DPS...a Shakespearean Tragedy

**65memories** · January-28-10, 10:10 AM

Interesting, creative piece in Metro Times yesterday by Sandra Svoboda, which chronicles the troubles of the Detroit Public Schools from a Shakespearean point of view. Excellent piece of journalism:
http://metrotimes.com/news/story.asp?id=14748

**Danny** · January-28-10, 10:14 AM

Let Robert Bobb run the whole DPS show. Maybe he would be the next " PRINCIPLE JOE CLARK" of Detroit.

"WHAT FOOLS THESE MORTALS BE!"

**eno** · January-28-10, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by Danny

Let Robert Bobb run the whole DPS show. Maybe he would be the next " PRINCIPLE JOE CLARK" of Detroit.

"WHAT FOOLS THESE MORTALS BE!"

Wouldn't that be Principal Joe Clark?

detroitchef · January-28-10, 01:58 PM

Yes
Yes it would be.

Didn't know Danny was a DPS grad!

**eastsidechris** · January-28-10, 02:10 PM

Guy, before you go and proclaim Robert Bobb as King of Detroit Public Schools, please remember he's a businessman--a dollar and cents, bottom line FINANCIAL guy. He's not an educator, nor has he ever been an educator. He's already made some financial decisions [[such as laying off counselors and social workers) that have put a strain on the education portion of the district. Or to put it another way, just because Mike Illitch knows how to run the financial side of the Red Wings doesn't mean I think he should coach the team.

**Det_ard** · January-28-10, 02:56 PM

Since he's a bottom line guy, his bottom line can be the quality of our kids' education. Of course, he's still responsible for balancing the books so I'm not surprised that he's had to make cuts.

My bottom line is I trust Bobb much more than the idiots on the DPS board, the entrenched administration bureaucracy or the union leaders.

Using your analogy, Mike Illitch or another owner doesn't need to be a financial expert or a hockey expert. He just needs to be a good businessman with enough acumen to know he needs to hire experts in those areas where he lacks expertise, while he sets overall direction and allocates resources. Like former Boeing CEO Mulally is doing at Ford.

**Zacha341** · January-28-10, 04:04 PM

Hah! The "ple" vs "pal" factor. Gets me too sometimes!

Originally Posted by eno

Wouldn't that be Principal Joe Clark?

**Zacha341** · January-28-10, 04:05 PM

Excellent Point!

Originally Posted by eastsidechris

Guy, before you go and proclaim Robert Bobb as King of Detroit Public Schools, please remember he's a businessman--a dollar and cents, bottom line FINANCIAL guy. He's not an educator, nor has he ever been an educator. He's already made some financial decisions [[such as laying off counselors and social workers) that have put a strain on the education portion of the district. Or to put it another way, just because Mike Illitch knows how to run the financial side of the Red Wings doesn't mean I think he should coach the team.

**border5150** · January-29-10, 12:40 AM

Originally Posted by Danny

Let Robert Bobb run the whole DPS show. Maybe he would be the next " PRINCIPLE JOE CLARK" of Detroit.

"WHAT FOOLS THESE MORTALS BE!"

In order to be the "next" Joe Clark, there would have to have been a FIRST. I know very little about the history of DPS but I doubt that DPs has ever had a crusader the likes of Joe Clark.

**Hermod** · January-29-10, 05:31 AM

Originally Posted by border5150

In order to be the "next" Joe Clark, there would have to have been a FIRST. I know very little about the history of DPS but I doubt that DPs has ever had a crusader the likes of Joe Clark.

They didn't always need a crusader. Back around 1950, Detroit schools were so good and the range of offerings at the high school level was so great that suburban parents paid tuition to DPS to be allowed to send their kids to Detroit high schools.

Think Cass Tech, Commercial, Wilber Wright Aeromechanics.......

Even the regional high schools had a range of offerings. When I went to Denby, the curriculum class list took a couple of pages.