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chefdennis

chefdennis

Veteran Expediter
God love the libs:

Tyler-Ruiz said only 10 percent of those who can’t read have gotten any help to resolve it.

The report will be used to provide better training for local workers.
Click to expand...

I guess there were no schools when they grew up...:rolleyes:


Report: Nearly Half Of Detroiters Can’t Read

May 4, 2011 2:20 PM
Report: Nearly Half Of Detroiters Can’t Read « CBS Detroit

DETROIT (WWJ) – According to a new report, 47 percent of Detroiters are ”functionally illiterate.” The alarming new statistics were released by the Detroit Regional Workforce Fund on Wednesday.
WWJ Newsradio 950 spoke with the Fund’s Director, Karen Tyler-Ruiz, who explained exactly what this means.

“Not able to fill out basic forms, for getting a job — those types of basic everyday (things). Reading a prescription; what’s on the bottle, how many you should take… just your basic everyday tasks,” she said.

“I don’t really know how they get by, but they do. Are they getting by well? Well, that’s another question,” Tyler-Ruiz said.

Some of the Detroit suburbs also have high numbers of functionally illiterate: 34 percent in Pontiac and 24 percent in Southfield.

“For other major urban areas, we are a little bit on the high side… We compare, slightly higher, to Washington D.C.’s urban population, in certain ZIP codes in Washington D.C. and in Cleveland,” she said.

Tyler-Ruiz said only 10 percent of those who can’t read have gotten any help to resolve it.

The report will be used to provide better training for local workers.
Click to expand...
 
LDB

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
Want illiteracy solved? Simple as can be. No diploma or equivalency no drivers license. Caught driving without a license? Automatic forfeiture of vehicle if convicted. Added bonus, some transit systems make their first profit ever with the increased ridership.
 
LisaLouHoo

LisaLouHoo

Expert Expediter
Let me tell you a true story that explains alot:

I was born, raised, and went to school north of Flint, MI, specifically the Beecher District. It's like Detroit only it's spelled differently...apparently most Detroiters wouldn't notice that. Anyway...in September 1977 at the beginning of our Sophomore year, it was announced we had to pass an English Equivalency examination by April 1980 in order to graduate. We took the exam first time in April 1978.

200 points required to pass the exam.

So many things on the exam we were never taught...however, there were examples given so it should have been easy to figure out and muddle through, right?

At that time, me and merely 32 of my 265 classmates passed.

When offered again in October '78, the required passing score had been reduced to 125. Only about 10 more passed.

By April 1980, just 2 months before graduation, the exam had been pared down to a passing score of 60 and basically all they had to do was show up.

So the educational system allowed itself to dumb down rather than fix their own problem.

I still resent the fact that me and my 32 classmates made the grade, did things by the book...and one of our athlete classmates, who could hardly string 2 words together, barely passed the last offering...but went on to MSU on a full ride football scholarship, from there NY Giants and Superbowl championship...and you know? He's still a blubbering dimbulb.

The 33 of us may not have set the world on fire...but at least we can read.

"Bruises fade and bones will mend-but a psyche can be ruined FOREVER" : LisaLouHoo, c. 2008
 
The Enemy

The Enemy

Veteran Expediter
Now that I'm done driving for the day, I'm gonna go learn me some books. That way I'm just not another dumb van driver from Michigan.

Why go to class and get an education when slinging rock on the corner is so much easyer.
 
Bambuild

Bambuild

Active Expediter
LisaLouHoo said:
Let me tell you a true story that explains alot:

I was born, raised, and went to school north of Flint, MI, specifically the Beecher District. It's like Detroit only it's spelled differently...apparently most Detroiters wouldn't notice that. Anyway...in September 1977 at the beginning of our Sophomore year, it was announced we had to pass an English Equivalency examination by April 1980 in order to graduate. We took the exam first time in April 1978.

200 points required to pass the exam.

So many things on the exam we were never taught...however, there were examples given so it should have been easy to figure out and muddle through, right?

At that time, me and merely 32 of my 265 classmates passed.

