In Detroit, philanthropist Robert Thompson is reviving a plan to donate $200 million to furnish the city with 15 new charter schools. The offer died a couple of years ago after massive protests by the Detroit Federation of Teachers. Thompson is apparently part of a growing number of philanthropists who give to education-related organzations to achieve specific reforms.
From my understanding, the Detroit Federation of Teachers wasn't pissed off at the Thompson deal because they "argue charter schools drain money from the traditional public system and criticize Thompson for not working with the district" as the Detroit News article suggests, but because Thompson was offering to donate the schools to Detroit on the condition that the schools not be unionized.
I'll have to check on this fact and get back to you; in the meantime, does anyone know any more about it?
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