Thoughts on Democracy, Detroit, and Mr. Robert Bobb

First, I am a DFT member. Second, I agree that most of what Bobb has done has been good and and needed doing for a long time. Many, most of the financial cleaning up he's done, the DFT has clammered for for years. Lots, there is a serious issue that underlies Bobb's role that needs to discussed.

Bobb's appointment and powers are the result of the collapse of a functional civic society in Detroit. Dave Bing's appeal is that he's a watered down Bobb. When it takes strongman rule to clean things up, democracy and civic responsibility are swept aside. People flop back on their sofas, fat and lazy, applauding the autocrat's broom as it sweeps up the mess the people allowed to overwhelm them. When the autocrat's broom sweeps up some of the people, the others clap and say, "About time."

The problem is that Bobb, as tyrant, gets to decide on his own what needs sweeping up. He decides what replaces the old system. He decides anything and everything. Omniscience is a lot to ask of Bobb - especially when he's busy walking on water.

In a few short months, our heroic Cinncinnatus returns to DC or Oakland. What happens next? Granholm, Duncan, Bing - Democrats all (well, I suspect Bing's a Repub) - have abandoned democracy and want Bobb's sceptre passed to the Mayor. What's missing is any belief that Detroit will ever be a functioning society. They've thrown in the hat. If they're right, then what are we doing here? What's the point? Is laughing at the corpse that amusing a pastime?

Maybe our Democratic leaders are correct and democracy has failed in Detroit. After all, our elections are often the electoral equivalent of jury nullification. Maybe it will take tyrants to make Detroit work. If so, don't complain when the next Kilpatrick treats the city like it's his mother's purse and he's hungry. That's the problem with strongmen, there are always more Kwames that Bobbs.

Mr. Bobb gives me my job back

Yesterday I was called by the HR people of Detroit Public Schools and informed that I was needed this year after all. They sent me to a school that filled me doubts, but the Principal was looking for a Middle School teacher, so I was sent back to HR. I waited around with 30 or other recalled teachers until another place was found for me. After about an hour, not bad as these things go, I was sent to the extreme Northeast corner of Detroit.

My new school is John Trix Elementary. No, he was not a cereal magnate. He was an industrialist (Brass fittings). No, the teams are not the Trixters (read "Tricksters"). They are the Troubadours. I plan to try to change the name to the Trixters with a coyote, crow, or spider as a mascot.

First impressions of the Principal and staff are good, so maybe this year will be better than last. Come to think of it the only way it could be worse is if an alien burst out of stomach at some particularly inopportune time.

Anyway, thanks to those who expressed their concern. I really didn't expect to be called back, at least not until count day in four weeks, if then. I've never been so relieved to be wrong.

Mr. Bobb Hammers Detroit Public School Teachers

Bob “the Strong Man” Bobb has lowered the boom on Detroit Public School teachers. Here’s his proposal for the new contract. Oh, since teacher’s can’t strike in Michigan (without each striking teacher risking a $7,500 fine), this is what teachers will be forced to take.

(Disclosure: I am one of the 1,200 or so laid off teachers.)

This information comes from the DFT.

Mr. Bobb wants (and I expect will get):

1) a 5 year contract

2) 10% wage cut

3) 20% employee contribution to health plans (fair enough, but tough when wages are being cut and frozen for 5 years.)

4) 10% employee contribution to dental plans (ditto)

5) elimination of step raises (paving the way for merit pay)

6) elimination of sick bank pay-out upon retirement (expect lots of sick days from those nearing retirement.)

7) elimination of the longevity bonus (A small bonus, I think $250, at the end of the year for teachers with 15 years or more with DPS. - I agree that this stupidity should be done away with.)

8) elimination of oversize class compensation (A small bonus at the end of the year if you are stuck with more students that agreed upon in the contract. - The bonus is a dumb idea and should be tossed. But small class size is crucial for learning, and this move by Bobb, along with the huge numbers of teacher layoffs, makes classrooms bursting at the seams likely.)

9) elimination of lost prep period compensation. (Teachers get paid at their hourly rate at the end of the year for all the preps they lost that were not made up. - Getting paid isn’t the answer, getting the preps is. I went a month and half without a prep period this year. That means you work with 25-35 kids from first bell to the last bell with only a 40 minute lunch break. No bathroom break, no coffee break, no time to call parents, review the day’s progress, evaluate kids, deal with behavior problems, … you get the idea. If the district doesn’t have to pay for the time, expect more missed preps and more stressed teachers.)

10) elimination of maternity leave beyond FMLA coverage ( I’m not up to speed on this topic.)

11) elimination of sick bank to retain gross earnings when out on workman’s comp. (I’m not sure what to say about this either.)

12) No use of sick bank for you own wedding. (OK Bobb, you’re right about this one.)

13) Elementary school teachers lose two prep periods a week. (I am/was an elementary school teacher and I speak for all of us on this, I’m sure. Bobb is so focused on high school, he has made it clear that he thinks we at the elementary level are morons who do little more than babysit.)

14) Limiting job protection to teachers called away to armed service to 1 year. (Reservists called up should have their jobs protected wherever they work.)

15) reduce layoff notice from 60 days to 14 days. (Surprise! In two weeks you’re out of a job!)

16) require principal’s signature during Open Transfer period. (Right now, you have a window of time when you can request a transfer without your principal’s approval. This allows you to escape from the hordes of pathetically incompetent and abusive principals that seem to float to the top in DPS administration. Bobb wants those idiots to have the say over whether or not you can leave the Hellhole they created.)

Well, that’s all folks! And you wondered why the smart kids have not interest in being teachers.