VOL. 48 — NO. 8 POSTMASTER: All forms 3579 are to be forwarded to Detroit Federation of Teachers, 2875 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202 April 2010 Bobb to Close 41 More Schools s a reward for making dents, she says. world. The school has operated all Apple. “When you have a lan - Adequate Yearly Progress “This building is very, very year short 1.6 teachers. At one guage, you have a culture.” Aand creating centers of important,” Collrin said. “This time the school bulged with 350 Teachers said Detroit has all- excellence, Emergency Financial needs to be the hub, the heartbeat, students. Today it has 56. But boys and all-girls schools, yet it Manager Robert Bobb named sev - for the deaf and hard of hearing decisions by a series of revolving- won’t have a school for the deaf. eral of these high-performing community.” door administrators damaged the “Detroit is big enough,” said schools to be among 41 to close. According to Collrin, the district program and moved kids out. Nan Asher, executive director of Carstens Elementary School in has decimated a program that “Deafness is the only disability the Michigan Association for Deaf 2009 was named one of the top needs to be world-class for deaf with a language attached to it,” and Hard of Hearing, “to be able five Title I schools in the state for students to succeed in the outside said DDSD Principal Candace to give you choices.” making significant growth. Carstens raised its language pro - Dr. Seuss Party Held at Garvey Academy ficiency scores by 59 percent and its math scores by 80 percent since 2005. Still, it’s slated to close. Parents and teach - ers around the district called impromp - tu meet - ings to discuss how to save their school – and often – their commu - nity. Parents at the Detroit Day School for the Deaf, met March 22 to discuss closing a school that is a lifeline to children and families. “To Bobb it’s not a matter of the school, it’s a matter of the dollars,” said Pamela Hankerson, a member of the deaf community. GREEN EGGS AND HAM “Bobb is not interested in —Teachers at Marcus Garvey Detroit Public Schools,” said Academy held a birthday party for Niaomi Edmunds, who attended Dr. Seuss creator Theodor Seuss the meeting. “He’s interested in closing public schools and opening Geisel, who died in 1991 but charter schools.” whose legendary characters endure. Garvey Principal James Closing DDSD is a terrible Hearn read Green Eggs and idea, says retired DDSD teacher Peggy Collrin. Not only should it Ham to students while the Cat in not close, it needs much more the Hat made a surprise appear - support. Deaf and hard of hearing ance on a scooter. Shown above students have been siphoned off are teachers who organized the to be mainstreamed at other event: Joi Anderson, Wakieta schools. That’s something not in Winston, Lentawn Knight, and the best interest of many deaf stu - Wendy Newberry. Page 2 The Detroit Teacher April 2010 April 2010 The Detroit Teacher Page 3 SCHOOL CLOSURE Updates... PLAN COULD BE 2010 Volunteer Retirements BOBB’S FOLLY of the Year Announced Richard Berlin, secretary of the The following teachers have DFT Retirees Chapter, is being hon- announced their retirement: Annie Q. mergency Financial Manager input, and omnipotent persona. High ored April 17 by the Michigan Jacobs and James A. DelVero. If you Robert Bobb’s school closure performing schools such as McColl, Democratic Party as have retired in the last six months and Eplan, announced on March 17, CMA, and Bagley are scheduled for the 2010 Volunteer would like it announced, please call has disaster written all over it. On top closure. of the Year. Berlin, a the editor at 313-875-6776. of proposing the closure of 45 schools, High schools with deeply rooted retired Detroit more than 25 percent of the district’s neighborhood rivalries and loosely knit teacher, will be hon- Retired Guyton facilities, Mr. Bobb has pinned an inor - gang affiliations would have their stu - ored at the Jefferson- Teacher Dies dent bodies integrated, (Osborn to Jackson Day Dinner Pershing or Denby). Kettering students at Cobo Hall. Berlin, The dynamic hearse-driving Detroit President’s Report would be sent to either Southeastern Richard Berlin 66, is chairman of teacher Willard (Bill) Weitschat passed (which is already bursting at the seams) DFT President Keith Johnson joined others concerned about public educa - the Membership away March 1. He was 77. Weitschat FREEP EDITOR REMEMBERS CARSTENS or Pershing, which is miles away from tion in Lansing on March 17 for Lobby Day. Committee for the 14th Congressional purchased the used hearse to be able to For the past three years, Peter Gavrilovich (above right), former Keith the Kettering neighborhood. District. take his students on weekly field trips Carstens student and current Nation/World Editor at the Detroit Free Elementary students from He also served 18 years on the and other adventures in the 1970s. He Press, has visited the fifth-graders at Carstens Elementary School to Johnson McKenney and Holcomb would have with placement issues (remember how spiracy theory many have adopted that Michigan Democratic Party’s State was known as an teach about Detroit history. This year he invited Paul Anger, to cross major thoroughfares Seven this school year started with so many Mr. Bobb’s hidden mission was to dis - Central Committee. “I’m shocked extraordinary fifth- Publisher and Editor of the Free Press, to join him and on Feb. 1. Mr. Anger came to school and observed the first-graders in Kevin Mile and Lahser to get to the nearest teachers having no place to report mantle DPS. But the lack of logic and because I used to do a lot more,” grade teacher at Stafford's class learning about action verbs before visiting the fifth- elementary school (Charles Wright). when school opened?) that the quality consideration for the welfare of our Berlin said. Guyton Elementary graders in Elbert Bennett's class. Wright, by the way, would lose its suc - of education children in this School on Detroit’s dinate amount of the district’s long- cessful program and assume the pro - for the stu - school closure African Centered east side. term future on another bond proposal gram of Langston Hughes. dents who “You cannot cut your plan has admit - Weitschat attended that (1) hasn’t even been introduced In addition, Mr. Bobb reneged on an remain will be tedly second- Education Chapter Bill Weitschat Guyton Elementary yet, and (2) may have little (if any) assurance that the DFT would be adversely way to prosperity when guessed my Forms School, Jackson Tools to Help You chance of passing. involved in the discussions as schools affected. position, partic - Teachers from schools with African Intermediate and Southeastern High. He It is totally irresponsible for Mr. were considered for closure. Instead I can’t help ularly since he educating children.” Centered Education curricula have graduated from Wayne University with Bobb to even consider asking Detroit Mr. Bobb relied heavily upon the direc - but believe did not include formed a DFT chapter. The African a degree in education and served in the Decide When to Retire voters to consider the approval of tion of demographers and dismissed that the drastic DFT in the dis - —DFT President Keith Johnson Centered Education Chapter will meet U.S. Army. He was known for his another bond series when they have not the human, student element of consid - measures cussions. By Rufus Gaston • 30 percent for people born after 1959. on