by Stephen Coats and Rasheed AlNozili – The Yemeni American News
“We Stand Up!” the crowd shouted, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017 outside the Hamtramck High School Community Center. There were numerous concerns that were on the minds of Hamtramck residents as they took to the streets to voice their complaints. They held signs that read, “I Stand Up Against Islamophobia” and “I Stand Up for ALL Students.”
The most alarming concern that was voiced was over newly elected President Trump’s choice for U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. “She has zero educational experience. Never worked in schools. Never was an administrator. Never a teacher.” John Rostek, a teacher at Hamtramck High School, who is also a graduate of Hamtramck High School from 1986 and has been affiliated with Hamtramck Public Schools for 30 years articulated.
Harry Katopodis, a Graphic Arts Teacher at Hamtramck High School added, “We are out here standing up for public schools, and Mrs. DeVos is terribly unqualified for the job.”
Michelle Cook, Hamtramck Federation of Teachers President said, “We know that Betsy DeVos is no friend to public education, she is not very well informed about public education and her mission over the years has really been to undermine public education.”
Evan Major, Vice President of the Hamtramck Board of Education added, “I am out here with my fellow neighbors, to send a strong message to the Trump administration that Betsy DeVos is not qualified to be the Secretary of Education. That she has wreaked havoc on Michigan’s public schools, on Detroit’s public schools and her interests are hers alone and that of private industry.” Major continued, “I would encourage you to please reach out to the members of the Senate committee who are interviewing and ultimately voting on the confirmation of Betsy DeVos on January 31st, there’s still time to reach these people.”
Danielle Nagle, a Kindergarden teacher in Hamtramck Public Schools for the past 16 years asserted, “We are here today because we want to stand up for the children not only of Hamtramck but the children everywhere even though they can’t vote their needs are very important and we need to make sure that we are h holding our senators and representatives accountable for the children even though they are not voting or they may not have money. Because as a whole we need to make sure that our children are taken care of so when they get older they can take care of us.” Ms. Nagle also appealed to the parents to stand with her as well, “I can say things as a teacher to anybody and they think that I’m doing it for myself but when parents speak up it means a lot more.”
Teacher John Rostek, also articulated a second concern, “One of our purposes today in standing up is that in public education they are asking for equity in test scores and they should also fund fairly in equity. And Hamtramck is one of the lowest funded schools and so we don’t get the same programs like other schools do.”
These concerns were related publically in conjunction with a Hamtramck Public Schools public meeting chaired by very optimistic Thomas Niczay, Superintendant, inside the school’s gymnasium. Before a concerned crowd of community members, Mr. Niczay presented a detailed financial report. At the top of the list of concerns and issues addressed in his speech were safety and funding. “Safety as you know is extremely important, over ½ a million dollars was spent on security cameras… We truly are good stewards of the money.” He went on, “75% of our money comes from the state of Michigan. The 7% that comes from our local taxes, again, thank you community members, thank you residents and thank everyone for what we are doing here in Hamtramck. It’s a special place with special staff and of course special residents.”
In his closing remarks, Mr. Niczay had this to say, “Teaching is more than imparting knowledge, it’s inspiring change, learning is more than just absorbing facts, it’s acquiring understanding.” From the inspiring energy and personalities that were at this important community event it seems that Hamtramck and its public school system is in very good and capable hands for the foreseeable future.
