From the Blissfield Royals to the Kingsford Flivvers, local public schools are core to the identity of small towns across Michigan. No matter their differences as individuals, people in rural communities are unified by their local schools and mascots. But because of inequitable funding, declining enrollment and a lack of concern from some lawmakers, many […]
After nearly three years of a pandemic, school closures, virtual learning, severe educator shortages and a student mental health crisis, it should surprise no one that test scores are down. The National Assessment of Education Progress scores, released last week, show a decline in math and reading scores across almost every demographic. While standardized test […]
Michigan kids deserve the best and brightest educators. That seems like an uncontroversial statement, yet in the face of an educator shortage, some lawmakers have proposed significantly lowering our state’s teacher certification standards and making it easier for unqualified people to lead a classroom of young students. The last thing our state’s leaders should be […]
Michigan’s economic future hinges on our state’s ability to attract good jobs and investments — and no factor is more critical in that endeavor than having an educated and trained workforce. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recognizes that, and it’s reflected in the new state budget that passed last Friday with overwhelming bipartisan support. The quality of […]
We all watched in horror the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, where 26 people, including 20 first-graders — precious kids with their whole lives in front of them — were murdered in a hail of bullets. A few years later, we watched what happened at Stoneman Douglas High School: 14 children and three school staff, […]
A lot has changed with teaching in the three decades since I began as a student teacher in Oak Park Schools — much of it to the detriment of Michigan children, educators and families. If policymakers don’t take immediate action to support aspiring and early career educators, Michigan students will face irreparable harm. I remember […]
There is a mental health crisis enveloping our schools across Michigan, and it’s going to take state leaders working together with parents and educators to secure a brighter future for our students — before it’s too late. According to a 2019 study from the National Institutes of Health, 16.5% of children 17 or under have […]
Educators and parents are an essential team for helping students achieve their full potential. But some politicians want to drive a wedge between parents and their children’s teachers in hopes of securing short-term political gain. If left unchecked, these dangerous ploys — in which political extremists create artificial controversies — can cause long-term harm to […]
For students and educators alike, we’re at a breaking point. That was already clear from conversations I’ve had across Michigan these past few months. Now, add last Tuesday’s tragic shooting at Oakland County’s Oxford High School and its immense weight to that already heavy load. In Oxford, we lost four young people to senseless violence. […]
Recently, chaos and vitriol have dominated many school board meetings around the state and nation. Verbal attacks and threats of physical violence targeted at board members and educators have become far too common. What’s driving this angry rhetoric? Safety measures put in place to protect students and employees, as well as efforts to be open […]