the third Thursdays of the month, bingo game using spelling words called seen the first shovel in the ground for a eration in this plan. taken by Mr. Hinging the Whiz Roll. Students who got a correct If you wait until your full retirement with the exception of April. The next hese days, everyone is taking a new school under the existing $500.5 You cannot cut your way to prosperi - Bobb will do nothing to enhance the future of DPS on the if/come of a word, instead of saying bingo, would age, your benefits will not be reduced. three meetings are set for April 22, new look at their finances — and million bond that was passed in ty when educating children. While we faith of this community in DPS. future bond passing will leave this shout, “I’m a whiz.” Winners got to And if you should choose to delay May 20 and June 17 at 4:30 p.m. at no one is looking more closely November. understand that the declining enroll - Parents are not inclined to send their community in a state of suspended ani - take as much candy as they could dig T retirement, your benefit will increase the DFT hall. than the millions of baby boomers who Mr. Bobb’s plan will likely acceler - ment necessitates the closure and con - children an additional two to seven mation. Unfortunately, by the time we with one hand out of a bag. His former up to eight percent a year from your are nearing retirement age. While some ate the exodus of students from DPS as solidation of some schools, the magni - miles to attend school when there is a wake up, Robert Bobb will be gone students said he would buy two big full retirement age until age 70. Looking for a Teacher boomers expected to retire at one of the parents become increasingly fed up tude of this plan will devastate DPS. neighboring charter closer to home. and so possibly may be Detroit Public bags of candy every Friday morning. However, there is no additional benefit traditional milestones, such as age 62, with his rhetoric, lack of community Human Resources will be overloaded I have never subscribed to the con - Schools. Jewel Gines, chair of the DFT “Everyone loved Mr. Weitschat,” increase after you reach age 70, even if the current economy is forcing many of Retirees Chapter, says a former DPS said a former student, Tasso Teftsis. you continue to delay taking benefits. them to re-evaluate their plans. Many student is looking for a science “We were immigrants and my older Social Security also has created sev - are wondering if they should work teacher he had at Weatherby School brother was having a hard time adjust - eral retirement planners to help you longer, or how their Social Security in the mid 1960s. The teacher’s name, ing. He helped him so much. He treat - make an informed decision. Social Should We Ban Social Promotion? benefit — or their spouse’s benefit — he believes, is Anderson (Andy) ed everyone the same.” Security has an online calculator that would be affected if they continued Gilmore or Gilmour. The student – Weitschat passed away at an assisted can provide immediate retirement bene - By Mark O’Keefe would never have entered my second- She stayed in my class all year and working. Robert (Bob) Jury – is a physician at living residence in Traverse City. He is fit estimates to help you plan for your DFT Executive Vice President grade class under the current ban on blossomed. By the end of the year, (ISSN 0011-9695) To help them find answers, Social Beaumont Hospital and would like survived by a brother, nieces and a retirement. The online Retirement social promotions. In September she she was reading above grade level. I The Detroit Teacher is the official pub - Security has published a fact sheet him to know the tremendous impact nephew. A memorial service will be Estimator uses information from your he district recently announced was reading at a 0.3 grade level, am thankful there was no ban on lication of the Detroit Federation of called When To Start Receiving Re tire- this teacher had on his life. held at a future date. own earnings record, and lets you cre - a ban on social promotions. meaning she was not even ready for social promotions at that time. Teachers, American Federation of ment Benefits. You can read it online at Teachers Local 231, AFL-CIO. ate “what if” scenarios. You can, for TFrom a distance, this sounds first grade, let alone second grade. I Another of my most memorable www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10147. like a good idea. If was tempted to immediately return students also was affected by social Member of the Union Teacher Press example, change your “stop work” date Association, Inter national Labor html. a student has not her to first grade. However, through promotion policies. In his case, his or expected future earnings to create & Press Association and Michigan As most workers know, your choice compare different retirement options. learned the content research I had done in getting my teachers had consistently refused to Labor Press. of a retirement age — from 62 to 70 — To use the Retirement Estimator, visit in one grade, he or master’s degree, I knew that repeating promote him. Academically, it was Visit the New can dramatically affect your monthly The Detroit Teacher is published www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator. she should not be a grade cuts a student’s chance of the right decision. He did not blossom Social Security benefit amount. promoted to the monthly, except for July and August, graduating from high school in half. in my class, or anywhere else. for $4 per year by The Detroit If you choose to start receiving bene - And for general information about next grade. When Those who repeat two grades have However, he was 13 years old and Federation of Teachers, 2875 W. fits early, the monthly payments will be Social Security, visit www.socialsecuri - you look at individ - virtually no chance of graduating. still in third grade. This was a prob - Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202. reduced based on the number of months ty.gov. ual cases, however, Her poor performance in first grade lem for him and others in the class. Periodical Postage Paid at Detroit, MI. DFT Web site you receive benefits before you reach Retirement decisions are unique to it quickly becomes may have been due to a problems in His situation will become more com - POSTMASTER: Send address your full retirement age. The rate of everyone. Make sure you are up to date Mark O’Keefe clear that many the home, excessive absences from mon if teacher judgment is removed changes to The Detroit Teacher, reduction will depend on the year you with the important information you will decisions should be illness, a change in family situation, from the promotion-decision process. 2875 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI need to make the choice that’s right for 48202. were born. The maximum reduction at left to the professional judgment of or (if she was in a charter school the Banning social promotions looks age 62 will be: you. the teacher. Editor — Margaret Weertz www.DFT231.com previous year) she may have had a good on paper, but it does not serve • 25 percent for people born between Rufus Gaston is a public affairs spe - One of my most successful students bad teacher in first grade. the best interest of all students. 1943 and 1954. cialist with the Social Security office. Page 4 The Detroit Teacher April 2010 April 2010 The Detroit Teacher Page 5 Children Helping An Important Question: Can the Child Hear?

