After ditching the classroom and rallying in the streets, the Detroit public school teachers can finally rejoice with the Supreme Court ruling in favor of their plea. The teachers have been staging "sick-outs" as an act of protest against the corrupt Detroit public school district.
According to CNN, 94 out of Detroit's 97 public schools closed on May because teachers called in sick. They have long known of Detroit Public Schools' impending bankruptcy but they just found out that they won't be receiving their full salaries for their year's work.
This angered the teachers who decided another sick-out would be proper after the first one this year occurred last January. They protested that time because of improper working conditions that Detroit Public Schools are overlooking such as pest infestations, black mold forming and parts of the ceiling falling (via CNN).
As per Detroit Free Press, teacher strikes are considered illegal under Michigan Public Employment Relations Act (PERA) that the Detroit school district filed a lawsuit against the teachers in protest. They specifically accused Steve Conn and Nicole Conaway of encouraging sick-outs among their fellow teachers that caused the closing of schools (via Detroit Free Press).
Unfortunately, the tables were not in favor of Detroit Public Schools as the Supreme Court finally arrived with a decision that dismisses the teachers of any charge. They concurred that the nature of the sick-outs were political, rather than work-related. The teachers' "sick-out" protest was simply an exercise of their basic right to freedom of speech and not a violation of PERA.
The teachers were happy but not surprised with the decision of the Supreme Court. Conn said that the Supreme Court just saw the "political plane concerning the state takeover of the district."
Ultimately, the students are the most affected with the teacher sick-outs and lack of accountability from the Detroit School District. Parent Herald reported that Detroit's school children are one of the worst academic performers in the United States.
A newly-built, debt-free district now stands in Detroit in hopes of restoring the education sector and improving the academic performance of students. Do you think that this new district holds promise? Sound off your thoughts in the Comments section and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates.
