The contradictory values of the public and private sector in Flint
A simple example that I experience today describes why things in one sector are doing well while the other sector is doing quite badly.
Today, the French students that were supposed to go to Goodrich High School for a day of music were not able because
today it became an Snow day.
And so, an alternative was put in place, and the French young musicians were brought to the Flint Institute of Music for rehearsal.
The Flint Institute of Music (which is an educational institution) tries to be open regardless of the weather. And that is an interesting story in itself to tell another time.
And so, this morning, while I was leaving the Flint Cultural Center it dawn on me that the Flint Community School was closed…they had an Snow day too. And my question is why?
Is understandable that the decision of not bringing the children when the weather is not appropriate is a sensible approach, but for adults that spend their time seating next to their desks and come to work by driving their cars not taking the school bus; it is an abuse of privilege.
You could say, all other districts are doing the same, and my answer will be, I do not care. This group of failing individuals has plenty of work to do because each minute that pass one child in poverty in our neighborhood is dropping from school.
This individuals have plenty of work to do because public education in Flint public schools is not bad, it is horrendous. The other question will be: How do you know? Your children are homeschool, and my answer will be because I talk to parents and nobody know better about how things are in school than the customers- the parents.
And so, another snow day comes and goes and in one building of the Flint Cultural Center things happen and in the other excuses are fabricated.
Why do I care? Well, in an impoverish city like Flint, the best way to attract people to live in our city is education, and I feel we are robbed of our money…sound harsh isn’t it? Yes, but the reality is that when I was working as and architect each hour of work was accounted for a project. Somebody has to pay for my time and if the quality of my job was not good, the client will move to hire another company.
That type of transaction made us aware of the power of time and the power of being accountability.
Could you imagine a place where internet is not reliable, and electricity is on and of, or that gas stations do not have gas, or grocery stores do no open when they say they will do it? We count with such order in our lives to do our part, and so we take for granted so many of the details of our lives because they work. How is that so unfair, that a group of citizens in the city do their part while the other does not?
Privatization is not the answer to all our problems, but public entities should be accountable. It is unfair that one sector of the population does its part and the other does not. Why? If they name of the building is Flint Community Schools where is the community?
So to finish, what I imagine of Flint is more parity from both sides the public and the private sector. Because not matter how much we the private sector work, and achieve and failing public sector is pushing us down the entire city.
So, please write letters, and complain because we need change in Flint- NOW.
FlintMichiganchangingneighborhoodspovertyandcrime 