AFT Leaders Respond to Hearing on Gary B. v. Snyder Case in Detroit

DETROIT—Statement of American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, AFT Michigan President David Hecker and Detroit Federation of Teachers President Ivy Bailey following a hearing in the Gary B. v. Snyder case, which focuses on literacy in and funding of Detroit schools:

“The pattern and practice of disinvestment in our schools is staggering and betrays our obligation to provide all children the well-resourced public schools they need and deserve. Thirty-six states are still spending less on public schools than they did before the Great Recession, and the city of Detroit offers the most striking evidence of what happens to children when we defund our schools.

“Detroit’s teachers are committed to doing everything they can to help the children of Detroit succeed, but we need investment in our children, our schools and our profession. We stand with the children and families bringing this suit because we can no longer tolerate unsafe and unhealthy learning conditions; outdated or nonexistent learning materials; and inadequate investment in the capacity, professional development, and recruitment and retention of Detroit’s teachers, while, at the same time, unaccountable charter schools drain even more resources from public schools. We are fighting for safe and healthy schools, learning conditions and materials that engage kids, and the training and support we need to improve our craft.

“The state created these poor learning conditions, and now Gov. Rick Snyder and Attorney General Bill Schuette are further abdicating their responsibility to the children of Detroit by moving to dismiss this case. All these children and families are asking for is what we owe all families—great, well-resourced public schools where parents want to send their kids, teachers want to teach, and children are engaged.”