Only seven percent of Detroit Public-School 8th Graders found proficient in reading

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
12/12/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Only 31 percent scored grade-level proficient or better in math

In a troubling sign about public school education in major urban centers in the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Education, only seven percent of the eighth graders in Detroit are grade-level proficient or better in reading.

Michigan's public school system has shown no improvement at all in teaching children how to read over the past several years.

Facebook Delicous MySpace

Twitter Stumble Digg

More Destinations

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Even worse, Detroit public-school eighth graders do even worse in math than they do in reading. While only 7 percent scored highly enough on the department's National Assessment of Educational Progress test in 2011, according to the Department of Education, to be rated "proficient" or better in reading, only four percent scored highly enough to be rated "proficient" or better in math.

Statewide in Michigan, only 32 percent of public-school eighth graders scored grade-level proficient or better in reading, and only 31 percent scored grade-level proficient or better in math.

All in all, 68 percent of Michigan public-school eighth graders are not proficient in reading and 69 percent are not proficient in math.

Michigan's public school system has shown no improvement at all in teaching children how to read over the past several years. In 2002 just as in 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Education, only 32 percent of Michigan public-school eighth graders scored proficient or better in reading.

The one bright spot is that the state's public schools have made a slight improvement in teaching math. In 2000, only 28 percent of Michigan public-school eighth graders were proficient or better in math. By 2011, that had inched up to 31 percent.

In related news: Some public school teachers in the City of Detroit and around the state of Michigan are reportedly taking a vacation or a sick day today to protest right-to-work legislation likely to be approved by the state legislature.

Under the current laws, Michigan public school teachers must pay dues to the teachers' union. If the right-to-work law is enacted, Michigan public-school teachers will be free to join the union and pay dues to it if they wish -- but they will also be free not to join the union and not to pay it dues.

� 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: DEtroit, reading, math, proficiency, teachers, strike

NEWSLETTERS »

Rate This Article

Was this helpful to you? Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Would you be interested in more articles like this? Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

1 - 2 of 2 Comments

vance
5 months ago
This is a product of decades of Teacher Union schools. This is also a product of decades of "Dumbing Down" public education. This is the product of Liberalism and Marxist Democrat Party domination.
Mathew Thankachen O.Praem
5 months ago
The problem cited in the field of 'Reading' by the Department of US education is a global phenomena of modern trend. It is of no use of blaming the teachers community or the public school alone. Reading and writing are in a way, the ' motor skill' which needs disciplining of the body and mind. This coordination is very hard among the children since ' discipline' involves ' pain and hard work' that by law is forbidden in the name of ' Child's Right' and the ' play way method' only ends up in play all through life, This culture of hedonism will gradually affect 'Creative thinking' for ' necessity is the mother of invention' and economic progress. often, the children will be good at ' talking and expression' while their ability to " concentrate, think and do" will be affected as 'motor skills ' are to be developed at an early, pliable age. of course, the teachers attitude is also important. once, they are paid by the government, and protected by the trade unions, they may not take the risk to train and strain the students, as their life may be at peril in a culture of gun or revolver accessed to the students. As a matter of fact, the reading and writing ability of the students can be achieved only through a concentrated and co-ordinated effort of the students, parents, government and teachers' community.
Mathew Thankachen O.Praem.

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Name *

Email *

Comment *

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment