfounded that posts with what appear to be facts but have no source get high marks from readers. Telling, hmm?
the saddest part of this whole interview is the answer ms. andrews gave when asked what she will be doing next. the education world is losing a strong, smart, good leader.
when the banks and wall street were under fire for their enormous record breaking payouts and the people questioned the future of big banks and wall street if the big incentives were not there citing "a brain drain" on banks and wall st. well my fine selfish egotistical friends, what about the brain drain that has been going on for decades in public education? not a concern for bankers since they send their kids to the best schools money can buy. when a taxpayer sends their kids to the best schools money can buy, they need to worry about the schools being there.
brain drain. what a bunch of selfish jokers.
Here ya go, lupi72, ten from me and ten from bagelbones.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Thanks, Dutchie6
Well said. Thank you.
Is there any way to share that sentiment with the MI Representatives that are preparing to vote on a bill that will do away with teacher seniority rules for the purpose of layoffs? If you layoff all your experienced teachers who will mentor the new ones?
The rich tax payer will not think of this school being there or not. They just think it is another thing that is owed to them, another thing for the "special people".
lupi72, whereas I can give you only one thumbs-up, I'm actually thinking "ten".
Hmmm...which corporation or bank or oil company shall we close? We'll have to close one that does a lot of good, but doesn't make much visible financial profit. Are there any of those out there, or do they all make huge profits because they have government subsidies?
how about one of those so call AMERICAN company's that receive such WELFARE (Subsidiary) use some of that money and help out!
now that would be,,, how should i day this
very AMERICAN of them!!!
Or keep the oil company open and have them give up the subsidies (since they have previously said they didn't need them anymore). Then give the subsidies to the school.
Here's a short article I wrote about CFA last month.
& even with this incredibly negative news, us supporters of CFA are not giving up. I was at CFA last Thursday & the students are still as committed as ever to seeing their school stay open. There will be a 'last chance' rally at the school next Thursday (the day before it closes).
http://mispymag.com/2011/05/adventures-in-local-food-6/
@Rustbelt, can you post more details on the rally?
Can rallies take place every day instead of just one day? It would draw a lot more attention.
I think this may be the rally, from BAMN.
Hey my name is Shandria. I'm a BAMN Organizer. There will be a rally on the 16th of June that is organized by BAMN and we do plan on Stretching it Far beyond the 16th but for now that is the set date for things to BEGIN. We're Definitely looking for as many people to join in and come as possible so that we can actually keep this school open and if anyone is interested in the Day Of Action definitely call Monica @ (313) 585-3637. Also check out the flier @ http://bit.ly/iDnDH1 and the event @ http://on.fb.me/iMwOli and follow us on twitter at Followbamn for more updates on things going on regarding Catherine Ferguson but also on the battles the organization is taking up. :)
I tweeted the story to a local news caster here in Detroit who at first seemed less than helpful but after i RT his response to Maddow Blog his tune has changed. He said he will try and get it on their radar. We have to start somewhere. Fingers crossed.
This is just another example of how our society doesn't have any concept about what things have real value. We are always talking about how you measure success by how much power and/or money someone has, how much they own, etc, etc. We encourage kids to get high-paying jobs on Wall Street or at big multinationals. We look at people like Donald Trump as success stories because they are rich and famous. And at the same time, our politicians are telling us that teachers, plumbers, electricians, machinists, police officers, firemen, bakers, construction workers, cashiers, janitors and everyone else are "lazy", "leeches", and worse, because they aren't in that rarefied atmosphere of the super rich, and never will be. They make "too much" because they are in unions, but they are "lazy poor" because they occasionally lose their jobs through layoffs, or need social security when they retire because they never made enough to invest,or were offered a 401k.
We are a pathetic society when we idolize the exploits of an overpaid athlete over that of a teacher who educates our children, a fireman who saves lives, a factory worker who builds the things we use every day.
'public employees should 'go find a real job'.' #USCongressman
Uffdaguy, I want your comment printed on a Tshirt!
But it might get printed by a union member! Gasp!
Heaven forfend!
I'm calling Mr. Roberts' office and writing to President Obama and the Secretary of Education.
They need a rich or famous benefactor to stop the wheels turning while they come up with the support they need. They need a non-profit foundation of their own to take over and keep the school as it is and provide extra funding where they need it.
I'm writing another blog post about this and distributing it as widely as I can.
If they have enough grant money and donations, or private funding, they could start their own charter school. Some of their most successful alumni need to put some clout behind this, too.
If I had the money, I would buy this school myself and turn it over to a foundation I'd create: The Catherine Ferguson Academy Foundation. It would be a 501(c)3.
Is anybody familiar with starting an educational foundation? If they have a 501(c)3, they can accept donations directly.
I went to the ACLU website to see if they are on this case, and read some articles on Womens Rights and teen parents. Pregnant and parenting teens are being discriminated against for being pregnant or parents. They are being asked to leave their schools because they don't fit in there any longer.
I contacted the ACLU of Michigan chapter to see if there is anything they can do to stop the closure of CFA in court.
Closing this special needs school is, IMO, a direct violation of these students' civil rights. There is no alternative to the education and services provided by this school. Public schools are required by federal law to meet the needs of all of its special needs students. These girls definitely have special needs.
I also wrote to Michael Moore on his webpage, his twitter account and his facebook page. I tweeted Oprah Winfrey as well. I still have to finish my blog post and write to the president and department of education.
Great work on the IMO, that may make something happen on this. I've tried Oprah too.
Since all three schools being closed are for "at risk" kids, is there no legal recourse such as that in New Jersey?
What we are learning here is exactly what we saw in WI with the union stripping measures. In WI, after the Democrats voted with their feet and left the state...it was decided that the union stripping bill didn't have any thing to do with the budget - and let's be honest, it never really did, tho it did provide a nice beard for it...so they went and passed the union stripping bill anyway.
In Michigan they could find all the money they need today and Catherine Ferguson would still be closing. Why? Because its not about budget, but about the beneficiaries. If there was a predominantly white high school that enjoyed the same rate of college placement, no expense would be spare to coat its walls with gold. But its not. It is black teen-age mothers. Therefore Catherine Feruson dies. Not a goddamn thing to do with the budget. Everything to do with keeping young black mothers in their place where they can be pointed at as social ills to justify gutting the social safety net, so that their children can be pointed at as violently dangerous threats that justify being tough on crime. Black teen mothers going on to become doctors and professionals disrupts that narrative. And for that reason Catherine Ferguson dies. The budget was just a beard and whoops, what do you know? The beard just fell off. And Catherine Ferguson still dies.
The idea for this school is good that saving it is not enough. Replicating it through out the nation would be a significant step toward social and economic justice and do far more to actually grow the middle class than all of the Bush tax cuts. Catherine Ferguson is why Obama's Race to the Top is dead wrong. Public education IS investment in the future. If you don't want to invest, don't count on any future.
When did the majority of Americans become disposable? We started developing social programs that was a model to the world then we stopped. Now the world has progressed with those ideas and improved on them. We stopped. This country is not supposed to be a plutocracy but it is now! We are a Republic that supports capitalism with some democratic processes that allow for certain social programs. No one should profit from someone else's health. Ask why people go to Mexico or Canada to buy prescription drugs( Hi Limbaugh)! It's because the drug companies here charge us huge amounts for a drug but sell it much cheaper to other countries! We have social programs already, that does not make us socialists. It makes us compassionate, caring people. This great country is quickly going third world. I remember when Bush Sr. said we needed to go back to the way it was in the 50's. Yes Please let's go back to at least one aspect and that is the tax rate for the wealthiest. How about not giving away money to countries like India and Pakistan for just one year! Hundreds of Billions of dollars could be put into healthcare and education give it the jump start it needs. Stop the waste and greed not the care we give each other. What Michigan is doing just might be a test to see if the Republicans can turn this country into a dictatorship one state at a time.