here’s a whole lot of expertise Pointes, Harper Woods, Hamtramck Children at Harding in the eight people at the DPS and Highland Park. ASHA recom - Speech and Hearing Center, on mends one audiologist for a student By Leslie P. Smith T pared and donated by the teachers. Canfield and the Lodge Freeway. population of 10,000. Serving a pop - The “Hopes and Dreams” cupcake And a whole lot of traffic. ulation of over 100,000 would war - n Jan. 12, our country felt the drive was facilitated by fourth-grade Here’s where parents can have rant 10 audiologists. But the center devastating pain and teacher Towana Colvin. For just a dol - their children aged zero to 26 diag - has only five audiologists and one Oheartache from the impact of lar, students were raising new hopes nosed with a complete hearing evalu - clinic coordinator. The center also the largest earthquake in Haiti. While and dreams for families in Haiti. ation. And if they suspect some - has two speech pathologists. others gave resources and manpower “Parents would leave coins with thing’s just not right — and don’t Once a month the center stacks up to aide the survivors of Haiti, me to ensure their students con - know what it is — they should come children to see a doctor. These chil - Harding Elementary School rallied tributed,” said Principal DeSheil here first. For students, 45 percent of dren need Medical clearance to con - together for a school wide fundraiser Echols. “Our students succeeded by the day is spent listening. sider placement for learning to help the children who have lost helping Haiti’s children willingly and “Anyone who is being tested for impaired program or voice therapy. their homes and families. unselfishly.” special ed should be ruled out for A doctor hasn’t been to the clinic in Even though Detroit has financial Recently, Harding opened its hearts hearing loss,” says Sheryll Bonness, a three years, however, because the woes that affect families in the and doors to Yasmine Joachim, a 26- DPS audiologist at the center. Often district has difficulty in funding that Brightmoor community, the students year-old survivor of the Haiti earth - times, hearing problems mimic other service. empathized with the children in quake. She described how her life learning issues. Hearing problems range from con - Haiti. This brought about an aware - changed as she watched her country “This building and this program is genital hearing loss to temporary ness and appreciation for our country crumble right before her eyes. DFT what I consider a hidden gem,” says hearing loss due to ear infections or and education. The Harding student “I was going to the market for my Dr. Renee Dalecki, an audiologist. by the American Speech-Language The Detroit Public Schools is cele - build up of fluid or wax or other council proposed a penny drive to nephew and I had just left out of the The building is new and teams with Hearing Association (ASHA). Many brating its 100th year of the Com - impairments. But a visit to the center contribute to the children in dire need market with my goods as the ground Heads to sound suites and high-tech instru - indicators can point to hearing prob - munications Disorders Department. can clarify other learning and health of food and water. The students shook and before I knew it the mar - ments to test hearing. lems. The district was a lighthouse district; issues. embraced the idea under the guidance ket had completely collapsed to the “Any parent can bring their child “A lot of kids with hearing prob - it was the first in the country to have “Sometimes I’m the first person to of counselor Wanda Hudson and pre - ground…I had survived by the grace Lansing here,” says audiologist Sonya Ellis. lems will have lower reading scores,” a Speech and Hearing Clinic at the tell them their child is autistic,” says school teacher Sherry Zeiger. of God,” Joachim said. “Hearing loss can mimic many other says Dalecki. School Center Building in 1939. At Nina Fracassa. The “Children Helping Children” Her story brought tears to some, as disorders so it always has to be ruled Many times audiologists recom - that time the main communication The center has many successes. penny drive materialized and she graciously continued to speak of out.” mend sound equipment for the class - concern was stuttering. One child was diagnosed early, won a engulfed the hearts of everyone at the devastation in Haiti. Students on Lobby The real issue is mild hearing loss. room. Teachers may say they talk In December the center’s staff was full scholarship to University Liggett Harding. Everyday a few students were enthralled by this Haitian “If the severity is not very profound, louder to reach all children but to a decimated with the layoffs of four of in Grosse Pointe Woods, and then would roll the huge container room woman and asked questions in con - it can appear that the person is hav - child with a hearing impairment, the 10 audiologists. The audiologists won a full scholarship to Yale to room collecting pennies. The cern and empathy. The students pre - Day ing difficulty for other reasons,” says their voices appear distorted. serve DPS’ 88,000 students. But they University. penny drive ran from Feb. 8-12. sented Joachim a large facsimile of Monseille Calhoun, an audiologist. “The equipment helps the teacher,” also serve the Detroit parochial “I was with her all along,” Ellis Helping the children of Haiti trig - the check that will be presented to FT officials and more The audiologists are required to be said Patricia Millender. “You can talk schools, as well as public and said. “We have the best follow up. gered the fourth- and fifth-grade class - the American Red Cross in the than 50 members spent a state licensed and nationally certified loud but you’ll have voice fatigue.” parochial students in the Grosse No one has follow up like we do.” es to sell homemade cupcakes pre - amount of $485. Dday in Lansing March 17 lobbying state legislators on issues important to Detroit teach - ers. Burton Engineer Searches for Teacher Reform is in the air. As well as dwindling revenue for schools. That combination spells anxiety ike the abandoned Michigan valve above a false ceiling in the dents. Was theft of personal items a for everyone in public education. Central Station in the shadow boys’ lavatory at Burton International