"We've Had Enough"
In Detroit, teachers are becoming frustrated with their working conditions and with their classes being overcrowded. A parent of a kindergarten student at Nolan Elementary, complained that her son was in a classroom with 55 other students. That's extremely unacceptable and dangerous for the students in cases of emergencies. Plus, how is it possible for one teacher to maintain 55 students by his or her self? Its truthfully wrong. Another key factor is the decay that's destroying their school buildings. Furthermore, boilers in some schools are overheating, they can reach high temperatures in a matter of moments. At Detroit Institute of Technology Preparatory school in the cold season when boilers are put to use they must keep windows open and fans on to keep the temperature from rising too high in the building. Sara Hennes teaches English and Journalism in an overheated classroom. One day from the week before she left the windows open as she was preparing for her day to keep the temperature at a reasonably temperature. After returning an hour later, a squirrel had climbed through the open window which again, could be dangerous because the squirrel could have attacked her or whomever else was in the classroom out of fear. Teachers have to endure decay in buildings, overcrowded classrooms and boilers that are suppose to keep them warm in the cold weather. Additionally, ceiling panels are falling, they have a rat and roach infested environment and black mold accumulating. Teachers and students are being forced to work and learn in these dehumanized environments which is saddening. Teachers and parents on the behalf of teachers are putting in effort to ask for help. They are informing officials and the fire departments about these poor conditions but there isn't any help being offered. They are literally trying to stay "above water" as they wither away rather its emotionally or mentally. It's only so much a person can take before other actions and demands be put in effect.
Subsequently, sickouts where formed because they weren't being heard or helped from the districts officials. Sickouts are teachers calling into work "sick" and hold protests. In addition, to teachers protesting, students would protest alongside their teachers. Many people may view sickouts as a regular teacher's strike but in the state of Michigan strikes are illegal to perform. So, without facing any repercussions or possibly losing their job they legally established "sickouts." Logically, sickouts aren't beneficial for students and their education needs because they are losing the opportunity to learn. But, teachers have been complaining for years about these poor conditions. According to CNN, 94 out of 97 schools were forced to be closed due to teacher's sickouts which left many parents trying to find proper safekeeping for their children. Parents had to miss work because of improper child care. Sharlonda Buckman stated "when teachers do sickouts, that not all parents have flexibility to stay home or create work schedules that will coordinate with the Sickouts."She continues to say "some students may have the advantage to stay home with older siblings but some are left by themselves entirely and that's could be pretty dangerous to leave a young child at home by him or her self." Surprisingly though, many parents except a few weren't frustrated with the teachers but their frustrations were towards the school districts, with the officials in the city. With the support of parents along with students, it appears to teachers that their efforts of teaching and hard work doesn't go unnoticed but they are appreciated and deserve proper working conditions. For example, a parent named Tony Kinsey, who has sons in the ninth and eleventh was in agreement with "Sickouts" as he expressed he supports the teachers on receiving a fair deal. They're educators. "I'm frustrated with adults, the leadership. Our children are the ones suffering" he said.
In January of this year, teachers were informed they wouldn't be paid in the summer months. Of course, after learning the unpleasant news it created an uproar of sickouts as well. By, teachers not receiving compensation it would affect summer programs because the people who operate the summer programs are the teachers so if they arent receiving compensation than the summer programs are unable to operate. The protest in pursuit of being heard took place in front of a well-known skyscraper, the Fisher building. Again, they want their voice to be heard and noticed for the unfair conditions. On their behalf, the president of the teacher union, Ivy Bailey commented saying "Detroit teachers deserved to be paid fairly for their work like every other working person...but Detroit Public Schools has just informed us that it cannot guarantee to pay these dedicated men and women for their work. This isn't right, it is fair." Anyone could agree with this statement. It's upsetting to witness teachers being treated unfairly. Teachers make huge impacts on students lives. Teachers on an average spend 35-40 hours a week with students teaching, guiding and trying to prevent them from making poor decisions as a parent would do. Most teachers have a sense of "calling" to the position. Teachers take on huge responsibilities in the molding process of a student. So, if teachers aren't being treated fairly or with respect then it tends to affect their work. Teachers can't focus on their students if the district they're employed for is in shambles. For example, if a doctor doesn't receive payments from a patient the doctor can legally refuse to see the patient because of the non-payments. Isn't this the same procedures the teachers are taking? They are not receiving payments for their work obligations so they refusing to work. We can't treat the occupation of teaching differently than other occupations. Teaching is one of the notably occupations. Undoubtedly, teachers deserve to be paid and they deserve to exercise their rights. In their attempts of sickouts, Michigan's governor Rick Snyder signed a legislation of emergency funding of 48.7 million dollars to keep the school system running until the end of the school year. Teachers wasn't satisfied with the Governor's decision. Although,teachers are exercising their rights legally students are being affected negatively by Sickouts and the poor funding of schools by DPS.