Detroit to close half of schools but hands out laptops.

[Guest guest]

The Detroit school system is facing a major budget deficit due in large part to the collapse of property values in the city. So the solution they came up with was the close half of the schools over the next two years and increase class sizes to over 60. They've got to be kidding to think anyone will learn anything in a zoo like that. Maybe they should have asked the teachers and especially the administrators to take a pay cut, a few percent for the teachers and more for the more highly paid administrators?At the same time, the schools are going to be handing out 40,000 laptops. That's a monumental waste of money. That same money, combined with other small cuts could have kept the school system running for at least another year.

Still cities like Detroit are probably a lost cause. Until the crime problems can be addressed and industry can be brought back, there isn't that much hope for them. There will be even less if they go through with this plan it will drive people either out of the city or cause an increase in private schools for those who can afford them. Fewer people will move into the city because of the school situation and so the tax base and property values will decline even more.

Politicians just need to learn that schools aren't a jobs program for teachers or daycare centers. They are for educating the next generation of Americans and our economy and the Republic itself depend on quality education. The schools have been failing terribly though as international comparison show. The US has been steadily sliding down the rankings since the 1970's. The economy is lagging now in part because of employers not able to find qualified workers.