major problem back then?” Teachers are trying to do the hard Lof his school, engineer John School, Mohn discovered a red wal - “If someone at the DFT would be work of educating children with Mohn wonders if anyone cares about let. It contained a checkbook, credit able to track down Ms. Matthews,” fewer resources. what came before them. cards, a driver's license, birth certifi - Mohn wrote, “that would be great. I In addition, several bills direct - Do they care about the building cate, union card and other personal imagine she's all but forgotten the ed at cutting teachers’ health care engineers who clean these old Detroit effects. A former student apparently theft, but would, nonetheless, be and retirement benefits were buildings? Do they care about the stole it, took the cash and put the happy to have the items returned, being considered that week. employees who have been nurturing remains in the ceiling. especially the birth certificate.” AFT Michigan President David these spaces for decades? Do they This likely occurred in the early Unfortunately the DFT couldn’t Hecker said it is utterly important care about these workers who have 80s when the building was the locate her; her union activity stopped for legislators to hear from teachers. our state and that means raising rev - spent their best years working for Franklin Adult Day Center. The wal - in 2003. “In this city, reform means coming enues,” Hecker said. DPS? let had been there for, perhaps, 27 Mohn is still doing his research. He after you,” Hecker said. That means DFT members heard presentations “I don’t think they’ll want me years. found that Matthews had a daughter coming after teachers’ paychecks, by lobbyists before speaking directly much longer,” Mohn says about the Mohn, 53, is on a mission to find named Kikuyu Matthews, born in health care benefits and retirement. to legislators in their offices. More increasing trend toward privatizing all its owner, Sandra Matthews. 1976. Reform in Lansing doesn’t mean find - than 300 teachers from the Detroit the auxiliaries of public education. “I can't help but wonder what “A Google search found an article ing better revenue sources for educa - metropolitan area visited Lansing on Mohn has been a DPS engineer for became of Ms. Matthews,” Mohn in Jet magazine, 1994, about someone John Mohn tion. It means privatizing almost Lobby Day. 25 years, most of those years at wrote in an email. “She would be from Detroit having that name who every aspect of public education. “The economy in Michigan has Guyton Elementary School, which over 60 now. Is she retired? Still was to attend MIT (WOW!),” Mohn “Elected officials don’t mind trash - changed,” Mike Keller, legislative closed last year. As a child, he went teaching? If so, where? There are pic - wrote. “Another search suggested that For now, Mohn has the wallet in ing educators claiming you are not director for the Michigan AFL-CIO, to Guyton, Jackson Intermediate and tures of her children – they would be Kikuyu Matthews might now be safe keeping, and keeps researching. doing your jobs, while the same told a group of teachers. “A lot of our Cass Tech. in their 30s now. How are they doing? Kikuyu Daniels. There's someone by “One of the joys of working in Harding Elementary School Principal DeSheil Echols with students who elected officials are not doing their tax policies are pointed in the wrong Mohn cares. I wonder what thoughts she might that name currently (I think) these old buildings,” he said, “ is you raised money for Haiti. jobs of building a bright future for direction. They need to be shifted.” Last fall while looking for a shutoff have about working with adult stu - employed at MIT.” do find interesting things.” E H

Each One-Reach One Mentoring Program T At Clara W. Rutherford Academy After School By Gina Wilcox Programs Get Student t began more than six years ago. God placed it upon one educator’s heart to Boards Ibegin a program that would address the issues faced by young girls. Six women originally embraced the mission but today Michigan Circuit ing L Court Judge Craig there are 13 professional women who give Noth ike of their time, resources and skills to act as ’s th Strong was on hand a bridge for fourth- and fifth-grade girls at re e March 10 at Clara W. Rutherford Academy. e R MacDowell As mentors, these professionals inspire, h e correct and encourage 35 girls as they a Elementary School to aspire to cross a bridge into safety. T l do an important job. The girls take part in etiquette lessons, arts and crafts, knitting classes, a book club and have : T He was present to cultural experiences in the greater Detroit area. Mentors have, individually, taken their mentees a h swear in new student to church services, their homes, out to eat and pampered them with pedicures and manicures. ic advisory boards for The mentors meet with their mentees – some women have as many as four girls while others i the 25 schools partic - have three or two – once or twice a week during the lunch period. We are committed to improv - r n ing the lives of our future generation, our girls. f ipating in the 21st g In December, the mentees were treated to the wonderful Christmas performance of the Century After- Nutcracker Ballet at Mercy High School in Farmington Hills. The girls were excited and A School Program. Four students from each of the schools will immensely enjoyed this new experience. help govern the programs and make decisions to improve Principal Miriam Adams, through the Title 1 Fund and school wide fundraisers, has paid for them. Pictured above is the team from Beckham many mentoring activities, such as the Nutcracker Ballet tickets and the bus. However, the Elementary School: including (from left) teacher and mentors as well as the Visionary Women’s Ministry from Corinthian Baptist Church, provide much of the funding. Last year, the mentors held a fundraiser selling Little Caesar Pizza Kits. 21st Century site manager Pat Roper, parent Donations are always needed and appreciated. There is no cost to the girls or their families. Carlene Whitman-McGaughy, and princi - The mentors are: Carolyn Wize, Ericka Davis, Regina Davis, Rhoda Hurley, Cathy Wenz, pal Janet Glenn. Jan Smith, Keisha Smith, Urvashi Mehta, Margaret Williams, Charmaine Bartley, Lynda Mowbray, Francine Ellison, and Macell Myers.

