Union Prez: Average Detroit High School Student Missed 46 Days of School Last Year

New policy could result in parents being prosecuted after nine student absences

By Tom Gantert | October 30, 2013

The average high school student in Detroit Public Schools missed, on average, 46 days of school in 2011-12, according to the head of the Detroit teachers' union.

"That isn't a figure I made up," said Detroit Federation of Teachers AFT Local 231 President Keith Johnson. "That's documented."

Johnson cited the statistic while discussing the problems teachers face while being evaluated when students are not coming to class. He said he saw the statistic in a school district report but did not have a copy of the report.

Detroit Public School Spokespeople Jennifer Mrozowski and Steven Wasko didn't return requests for comment.

The Detroit Free Press reported recently that the Detroit Public Schools has a new attendance policy that could result in a parent being prosecuted after nine unexcused absences for their child.

Johnson said all the new policy does is alert parents, the police and the county prosecutor's office about students who are chronically absent from class.

"OK. big deal," Johnson said. "It doesn’t have any teeth."

Johnson said he'd like to see parents of chronically truant students have their food stamp debit card, known as a Bridge Card, taken away or the amount of the benefit reduced.

Leon Drolet, chairman of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance, said the school district must provide a safe environment and parents must get their children to class.

"It's a failure of adults on all sides," Drolet said.

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.

Inconsistent Licensing Requirements

State needs fewer regulations, more jobs

By Jarrett Skorup | October 29, 2013

Rather than being based on safety, licensing requirements for people to work are often imposed merely for the protection of existing businesses and to raise the barrier to entry for competitors, thereby driving up prices for consumers.

However, that could change if a bill introduced by State Rep. Tom McMillin, R-Rochester HIlls, were passed and signed into law. House Bill 4641 would prohibit governments from imposing occupational licensure without valid concerns for public health and safety, and allow workers to sue if a regulation excessively burdens their right to earn a living. This proposed state law would go a long way to solve the problem of burdensome and inconsistent requirements.

Michigan licenses painters, barbers, landscape architects and many other fields that are unlikely to harm people if performed incorrectly (not that there is evidence that most state mandates help prevent harm anyways). While these are silly and not needed, there are also many examples where the state licenses some things, and not others that are similar or even more complex.

Consider windows: It was pointed out to me recently by a friend that the state of Michigan requires a license to install a storm window (“screens and storm sash”), yet does not require a license to change out an entire window (though installing a totally new window does require a license).

The state also mandates licenses for painting and decorating, but not drywall hanging. Installing wood floors and tile, but not carpeting and vinyl. Putting up gutters, but not fences. Laying concrete, but not asphalt paving. House wrecking, but not house moving.

It should also be noted that each of the above licenses require 60 hours of approved courses, whereas an amateur pilot’s license requires only 40 hours of training and will allow you to fly anywhere in the country.

This doesn’t mean legislators should tack on more requirements for the areas not licensed. Rather, the evidence shows that people live and earn a living in many occupations that are not licensed and have had little or no safety concerns.