When offered again in October '78, the required passing score had been reduced to 125. Only about 10 more passed.

By April 1980, just 2 months before graduation, the exam had been pared down to a passing score of 60 and basically all they had to do was show up.

So the educational system allowed itself to dumb down rather than fix their own problem.

I still resent the fact that me and my 32 classmates made the grade, did things by the book...and one of our athlete classmates, who could hardly string 2 words together, barely passed the last offering...but went on to MSU on a full ride football scholarship, from there NY Giants and Superbowl championship...and you know? He's still a blubbering dimbulb.

The 33 of us may not have set the world on fire...but at least we can read.

"Bruises fade and bones will mend-but a psyche can be ruined FOREVER" : LisaLouHoo, c. 2008
Click to expand...

I had a kid from the Beecher schools work for me a few years ago, Smart Kid too! and very athletic, hey was a soccer player. He went to college on a partial scholorship, but the kid still had it, upstairs. He still calls me to just say high once a year.
A few years ago our school district elementary principal, cheated on the state equiv. exams, she gave all of the students the answers. She later was caught by the state, fired, and was being charged with something by the state and all of the kids had to retake the tests. Apparently she wasn't even smart enough to cheat, and she was running the school?
 
LisaLouHoo

LisaLouHoo

Expert Expediter
Bambuild said:
I had a kid from the Beecher schools work for me a few years ago, Smart Kid too! and very athletic, hey was a soccer player. He went to college on a partial scholorship, but the kid still had it, upstairs. He still calls me to just say high once a year.
A few years ago our school district elementary principal, cheated on the state equiv. exams, she gave all of the students the answers. She later was caught by the state, fired, and was being charged with something by the state and all of the kids had to retake the tests. Apparently she wasn't even smart enough to cheat, and she was running the school?
Click to expand...

At Beecher, we either sank or swam. The level of parental involvement mattered more there than anywhere else. Teachers who did care often didn't last for their hands were tied by the school board and there were those parents who felt their child was being picked on by said teachers...gee, imagine an educator taking the time to make sure little Johnny understands the concept of not spelling "dog" with a 'Q'. No, any teacher who was "tough" was basically run out of town for attempting to do nothing more than prevent society from being saddled with another illiterate Crip.

Some of us made it out...and to say 'made it out alive' isn't an understatement. Remember about 10 years ago, when that 1st grader shot and killed a classmate at school? That's where that happened. Kid couldn't read but he knew how to handle a firearm.

My brother, my "running crew", and I graduated Beecher with honors...but in the real world, that meant nothing. It was just a matter of turning your homework in on time at Beecher.

I see the spelling of some of my former classmates over on facebook and I cringe. Passed that exam with a 61 score, did ya?

However, I wouldn't trade my Beecher experiences for the world. I learned things there you don't get from books...a pregnant classmate in the 6th grade, another classmate falling out in 8th grade English from a heroin overdose, having a gun pulled on me in 10th grade (that happened to alot of us, really), physical fights through junior high, watching the birth of the area Crips take shape in 1977...all real life lessons that can't be taken away from me.

It has made me a cynic, no doubt. It has also given me the will to stand for what I believe in and not back down from bullies.

"Bruises fade and bones will mend-but a psyche can be ruined FOREVER" : LisaLouHoo, c. 2008
 
skyraider

skyraider

Veteran Expediter
US Navy
I grew up in Tennessee. I know whats wrong with the Detroit schools , but some things dont need to be said, I'm just saying, you can read between the lines IMHO. Come on down to Dixie, I can show you the same problems. If the parents are a product of the system, your kids will be the same.:eek:
 
greg334

greg334

Veteran Expediter
You know many of you can't read.

The problem in the news report about the report isn't about the schools but the workforce which includes a lot of unionized workers who have no incentive to better themselves.

Just a quick sidebar ...
There is a distinct difference between Flint and Detroit, but the common thread is the I am owed attitude which permeates the east side of the state. Nothing great about the Flint area either, even though they too should have had a casino there.

