DETROIT — Henry Ford High School students must choose to
attend the Academy for Green and Renewable Energy or the Academy of Business
Technology when returning to school this fall, while all incoming freshmen will
attend the 9th Grade Leadership Academy, according to The Detroit News.
The "small schools" approach is intended to enhance
learning, focus on careers and reduce conflict, The News reported.
Concurrently, the school is the site of a $17 million renovation, and each
academy will have its own floor or wing, according to The News.
Two other Detroit Public Schools high schools - Cody and
Osborn - converted to a small-school design two years ago, but it's too early
to gauge the success, said Keith Johnson, president of the Detroit Federation
of Teachers, The News reported.
"I think it's going to be good because it means less
fights and probably more people will actually attend their classes," Mary
Rodriguez, 16, told The News. Rodriguez plans to attend the green academy.
SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "$17M Henry Ford High upgrade starts,"
July 27, 2010
FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Green Jobs Bubble," Jan.
5, 2010