Only in the nation’s public school systems can teachers in one of the worse school systems in the country go on strike. Short of being publicly flogged each day when they report for work there is no logical reason for Detroit teachers to strike and even then a strike would not be warranted given the Detroit schools

Detroit teachers, who are seeking a pay raise (naturally) walked off the “job” after rejecting a contract proposal offered by the school system. The school system, far from offering a pay increase, proposed at 5% pay cut along with increased health care premiums, all in an effort to balance a bloated budget. Considering the state of Detroit public schools and declining enrollment, this move by the school district should come as no surprise. This proposal, however, was soundly rejected by the teacher’s union, whose primary objection is not to advance education in Detroit but to advance the well being and continued mediocrity of Detroit area schools.

Detroit consistently ranks as one of the poorest performing school systems in the country, with many of its students failing to meet even the most basic of educational standards. Students who attend the city’s public school system are at a disadvantage to other children because of the marginal quality of a Detroit public school education.

These teachers, far from striking should be running to their respective classrooms, working longer hours and forgoing vacations in a bid to boost the quality of their schools rather than demanding raises. Given their performance, such demands are entirely unjustified and yet a further testament to the injustices bestowed upon all those students who suffer under the yoke of public education.
Link to Washington Post article