As a formerly at-risk youth this hits a nerve. My public high school counselor said I could drop out, join the Army or attend an alternative high school. That was 30 years ago and I still thank god I had that choice or I wouldn't have made it. These schools are life-savers, there's no other way I'd have surpassed the hand I was dealt. Everyone else in my subculture who joined the army or dropped out of school are dead or doing time. People don't get how a school can make such difference, it's not about the education it's about hope.
Yeahhhhhh because most public schools are soul destroyers ....... alternatives are very often the salvation for people who don't fit the mold
Given that public schools have been under attack since Reagan, what do you expect?
From @eclectablog: @followbamn IT'S NOT OVER! All Out: Demand Catherine Ferguson Stay Open 2750 Selden, Thur. 6/16 NOON. #Education http://bit.ly/izv59d
Considering that 47% of adults in Detroit are functionally illiterate (yes the number is real) closing any school is to the states detriment
the state's detriment, but the (current) government's benefit: lower educated people are more likely to lean conservative; lacking critical thinking skills, they're more easily lied to; and people who can't read won't pass a potential poll test or having ID and being allowed to vote anyway.
It isn't that poor people tend to be conservative, it is that they don't vote at all. When there is an effort to get poor, illiterate, disadvantaged people registered and to the polls, they have the ability to sway the vote to the liberal side. But when states start requiring identification in the form of drivers licenses, birth crtificates, most of them don't have the money to drive a car, (get a license) or even pay for the cost of a birth certificate from the state. If it costs 15.00 to get one, that is actually a meal for most low income families. Everything is a trade off. We can not let the Republicans try to balance the budget on the backs of the poor, elderly, disabled, etc. Keep fighting.
The last group that made it their business full time were shut down in a fireball of manufactured shame and scandal. ACORN. They were also basically the only group who stepped out to really help the refugees of Katrina, and that is how they got repaid.
Occupy the building, don't recognize the authority of the dictator, continue with classes as best as possible (if, say, going into the garden is too much risk of being captured and arrested, grow the plants on the roof or inside.
Create a wall of people around the building, flash-mob/minute-men style, if anyone comes to oust the occupiers.
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/05/04/report-nearly-half-of-detroiters-cant-read/
Does that mean nearly half of Detroiters belong to the Tea Party?
I don't know, I think maybe the Tea Partier's are more "Feckless' than illiterate
Are you saying that Tea Partiers are all fecked up?
Yes
Most are for the same things they rally against.
People forget, typically because they believe this is too far away to affect them personally, or could never happen in their state, that standing on the sideline of inaction makes them a participant, if only in their silence. How shameful must we become? As for Michael Steel -- sorry Rachel, love you tons, but giving him a platform is not an honest, intellectual exchange of ideas with someone that simply comes from an opposing view. It's giving credence to a puke and his history is one that compels me to turn your show off every time he appears. Heck, why not simply make Americans for Prosperity a political consultant too? Steel has perpetuated every lie they've ever told or stood squarely in the path of the truth otherwise, so you can giggle with him all you want. Me, I'm off the second he appears.
Save the school privately there is no good reason for taxpayers to get hit with yet another burden. Government run or funded projects flop 90% of the time.
99guspuppet
Luckily, private business doesn't mess up anywhere near as often as government programs....Enron, Wall Street, Blackwater, Tyco and many others are proof of that, right? I guess there is a difference, though. When government programs screw up, it isn't due to greed and deceit and manipulation. Can Goldman Sachs or BP say the same?
Yeah. It really is far better to gut the public school system and let the taxpayers pick up the slack with welfare via the prison industrial complex. Tap into that industry and gutting public education becomes a great investment. Its the American way.
Functional illiteracy in the United States is growing at a rate of over 2 million new inductees per year into its ranks and the tide will only grow stronger if current educational policies are not changed to address the problem. The Presidential legislation of No Child Left Behind is not working and the country as a whole is now and will in the future suffer the consequences.