I digress ...

The three cities mentioned are the three where Detroitr's have migrated to in the last 30 years. This is where Detroit culture (note I'm not saying black culture but that distinct Detroit culture) has changed those cities and entrenched itself so there is no difference between north and south of 8 mile.

BUT with that said, the schools are only part of the problem, the other parts which isn't always mentioned is the library system that has been hacked up to fit a political union mold (why is the UAW representing library workers?), promotion of the downtown and the arts of the city over the library, promoting literacy has gone away for obvious reasons and the culture that we have here in this area is really about how to get away with the most with doing the least.

Regardless how you cut it, there are problems with all the schools in this state and in the country and there are serious illiteracy problems that goes along with it.

In thinking about it, I can't even blame people within the culture for this issue because it is a country wide issue but rather I think religious and political organization both have to share the blame, especially churches where they need to step up and help out.
 
LisaLouHoo

LisaLouHoo

Expert Expediter
greg334 said:
Nothing great about the Flint area either, even though they too should have had a casino there.
Click to expand...

Actually, there is still active discussion going on about bringing a casino to a western suburb of Flint, at the Sports Creek Raceway.

Bring it on.

Beats the heck out of building more subsidized housing. While I personally cannot tolerate a casino for more than an hour once every 3 years, I do see the great shot in the arm this would be economically for the area. I know, preying on those with a gambling addiction is the sticky wicket.

Nothing great about Flint? Hast thou forgotten the Halo Burger discussion already? LOL!

That and we are also responsible for the invention of the ice cube tray! Oh yeah, baybee...

BTW: I do agree the UAW is going places they shouldn't, but then again, they allowed themselves to become the Big 3's beeatch, so they are trying desperately to stay alive. Not condoning their actions of spreading into unrelated venues, the UAW "powers that be" turned into self serving, greedy monsters in the mid-70's, seemingly padding their incomes and working every angle to stay off the assembly lines and in climate controlled offices at their union halls. HOWEVER...GM/UAW has provided well for me since I was born; my dad was an electrician for them, my late husband worked for them; that income has provided me with a roof over my head, clothes on my back, heat for my house, college education, food in my stomach, truck in my garage, money in the bank. I can't complain about what they have done and are doing for me.

But I do see where they are responsible for their own downfall, they became less about protecting the reasonable rights of those they were to represent and moreso about looking out for their own backs through unreasonable demands that benefited them more than their constituents.

The best part is: both my dad and my late husband could read!
 
cheri1122

cheri1122

Veteran Expediter
Driver
greg334 said:
You know many of you can't read.

There's a huge difference between being able to read, and being able [and making the effort] to comprehend what one reads. There do seem to be some who fall short in the latter.
[Saying that isn't 'smug', because I fall short in the area of business planning, accounting, budgeting - anything to do with numbers just doesn't hold my interest long enough for me to get good at it.]
The problem in the news report about the report isn't about the schools but the workforce which includes a lot of unionized workers who have no incentive to better themselves.
What does being unionized have to do with the incentive to better oneself?
Actually, the better word would be 'desire', and it's a character trait, unrelated to anything else in one's life. Some want to better themselves financially, some spiritually, some physically, some educationally.
You ought to know better than to spout stereotypes, really. Even if you personally know some people who fit the image, you know it is wrong to attribute it to everyone in a group.:(
In thinking about it, I can't even blame people within the culture for this issue because it is a country wide issue but rather I think religious and political organization both have to share the blame, especially churches where they need to step up and help out.
Click to expand...

The only role religion should play in education is to offer it to those who choose a religious education - otherwise, they have no business in anyone else's schooling.
 
cheri1122

cheri1122

Veteran Expediter
Driver
As far as the report, I'm wondering if the Detroit Regional Workforce Fund is federally funded? Because this is ammunition in the battle of the budget - same as speeding tickets are for LEOs: it 'proves' they need more money [or at least, not less, when cuts are threatened.]
And how many of the functionally illiterate got through on their athletic ability, hmmm?:(
 
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