ACLU sues State of Michigan over quality of Highland Park schools

**iheartthed** · July-12-12, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by belleislerunner

Being poor is a red herring.

Every child could learn to read and write using nothing more than a Bible [[or any book), pen and paper.

I agree 100% about the lack of quality public schools, bad enviroment etc at the HP facilities - my point was merely - the reasons cited [[i.e. inability to read and write) should be child abuse for the parents. You don't need to rely on any government/school to teach that.

I honestly don't get this line of thought. Of course, any child could theoretically learn to read and write using the Bible. Hell, American slaves did it! But why are kids in Highland Park "bad" for not doing what we wouldn't ever expect of kids in any rich district? You're expecting the most from the kids who have the least and when they don't give that then you say it's their own fault.

**belleislerunner** · July-12-12, 02:45 PM

I grew up in Northern Macomb County - and that's how we learned - and I learned to read/write in the 80's - so it's not that archaic.

No need to make excuses for people's bad behavior.

**iheartthed** · July-12-12, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by belleislerunner

I grew up in Northern Macomb County - and that's how we learned - and I learned to read/write in the 80's - so it's not that archaic.

No need to make excuses for people's bad behavior.

Well, I hope the ACLU sues your school district too.

**JBMcB** · July-12-12, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by iheartthed

But why are kids in Highland Park "bad" for not doing what we wouldn't ever expect of kids in any rich district? You're expecting the most from the kids who have the least and when they don't give that then you say it's their own fault.

My son is 4 and he's learning to read and write with a couple of $2 workbooks from Target, flashcards we made from 3x5 cards, some blank paper and crayons. Total cost about $10.

Short of a clinical condition, there is NO damn reason to be illiterate. Even in flat-broke districts, there are after-school programs, clinics run by non-profits and churches, free workbooks from libraries, etc...

**iheartthed** · July-12-12, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by JBMcB

My son is 4 and he's learning to read and write with a couple of $2 workbooks from Target, flashcards we made from 3x5 cards, some blank paper and crayons. Total cost about $10.

Short of a clinical condition, there is NO damn reason to be illiterate. Even in flat-broke districts, there are after-school programs, clinics run by non-profits and churches, free workbooks from libraries, etc...

Clearly, there is a reason to be illiterate... Otherwise, we wouldn't have illiterate people.

But I know where you're going with this one. Places like Highland Park have such low literacy rates because of the people who choose to live there. If the people cared about being literate then they wouldn't live in places like Highland Park. Except... I'm sure that 14 year old kid did not choose to live in Highland Park or to even be born for that matter.

But really, that's not even my problem with Highland Park schools, and by extension, the state. My problem with the school system is that they are rubber stamping these kids through the system and ignoring the problem. How does a kid get to 7th grade writing like that?! If someone can give me a legitimate answer to that then they should represent the state in court.