Dora “There Blain got bit was a pleas - Schulze Student by the Africa bug ure that every - ALL THAT JAZZ in 1995 when she where I looked, every - Wins Top State Award took her first trip there. body looked like me,” said The experience was so inspiring Addie Douglass. “For our culture Ask Benjamin Nwachukwu (right) how the chambers of Congress that the retired Kettering teacher determined — the people born and raised in the U.S. — we work and he can tell you. However, you might not hear the humble stu - to return. But she wanted to take students. Those plans never were robbed of our culture. The little we learned was not dent’s quiet words. panned out. For some reason the students had fears. enough.” Government, law making, policy and politics. He’s interested “They were scared of traveling across the waters and Everywhere Douglass looked; it reflected a world where in them all. going into a whole new continent,” Blain said. Instead she she wasn’t a minority. The advertisements and billboards Benjamin, a seventh-grader at Schulze School on the northwest recruited five of her colleagues at Kettering High School and showcased people of color. side, has been named 2009 Middle School Student of the Year by Kettering West Wing. In February, they made the journey to For Deborah Supuwood, a retired Kettering teacher, it the Michigan Council for Social Studies. He was nominated by Ghana and came back with countless impressions. was a spiritual journey to see where the great Diaspora Schulze Social Studies teacher William Weir (below). began. “He is one of the most curious students I ever met,” Weir says. “He Kettering teacher Lois Tilly was astounded by the defer - is so interested about how the government ence in Ghana toward education. All of the children and works. To have a student ask so many teachers were in uniform. Homework was completed. questions, it’s like a dream come true.” Attendance was mandatory. For receiving the prestigious “If their parents can’t afford a uniform, they can’t go to award, MEEMIC Insurance school,” Tilly said. Company presented Ben- Gennina Thorpe loved the unspoiled land, the water, the jamin with a check for sky. $250 to go to Schulze “I could feel what the slaves felt when they were taken School in his honor. away,” she said. “He’s just a great The group visited castles, the tomb of W.E.B Dubois, The Duke Ellington Jazz Band from the Edward (Duke) Ellington Conservatory kid,” Weir said. slave holding cells and universities. of Music & Art is an after-school rehearsal group that is mentored by the jazz The women came back inspired and are even planning a staff from the University of Michigan. These musicians perform compositions by Freddie Hubbard and Herbie Hancock to name a few. This group recently spring 2011 trip to Dubai and Egypt. But Blain, always the performed at the University of Michigan Jazz Festival. The ensemble was one teacher, still dreams of taking students. of only two middle school jazz bands in the festival. The directors of the band “This is an international world we’re living in today,” she are Deborah Scales and Herbert Cage. said. “There’s nothing like seeing the real thing.” Page 8 The Detroit Teacher April 2010 April 2010 The Detroit Teacher Page 9 The Thrill of the Spelling Bee Charles Wright Academy Battles for Book Title By Charlene Uresy The thrill of competition for the Scripps National Spelling Bee permeated the halls of Spain School Fifth-grade students at Charles Wright Academy painstakingly read five was quiet and tense. The teams were so well prepared they had to go into recently. Students were buzzing with excitement, trying to predict who would win. This was the third books and prepared in teams to answer tricky questions about them. They three tie-breakers. Finally a first place group emerged with trophies, gift year fifth-grade teacher Deborah Stephens, right, administered the famed tournament. Stephens started had 20 seconds to remember the author’s name and answer intricate details certificates and other awards. “This isn’t just a singular moment,” said the bee after organizing a school trip for the fourth- through eighth-graders to see the inspirational film about the characters and story lines. The March 19 morning competition Principal Sylvia Green. “This happens all year long.” Akeelah and the Bee. The excitement of participating in the spelling bee has been going on ever since. This year's winner was seventh-grade student Jasmin Germany. It was her third year of participating in the bee – the other years she did not place. Before this year's competition Jasmin said to herself, "If I study harder, I can win this." She enlisted the help of her parents and her younger brother, Nichols. They helped her with words from a prepared list and words from the dictionary. Jasmin was elated when she won, and was looking forward to the next step – participation in the Wayne County spelling bee at the Charles Wright African American Museum. When Jasmin entered the museum she was nervous because she did not know any of the other 60 stu - dents participating. Most of these students were from suburban schools. Each contestant was presented with a Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary before the tournament began. They were