In our research over the past four decades I have witnessed the decline of public schools. In Detroit, the challenge is confounded by the ever rising dropout rate. One sidebar that I find serious, rarely considered is the number of young people not in school.

Realistically, this means that they could not dropout, since they never dropped in. This point is again compounded by the parental sanctioning of not being in school. Metropolitan communities that are based in industrial centers like Detroit are now faced with the total collapse of manufacturing employment of non-skilled labor. Good paying jobs such as the auto industry are lost, not to return as they had in the boom years.

Thousands of jobs lost in cities like Flint, Michigan leave cities with little defense when faced with having had 80,000 jobs reduced to 7,000 over the past twenty something years. No tax base, little hope of any return to the days of overtime, high wages and strong benefit packages. Finally, school districts are hurt immensely when the school funding is tied to the economy. Schools are facing massive layoffs and reduction in all aspects of funding.

With an array of reductions and eliminations facing school districts the challenge connects to families that were once considered middle class. The socio-economic strain on children, youth, and families responding to the budget cuts may manifest angry adults, confused youth and overworked school practitioners. The large number of youth not attending school is connected to the picture of what is wrong. Public safety and public schools has yet to respect the one important variable of the large number of youth not in school. Depending on what you believe, school statistics, public records, or census data, the Detroit numbers are extremely high. I have witnessed in recent years a large number of young folks roaming the streets, not attending school.

Equally surprising is the number of parents allowing their own children not to attend school. Middle class families are not protected in any way from their children falling into the troubled areas once reserved for lower class youth and families. It seems that middle class families have found the change in their family economics including loss of benefits that support professional assistance is now a thing of the past.

Urban schools are handicapped with reductions and internal eliminations of vital staff. No school nurse, no social workers, and the elimination of school counselors at a time they are needed the most makes it near impossible for most teachers to do what they were hired to do…teach students. Behavior problems, poor housing, illicit narcotics and family disruptions including divorce are challenging many youngsters’ lives. What was once stable is now shaken by the economic crisis in America. The threat of violence and weapons in urban schools is fueled by the changing economics. Yet, many educators will explain that problems have existed over the past fifty years or more.

The neglect of poor students is not new. From my experience of attending urban schools some years ago I can clearly see that our dilemma has worsened greatly. With limited funds for our schools, we need to find a solution that can make it safe for learning in our schools.

In the coming weeks we will have a series that addresses the challenges facing urban educators, families, and communities. This series will enable an open discussion about urban education from the perspective of educators, youth, and families. Our goal is to eradicate the violence in order that youth can focus on what is paramount to youth and our communities. Education is a must, to gain skills that will allow young people to live good, healthy and productive lives.

Positive Urban Youth Development (PUYD)

It is recognized that there are a host of very valuable, well respected and well established doctrines and schools of thought regarding positive youth development. While many of the concepts and theorems are applicable to urban youth and the challenges they face, until recently there has been no one approach designed specifically to address the needs of the urban community and its children and youth. In light of this fact a new approach is being constructed that takes into consideration the factors and variables that are specific to the urban ecology and its diverse nature.

A primary goal of Positive Urban Youth Development (PUYD) is exposure. The primary method for achieving this goal is through the use of experiential learning situations. The secondary method for achieving this goal is through adult engagement of and interaction with community children and youth.

For the child or young person growing up in disenfranchised communities it is critical that they are motivated to achieve and succeed socially, educationally and/or vocationally.

Link to Full Book

There are serious challenges for our nation, state, and cities. The voyeurism of watching a man in his painful demise is akin to kicking him while he is down. Calling Mr. Kilpatrick names such as narcissistic by professionals is not only poor judgment, but unfounded. Detroit is struggling with its image, everyone knows that and showing off the former mayor’s predicament, gloating over his demise is not going to move Detroit or its citizen’s forward. There are times when excellence in journalism will win awards. Solid journalism supports the public, leading the cheers in a public officials decline is close to personalizing misery without good cause.

Youth culture sits on the sideline, watching our methods of operation. Taking a higher road, higher ground, and uncovering the ugliness is important when it serves a good reason. Beyond that is an abuse of power, one that the public cannot and should not afford.

Jennifer Mrozowski / The Detroit News

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Detroit Public Schools officials called on experts, parents, City Council members and others in a town hall meeting Monday night to find solutions to violence at Henry Ford High, following a recent shooting near the school.

The goal of the forum: to develop a comprehensive plan for the school to enhance safety and eliminate or reduce some factors that lead to violence. Board member Tyrone Winfrey, who had been planning a forum at the troubled school before the shooting, said it needs more extra-curricular activities, mentoring, and other opportunities. “Let’s take back Henry Ford High School,” Winfrey said. “Let’s take back our Detroit Public Schools.”

Detroit Public Schools released a new security plan for Henry Ford following the shooting that doubled security and incorporated other measures. The shooting death of Christopher Walker, 16, followed a troubled week at the school. Students reportedly have been beaten up in front of teachers and several fires were set in the building. A football game against Renaissance High School had to be moved for fear of violence.

Officials have attributed the problems in the 1,300-student school to gang activity, in part resulting from the influx of Redford High students into Henry Ford after Redford’s building was closed. Last week, about 100 students walked out of Henry Ford, with some saying they still felt unsafe, while others said security has been overly harsh for minor misbehavior.

Carl Taylor, a professor in the Department of Sociology at Michigan State University and an expert on gang behavior and violence, said students have to change their behavior and self-police, and parents have to be responsible for their children. “The problem is not the school. The problem is not guns,” he said. “The problem is the mind-set. It’s an evil mind-set.”

But Taylor echoed concerns of Winfrey and others who said students lack resources to be productive. Winfrey said students need more extra-curricular activities, such as a school band, so they are more invested in school and have positive outlets.

Wayne County Commissioner Keith Williams, a panelist, said the problems in schools stem from the community, necessitating a coordinated effort by law enforcement agencies and others. “Let’s go into the neighborhoods and talk to these thugs, because the thugs are bringing the problems into our schools,” he said.

Council President Monica Conyers said parents have to demand a better education for their children from state and U.S. lawmakers, including her husband, U.S. Rep. John Conyers.

Originally published in ESPN. By Jemele Hill

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