| "A National Disgrace" | |
|---|---|
| Dan Rather Reports episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 6 Episode 17 |
| Directed by | Steven Tyler |
| Presented by | Dan Rather |
| Cinematography by | Lucian Read |
| Editing by | Carla Ruff |
| Production code | 617 |
| Original air date | May 10, 2011 |
| Running time | 105 minutes |
Dan Rather Reports: "A National Disgrace" (Episode #617) [1] is a two-hour television report about the Detroit Public Schools (DPS), in Detroit, Michigan, that aired on HDNet (today AXS TV) on May 10, 2011. Presented by journalist Dan Rather, this episode was part of his investigative documentary series. [2] It explores a political struggle between the Detroit Board of Education, the governing body of DPS, and Robert Bobb, the emergency manager appointed by the State of Michigan after the city declared bankruptcy. [3]
The filming took about 18 months and included interviews with DPS school board members, teachers and administrators, and students and parents. [4] The production filmed a Detroit Board of Education meeting in which the board announced that superintendent Connie Calloway, who held the position for 18 months, was fired. [5]
According to Rather, the failure of DPS is a failure of a top-down educational system. [6] He argued that the problems are related to public schools in the entire United States and are not limited to Detroit. [7]
At the time of the program, residents of the City of Detroit had a functional illiteracy rate of 50%. [8] The title originates from a statement made about Detroit public schools by Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education. [2]
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The report explores the problems associated with the city's struggles with declining economy, poverty of many residents, and how the schools are performing. [9] It states that in 2009 the DPS district scored the lowest ever National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test results. [8] Henry Ford High School is featured in the program. [1]
Jonathan Oosting of MLive said that "Rather's report is sure to upset some residents -- and of course local leaders -- tired of seeing Detroit in the national media for all the wrong reasons." [7] After the documentary was aired, Bobb accused Rather of ignoring efforts by the Bobb-led administration to reform the district. Bobb argued that it "grossly and completely neglects an entire year or more of transformative efforts to change the system." [3] DPS board president Anthony Adams also criticized the documentary, saying that it "really bashes the city, bashes the district, doesn't really talk about the accomplishments and the great strides that we've made." [7]
AXS TV is an American cable television channel majority-owned by Canadian broadcaster Anthem Sports & Entertainment. It is devoted primarily to music-related programming and combat sports—related programming.
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Robert C. Bobb is a former appointed official who was the Emergency Financial Manager for the Detroit Public Schools until 2011. In addition to having been employed by the school district, he received a salary from private foundations that promote school choice and privatization, and he owns a private/public sector consulting firm.
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Henry Ford High School is located at 20000 Evergreen Road, on the northwest side of Detroit, Michigan. The facility is staffed and operated by Detroit Public Schools. Ford High opened its doors on September 5, 1957; it was constructed to accommodate an overflow of students from nearby Cooley, Mumford, and Redford high schools. In 2007, DPS closed Redford High School. As a result, Henry Ford now serves the Detroit sub-community of Old Redford. DPS will re-assume control of Ford High in fall 2017.
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More than 100 people gathered for the meeting, including a camera crew from 'Dan Rather Reports'.