allowed to do some quick cramming with their new dictionaries prior to the competition. Jasmin represented herself and Spain School well, misspelling a word in the seventh of 11 rounds. She was very grateful for the opportunity to participate and is looking forward to next year's competition. Mrs. Stephens has started a wildly successful academic contest at Spain, that is fast becoming an inher - ited right of involvement for its students. Group Works To Help Students Like many things in Detroit, a group that helps disadvantaged Detroit students to get eyeglass - es or uniforms, fell on hard times. Funding to Student Assistance Services, Inc. (SASI) came pri - marily from the United Way. But SASI lost United Way’s support. “Like many small independ - ent agencies, we lost our funding,” says SASI President Kathy Cornish. SASI is largely made up of DPS attendance officers who work with schools to find students who need resources. “The attendance officers are our eyes and ears,” says Cornish. The district has approximate - ly 34 attendance officers, formerly truant officers, who work with 172 Detroit schools. They know when a family experiences a home fire or job loss or other unfortunate events. “We’re an agency without walls,” says Cornish, who retired in 2006 as an attendance officer. SASI has been in place for five decades, having been established in 1953, to help students stay in school every day. It is looking to replace its $10,000 to $12,000 it needs each year to buy students clothes, glasses or replace hearing aids. “We need to raise this money consistently,” Cornish says. To do that SASI is holding its first Detroit Princess river boat ride June 3 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 and can be obtained by calling 313-404-0946 or 313-272-9165. “We’re hoping to make it an annual event and teachers will get on board and maybe even bring their classrooms,” Cornish says. SASI partners with the Department of Attendance and it collaborates with the Goodfellows to get shoes for students. Not interested in a sunset cruise, but want to support SASI? The group takes tax-deductible donations sent to SASI, P.O. Box 401578, Redford, MI 48240. Or donate through the website at www.assiststudents.org. 2010: New Year, a New Attitude By Talecia Tate and Nicole Cato Each year we all make New Year’s resolutions. We pledge to lose a few pounds or save a few more dollars. By the time March rolls around, we have abandoned those lofty goals. But this year will be different. Under the leadership of the Principal Calvin B. Patillo, the staff, students and parents at Owen Academy @ Pelham have adopted a new mission. 2010: New Year, a New Attitude…..Administrating, Teaching, Servicing, Parenting and Learning. This new motto gives stakeholders an opportunity to reassess and redirect their attitude. We started the year with a new mentoring program for the middle school students. Mentoring sessions are held bi-weekly and mentors include the principal and teachers. Mentors design activities to increase critical thinking skills, goal setting and a sense of responsibility. Students are enjoying the out-of-classroom learning and discus - sions with their mentors. It gives them an opportunity to discuss important issues and make real life connections to lessons taught in class. To kick off our new attitude, we had a school wide balloon launch. On Jan. 12 Owen students and staff partic - ipated in “The Sky is the Limit” balloon launch. Each student, K-8, wrote their goals on a note card and attached it to a balloon. Each card included the school’s return address and asked the finder to write back and encourage the students to follow their dreams. The entire school gathered in the front of the building and released their balloons in unison. As the balloon soared further and further away, the students began to think about exploring their unlimited possibilities. To date we have received two responses, both from small towns in Ontario, Canada. They were so excited to find the balloons four days later, and encouraged the third-graders to follow their dreams. We will continue to pro - mote the students to follow their dreams, the sky is the limit! Page 10 The Detroit Teacher April 2010 April 2010 The Detroit Teacher Page 11

CASS HOSTS ROBOTICS COMPETITON — Some 40 metro Detroit schools attend - Take My Advice, ed the FIRST ROBOTICS competition March 12 hosted by Cass Tech High School. The program teams an engineer with 15 to 20 students at a school to work Take Time To Listen... together for six weeks to build a robot. The competition pitted robots against each BY Tura R. Smith-Dean, other by scoring points when a robot gets Instructional Specialist a soccer ball through a goal post. The pro - Trix Elementary/Middle School gram aims to get kids interested in engi - neering by working with a real world engi - ave you ever wondered why it takes 30 minutes out neer on a real technical project. “This is like of your 60-minute math, science, history, comput - playing a varsity sport with a pro every Hers or ELA class to deal with behavioral issues? Or, day,” said Francois Castaing, head of First during your 3-hour ELA block, your reading lesson is in Michigan. interrupted by John again, the fourth time this week.

