A National Disgrace Explained

Series:Dan Rather Reports
Season:6
Episode:17
Director:Steven Tyler
Presenter:Dan Rather
Photographer:Lucian Read
Editor:Carla Ruff
Production:617
Runtime:105 minutes
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Dan Rather Reports: "A National Disgrace" (Episode #617)[1] is a two-hour television report about the Detroit Public Schools (DPS), in Detroit, Michigan, that aired on HDNet (today AXS TV) on May 10, 2011. Presented by journalist Dan Rather, this episode was part of his investigative documentary series.[2] It explores a political struggle between the Detroit Board of Education, the governing body of DPS, and Robert Bobb, the emergency manager appointed by the State of Michigan after the city declared bankruptcy.[3]

The filming took about 18 months and included interviews with DPS school board members, teachers and administrators, and students and parents.[4] The production filmed a Detroit Board of Education meeting in which the board announced that superintendent Connie Calloway, who held the position for 18 months, was fired.[5]

According to Rather, the failure of DPS is a failure of a top-down educational system.[6] He argued that the problems are related to public schools in the entire United States and are not limited to Detroit.[7]

Background

At the time of the program, residents of the City of Detroit had a functional illiteracy rate of 50%.[8] The title originates from a statement made about Detroit public schools by Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education.

Content

The report explores the problems associated with the city's struggles with declining economy, poverty of many residents, and how the schools are performing.[9] It states that in 2009 the DPS district scored the lowest ever National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test results. Henry Ford High School is featured in the program.

Release and reception

Jonathan Oosting of MLive said that "Rather's report is sure to upset some residents -- and of course local leaders -- tired of seeing Detroit in the national media for all the wrong reasons." After the documentary was aired, Bobb accused Rather of ignoring efforts by the Bobb-led administration to reform the district. Bobb argued that it "grossly and completely neglects an entire year or more of transformative efforts to change the system." DPS board president Anthony Adams also criticized the documentary, saying that it "really bashes the city, bashes the district, doesn't really talk about the accomplishments and the great strides that we've made."

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dan Rather Reports - Episode Number: 617 - A National Disgrace. 2011. AXS TV. PDF. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923181110/http://www.axs.tv/ui/inc/show_transcripts.php?ami=A7894&t=Dan_Rather_Reports&en=617. 2015-09-23. 2015-08-11.
  2. Web site: "A National Disgrace" Dan Rather's report on the Detroit Public Schools. Brush. Mark. 2011-04-29. Michigan Radio. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20150908174734/http://michiganradio.org/post/national-disgrace-dan-rathers-report-detroit-public-schools. 2015-09-08. dead. 2015-08-11.
  3. Web site: Bobb: Dan Rather two years too late depicting Detroit Public Schools as 'A National Disgrace'. Wayland. Michael. 2011-05-11. MLive. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20190905213510/https://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/2011/05/bobb_dan_rather_depicting_detr.html. 2019-09-05. dead. 2015-08-11.
  4. Web site: Video: Detroit Student Cries Over "Disgrace" of City's Public Schools. Dwyer. Liz. 2011-05-11. GOOD. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20190905214205/https://www.good.is/articles/video-detroit-student-cries-over-disgrace-of-city-s-public-schools. 2019-09-05. dead. 2015-08-11.
  5. Web site: Calloway says DPS board stood in way. Mrozowski. Jennifer. 2009-02-27. The Detroit News. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923214251/http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20090227/SCHOOLS/902270391. 2015-09-23. 2015-08-11. More than 100 people gathered for the meeting, including a camera crew from 'Dan Rather Reports'..
  6. Web site: The School District of the City of Detroit's Use of Title I, Part A Funds Under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Whitman. Gary D.. 2008-07-18. United States Department of Education. PDF. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170612135516/https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/auditreports/fy2008/a05h0010.pdf. 2017-06-12. 2019-09-05.
  7. Web site: Dan Rather on 'National Disgrace' of Detroit Public Schools: Time to start listening to kids. Oosting. Jonathan. 2011-05-10. MLive. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20190905215250/https://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/2011/05/dan_rather_on_national_disgrac.html. 2019-09-05. dead. 2015-08-11.
  8. Web site: Ingham County Bar Association Briefs - June 2012. 23. June 2012. Ingham County Bar Association. PDF. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090038/http://www.inghambar.org/documents/Briefs/June-2012-Briefs-V4.pdf. 2016-03-04. 2019-09-05.
  9. News: Detroit Schools on the Brink. Kellogg. Alex P.. 2009-07-21. Wall Street Journal. https://web.archive.org/web/20190905222728/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124813472753066949. 2019-09-05. dead. 2019-09-05. en-US. 0099-9660.

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