'Some hell of a democracy:' Detroit guy thwacks our Catherine Ferguson coverage

By Laura Conaway

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Fri Jun 10, 2011 3:18 PM EDT

Jeff T. Wattrick of MLive Detroit writes that we just don't get it about Catherine Ferguson Academy. Mr. Wattrick takes issue in particular with my blog characterization of the local reporting on this, and continues:

The other problem with Maddow’s storyline is that it ignores the fundamental, institutional, and cultural problems facing the Detroit Public Schools. Never mind that it is bankrupt. If not for concerns about the potential impact on Oakland County’s bond ratings, the district would have long-ago entered the Chapter 9 process.

If one’s only window on the DPS situation is Rachel Maddow, you’d probably believe that everything was fine until state emergency financial managers took over the district from the noble and upstanding elected school board.

Perhaps, Maddow should interview some of those school board members. Like noted child abuser Reverend David Murray or famous pervert Otis Mathis or library budget whiz and Team Kilpatrick apparatchik Anthony Adams. Adams, sports fans will remember, was “democratically” elected without opposition as an incumbent write-in. Some hell of a democracy.  

Mr. Wattrick says the closing of Catherine Ferguson Academy, which still seems to have very, very little coverage, is "tragic" and suggests it's the "unfortunate (and correctable) by-product of an imperfect reform effort."

He writes, "The problem with the EMF process isn’t that it is some nefarious takeover engineered by shadowy elites using 'shock doctrine' tactics. DPS' troubles are all too real. The problem is EMF process can't fix the district’s budgetary and academic process. So far, it has fixed neither but remains Lansing's chosen silver bullet approach.