Do you yell, holler and demand the students “shut up” and listen? Have you found yourself being ignored by 30 students and you have 35 students sitting InsideOut Reaches in your room? Or, during hall duty you tell students to stop playing and walk to the right and they act like you are invisible? If you are a teacher, social worker, counselor, support staff or administrator, you probably have experi - Kids through Poetry enced one of these scenarios during your career. Today, the students are quite different from the students we had just 10 What’s a better way to get students Even better news was the $50,000 years ago. Today the students are trying to cope with issues some adults have writing than through their own experi - grant that InsideOut won from Sun Life not had to encounter. We must realize that some of our students are raising ences? Many times that way is through to continue its work with Detroit themselves, are responsible for their younger siblings, and two-parent house - Grants... poetry. schools. holds are almost a thing of the past. Our children are angry, defiant and vio - InsideOut is a Detroit-based organi - “Poetry is a really powerful way to lent. They are hungry, helpless, homeless and hopeless. Environment Youth Education prospective secondary mathematics ed or self-nominate. Deadline: May 7. zation that worked with 6,200 Detroit engage kids in writing,” says Terry teachers. College students who are For info, visit www.nabt.org. students last year to write and publish Blackhawk (above), executive director My question: Do you know the story of the students you are educating? Do you The Lawrence Foundation focuses The American Honda Foundation is currently finishing their sophomore their own poetry. It operates several and founder of InsideOut. Blackhawk know the real reason why Derrick is so angry? (Because he didn’t eat dinner the on supporting environmental, educa - committed to grant-making that year, are student members of NCTM, programs and sends established poets likes to quote famed writer Grace Biotechnology Teaching night before). Or why Amanda is late everyday? (Because she has to watch her tional, human services and other reflects the basic beliefs of Honda and intend to teach secondary school into the schools to teach kids in this Paley: "I went to the school of poetry to The National Association of Biology baby sister while her mother runs the streets, and not to mention she does not have causes. The foundation has made companies: imaginative, creative, mathematics are eligible to apply. Up special art. learn to write prose.” Teachers announced the Ron an alarm clock). Or why Terrell’s pants and shirt are so dirty? (Because the water over $3 million in grants since its youthful, forward-thinking, scientific, to $10,000 maximum will be awarded InsideOut’s after-school workshops, “It engages kids personally and helps Mardigian Biotechnology Teaching was cut off a week ago). Or why Jordan, William, Tracye and Jakia have to be the inception in 2000. Grants are award - humanistic and innovative. The foun - to a current college student pursuing Citywide Poets, work with high school them find confidence in their voice,” Award. The award goes to a secondary class clowns everyday? (Because that is the only attention they get). ed twice a year. Deadline: April 30. dation particularly supports youth this career goal and attending college students to improve writing and per - Blackhawk says. teacher who has demonstrated excel - For info, visit www.thelawrencefoun - education that focuses on science, full time. Deadline: May 7. For info, forming skills at three different sites Blackhawk, a retired Detroit teacher, lent, innovative teaching of biotechnol - LISTEN…YOU MUST KNOW THEIR STORY. Take time to listen. It dation.org. technology, engineering and math, as visit www.nctm.org. across Detroit. Citywide students lead is hoping to secure more funding to ogy in the classroom. The award may does not take long. Perhaps it takes a simple question: How are you doing well as literacy and job training. writing workshops with other students. expand the programs to more schools. be given for a short-term series of today? Is something on your mind? Do you need someone to talk to? Singing For Change Grants from $20,000 to $50,000 are Learning & Leadership Over 90 percent of The programs are provided to schools for a one-year activities or a longer term integration powerful for students: Remember, students do not care what you know, until they know you care. Singing For Change is a foundation alumni go on to col - period. The grants have rolling dead - The National Education of biotechnology in the curriculum. research shows an 11 started by the singer Jimmy Buffett to lege. lines. The next one is May 1. Association Foundation supports pub - The award includes $1,500 — up to percent achievement Sometimes as adults we feel students must respect us, but we do not have support programs improving the qual - Citywide Poets was Applications are submitted online at lic school teaching and curriculum $500 toward travel to the NABT advantage for those to do the same. RESPECT is earned NOT given. Respect must be mutual for ity of life and empowering people to nationally recognized http://corporate.honda.com.america. improvement. Its Learning & Professional Development Conference, students in the pro - student and adult. Take a moment and ponder the numerous encounters you make positive changes in their com - recently by Michelle Leadership Grants support educators $500 in Bio-Rad materials, and $500 gram, over non-partic - have had with students over your career, did you really know their story? munities. Grants from $500 to Obama and the Young Heroes having high-quality professional for general science supplies. Deadline: ipants. $10,000 with ongoing deadlines are National Endowment development experiences. Grants May 7. For info, visit www.nabt.org. Clippert Middle I personally have worked with students aged five to 15. I am able to con - available to programs concerned with The Gloria Barron Prize for Young of the Arts as one of from $2,000 to $5,000 fund individu - School teacher Joanne nect with them because I listen. We have built relationships; and relationships health, education and the protection Heroes recognizes the efforts of 15 youth arts and als participating in summer institutes Literacy Leggat conducted the are the foundation of our life experiences. Students know that I will be there of families, programs promoting envi - young people who take action to pro - humanities programs to receive the or groups engaged in collegial study. research. Leggat saw that InsideOut when they need encouragement, a hug, a smile or a kind word. Please take my ronmental awareness, and programs tect their environment or improve The Marine Toy for Tots prestigious 2009 Coming Up Taller Deadline for applications: June 1. For participants were more likely to use dic - advice: take time to listen. Listening may change their lives FOREVER. that help marginalized people over - their communities. The leadership Foundation is committed to playing an Award. info, visit