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Ohanian Comment: As a reader, I know this is a puff piece. I have no knowledge of the school. I would love to post information and opinions from people who are in the know about this matter.
Maybe all schools can’t look like this.
The University Prep High School just north of downtown Detroit is like a small college campus, with five buildings outfitted with ultra-modern classrooms and equipment.
An atmosphere of professionalism conveys to students that they deserve the best and can be the best.
The school opened this fall and is hosting its first class of 128 ninth-graders. Eventually, enrollment will be at 500.
Bob and Ellen Thompson, the Plymouth couple who have committed their personal fortune to improving education for poor children, paid for the charter school. It cost $15 million — about half what a similar public school would cost — and now that he’s had some practice at school building, Thompson thinks "we can get that down to $12 million next time."
Maybe all children can’t learn in an environment like this.
Run by Doug Ross, the former state senator, University Prep makes good on the promise of "No Child Left Behind."
Students move through the day in small, family-style units. "There’s no anonymity, no ability to fall through the cracks," Ross says.
Math and science are taught by professors on loan from Wayne State University. Curriculum is individually tailored, and internships are encouraged.
Ross’ deal with the Thompsons is to graduate 90 percent of the students and send 90 percent of the graduates on to college.
"He’ll either hit those marks or we’ll have an office building there," says Thompson, who made his money in the road paving business. "I didn’t run just another construction company, and we don’t want this to be just another school."
Ross gets the message. If a student doesn’t show up for school, he puts on his overcoat and goes knocking on doors.
Thompson had a vision of 15 similar high schools throughout Detroit, offering this level of educational excellence to as many as 8,000 children.
But he was blocked by a governor who lost her nerve and a mayor who bowed to pressure from the teachers union. Thompson’s money is off the table while he waits for the politicians to make Detroit’s children their priority. And he’s entertaining other offers.
"We truly believe education is the answer for inner-city kids," he says. "You can’t imagine the phone calls we get from mayors and governors, all looking for help."
When Thompson’s charter school plan was being torpedoed, some community loudmouths feigned outrage that Detroit’s children would be taken over by white suburbanites.
The students and parents at University Prep don’t look like they’ve been taken over. They look like they’ve grabbed the brass ring.
Ryan Leaverson, 14, our tour guide during an open house last week, was bursting with pride as he walked his guests through the computer lab, gym and theater.
Ryan didn’t have much to say about the future of charter schools in Detroit. But he was solid about his own future. He plans to study architecture or electrical engineering at Georgia Tech or Florida A&M, and looks forward to getting a head start earning college credits at the University of Detroit Mercy.
"This is a great place to learn," he says.
Maybe all schools can’t look like this. And maybe all Detroit children can’t learn in an environment like this.
But maybe they can.
Nolan Finley is editorial page editor of The Detroit News.
— Nolan Finley, editorial page editor
At this charter school, Detroit students learn they deserve the best
Detroit News
2003-12-14
http://www.detnews.com/2003/schools/0312/14/a15-7085.htm
INDEX OF OUTRAGES
Pages: 380
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