We have talked about the 1% who own much of society’s wealth. We have talked about City Hall that works in favor of the 1%. We have talked about Occupy Wall Street. We have even talked about “Occupy Everything.”
We must now talk about the corporate class’s most vicious attack on the public school system in the history of America. The ruling class no longer needs to educate the people since the jobs are non-existent. So it is setting out to destroy the public school system.
The rulers think and act as a class. They meet any challenge to their profits and power. They take the disruptions of society into account and adjust. They organize ideological campaigns to guarantee that the response of the people remains scattered and disunited. They aim to divert the struggle away from the people who are fighting to hold the government accountable.
Michigan Governor Rick, “The Ricktator Synder,” and State officials estimate that dozens of local governments and school districts in the state will soon be taken over by non-elected Emergency Managers. Benton Harbor School system will be taken over by an Emergency Financial Manager.
The Board voted to close two more buildings, move some students and raze several buildings. This sets the stage for Whirlpool to move the High School, which is surrounded by lakefront property to Benton Township, where the land is contaminated and away from the 1%—away from Harbor Shores and their rich residents. They are going to change the name of Benton Harbor to Harbor Shores. The board also voted to demolish six district buildings. Two school board members spoke and voted against the closures, which will temporarily move the middle school students to Benton Harbor high School. This is not the solution. You have to go back to the root of the problem.
What is the cause of the problems in public education? The problem is the chronic underfunding of schools, social services and the rising poverty among our students’ families and communities. What can we do to address the problems in Benton Harbor and around the country?
We must first increase the funding of public education, health and human services to address the issues of poverty. We must restore taxes on the rich and the large corporations to provide the necessary funding for education. We must raise the minimum wage to increase family viability and function. We must make the government responsible to provide a quality education for each and every child. We must increase the level of hope in the community.
The world is changing. It is changing into the age of robotic factories. A good education is not only a part of each family's progress. It is vital for the well being of every individual and of every city, state and country.