www.neafoundation.org. tionaries, thesauruses and descriptive come barriers. For info, visit shown by these young people, ages active role in developing one of the That was exceptionally good news words. [email protected]. eight to 18, makes the heroes worthy nation’s most valuable resources — for the organization that has been pro - Educator Awards “They became excited about creating of the award. The Barron Prize focus - children. The foundation delivers toys ducing great student work for 15 years. and using their imagination and less es on 25 young people who either Vernier Software & Technology and to those children who might not Fifteen years ago, however, the Detroit Literacy Grants concerned about failure since they focus on helping their communities, the National Association of Biology receive them during the winter holi - arts community had more resources. weren’t graded for attempting some - Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs or protecting and sustaining the envi - Teachers are sponsoring an award to days. The foundation continues its Today InsideOut has lost its Title 1 thing,” Leggat said. “I am not a poetry Foundation is committed to providing ronment. The prize consists of $2,500 recognize excellence in the teaching support for children beyond the holi - funding and depends on other organiza - writer and not much of a writer … so financial support for programs that toward their education or their service of ecology or environmental science. days through its Toys for Tots Literacy tions and individuals for money. the students benefited from a real lover further children’s health and wellness, project. Deadline: April 30. For info, This award recognizes a secondary Program, which began in 2008. The Last month, one of Citywide’s stu - of poetry.” domestic pets, and literacy and educa - visit www.barronprize.org. school teacher of ecology or environ - program delivers books to public dent poets won a $5,000 scholarship tion. The foundation’s literacy and mental science who has carried his or schools or libraries that provide eco - from Sun Life Financial Inc. Cass Tech InsideOut Literary Arts Project will education grants go to support pro - Math and Science her commitment to the environment nomically disadvantaged children with senior Myriha Burton participated in host a “Showcase for Success” at the grams such as summer reading pro - into the community. The award emotional and educational support. Citywide Poets for three years and DFT building on April 29 at 5: 30 p.m. grams, early childhood, literacy pro - The National Council of Teachers includes $1,000 toward travel to the The foundation takes requests for earned an award at the 2008 Brave New This event will feature student per - grams for children with special needs. of Mathematics, with support from NABT Professional Development books on an ongoing basis. The Voices National Youth Poetry Slam in formances and panel discussions by Deadline: May 30. For info, visit Texas Instruments Demana-Waits Conference and $500 worth of Vernier request form is available online at Washington, D.C. She’ll use the funds teachers, students and parents about www.buildabear.com. Fund, provides scholarships to equipment. Teachers may be nominat - [email protected]. for college. the impact of InsideOut. Page 12 The Detroit Teacher April 2010 Fixing the Small Learning Issues Early

group of Priest Elementary dren is hurting the development of School teachers think the brain. they’re on to something. A “So many of our children are The teachers are implementing spending so much time in front of strategies in young kids to stave screens, whether TV, video or off a diagnosis of special educa - PlayStation,” Reck says. But the tion. The program — called Early more senses a child uses, the faster Learning Success — was piloted she learns. in 1992 in Northville Public Some of ELS’ 12 proficiencies Schools and showed a dramatic stem from using motor skills and decrease in those students later visual memory. One strategy is for sent to special ed. students to close their eyes, visual - While rates of special education ize a word, and spell it backward. eligibility have steadily increased Another is to toss balls while skip - in Michigan and the nation, those ping. Priest Elementary School teachers implementing the ELS program are placed in special education in Martha Bills, Kathy Fischer, Sue Reck, Vida Bonacci, and Jan Drewek. When the teachers were first Northville schools decreased since introduced to ELS at Wayne the program was implemented. RESA, their skepticism piqued. “The goal is to reduce the num - Another new program with great ber of children referred to special expectations. But the teachers ed,” says Sue Reck, a second found ELS makes the DIBELS grade teacher at Priest. With early benchmarks and GLCEs easier to intervention, that can happen. track. All meetings will be held at 2875 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, unless otherwise noted. Dates and times are subject to change. “We’re meeting the children at The Priest teachers caught the their level and fixing the things attention of executives at they need fixed,” Reck said. Mercedes Benz, who funded a APRIL “Right now we have the failure grant for each teacher at the school 2-11 Schools Closed, Spring Break model: you have to fall so far through AdoptAClassroom.org. 12 Executive Board Meeting, 4:30 p.m. behind in order to intervene.” They are the only DPS school to 13 Special Education Chapter Meeting, 4:30 p.m. Reck, who was trained in ELS receive a request from a donor to 13 Social Workers Chapter Meeting, 4:30 p.m. sign up every teacher for a grant. with four other Priest teachers, is 14 Attendance Agents Chapter Meeting, 4:00 p.m. hoping to reverse that trend. ELS is what they’re investing in. 15 General Membership Meeting, 4:30 p.m. “For most kids, it’s a few little 15 Psychological Services Chapter Meeting, 4:30 p.m. fixes,” she said. “If you concen - 20 Retirees Chapter Meeting, 11:30 a.m. trate on those, they move up.” How to Build 22 African Centered Education Chapter, 4:30 p.m. Brain research shows that for Brain Pathways many children the pathways on the two sides of their brain aren’t con - MAY nected. If they don’t have balance • Turn off the TV 3 Special Education Chapter Meeting, 4:30 p.m. and gross motor skills, the connec - 6 Executive Board Meeting, 4:30 p.m. • Dribble and sing at once tion on both sides of the brain is 6 Preschool/Head Start Chapter Meeting, 4:30 p.m. not formed. • Balance with eyes closed 11 Social Workers Chapter Meeting, 4:30 p.m. These children need to toss 12 Attendance Agents Chapter Meeting, 4:00 p.m. balls, skip, jump and use both • Do sit and spins 13 General Membership Meeting, 4:30 p.m. sides of the body to build the path - ways. • Walk with a bean bag on your 18 Retirees Chapter Meeting, 11:30 a.m. 18 Educational Technicians Chapter Meeting, 3:30 p.m. “Get those babies out of the head walkers,” says Reck. And away 20 Psychological Services Chapter Meeting, 4:30 p.m. from the TV. Experts believe the • Do pushups 20 African Centered Education Chapter, 4:30 p.m. lack of physicality in young chil -