Statistics show that functional illiterates in this country;
What is even more depressing and disturbing for this once great country is that 20% of all graduating high school students are functionally illiterate. This is at a time when the United States of America is spending over $10 billion dollars a year to combat this growing phenomenon. While public education funding has doubled in the last fifteen years, testing indicates the percentage of American children who read well has not improved for the last 25 years.
http://tinyurl.com/3kt3xad
Again, we can thank Reagan and his vision for education reform for the dystopia we presently find ourselves in.
I am leaning more toward condemnation
A Democratic governor would have never thrown pregnant school girls and their babies out in the street or arrested them! Just another example of the GOP's hatred and attack on the poor, working class and women!! People need to pay attention to what's going on. Too many people are caught up on DWTS and Glee, when they should be getting informed about the issues impacting the nation and our kids' futures! America can't wait until June of 2012 to get up to date on the issues, candidates and choices. It's baffling how this story was ignored by ALL the news outlets, including MSNBC, because only Rachel Maddow covered this story! Think about that: The shutting of this school and arrest of pregnant girls was covered by ONE host, for a total of about 5-7 mins per showing on ONE 24hr news channel! Nothing during the day on Daily Rundown, Andrea Mitchell Reports, NewsNation, Martin Bashir, etc.! These poor girls were upstaged by the sexlives of Arnold and Weiner! How pathetic is that? They couldn't even get squeezed into the spending debate or Planned Parenthood attacks or education for children! Our country looks petty, ridiculous, insane and utterly stupid when things like this happen. As someone who's lived overseas for awhile, trust me when I tell you that the rest of the world watches everything we do and is appalled by our political nonsense and treatment of each other. We're not acting like the "greatest country on Earth" when this kind of stuff happens. Palin doesn't help us look good either (just thought I'd add it). AMERICA CAN & MUST DO BETTER!
I tweeted the Whitehouse about it. I'm not holding my breath, but it is something anyway.
Same DQ. I also sent tweets to Barack Obama, Michael Moore, Lawrence, The Last Word, The Daily Show, and Stephen at Home (Colbert).
I commented on the White House web page.
In response to: A Democratic governor would have never thrown pregnant school girls and their babies out in the street or arrested them!
A Democratic governor appointed the Emergency Financial Manager in the first place. I don't like it any better than you do, but the movement to privatize our public schools is a bipartisan effort. It's the only thing that Dems and Reps can agree on -- that we need to take money out of the education tranche and give it to the very rich like Bill Gates, Eli Broad, the Waltons, the Dells, and others of the Billionaire Boys so they can run corporate schools. That both parties agree on an issue should be cause enough for us to on a dime and investigate what's going on here.
What's happening in Detroit is the tip of the iceberg. If Republican governors in WI, OH, IN and others get their way, school systems across the country will be on the chopping block just like Catherine Ferguson. The remarkably sad thing about this entire situation is that this school is exactly what charter school law was orignailly passed for. It is a school that meets the needs of students that were not being addressed in traditional schools. That it is wildly successful speaks to the commitment of administration, staff, and community.
If reformers were serious about real reform, they'd be duplicating successful schools like Catherine Ferguson across the country.
you know what i think about whenever the Catherine Ferguson Academy story comes up?
Sarah Palin.
well, more specifically pregnant 17-year-old HS-junior Bristol, but her, her mom, and the whole Palin clan. one or all of them should certainly be involved in this story in some way, speaking out against closing CFA. 'should,' but of course it doesn't involve 'their class of people', doesn't involve guns, or oil drilling, or potentially negatively impact them in any way in their view, so 'who cares?'. anybody on Twitter (i'm not anymore) or Fakebook (i never was) please
incessantly houndask Sarah and Bristol about it for me.while you're there, consider linking the CFA segment above in tweets or wall posts of just regular e-mail which i'll be doing to a few billionaire-philanthropist types like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Zuckerberg, Oprah, ... oh, anybody know how to reach George Soros; that'd really piss the richt-wingers off.
True. All they can do is ignore it or say no, right?
There's a @Davos account that's still tweeting; perhaps that is it?