Should Otis Mathis Continue to Lead the Detroit Public School System When He Can't Write a Coherent Sentence?

Should Detroit School Board President Otis Mathis be allowed to oversee the academic lives of 90,000 students when he can't write a coherent sentence?

Otis Mathis, president of Detroit's school board, who oversees the academic lives of 90,000 public school students, has made a shocking admission -- he can't write a coherent sentence. How can he be trusted to put the right programs in place to help the children of Detroit reach their fullest potentials. He told Detroit News that he is a "horrible writer" after reports surfaced that he sent an email on February 29 to the financial manager of the city's public schools that was chock full of spelling, punctuation and usage errors. This is clearly not what one expects to hear about the leaders of our school boards across the United States of America. We need leaders who can lead by example, not by the "seat of their pants" -- just winging it.

Here's an excerpt from the email: "If you saw Sunday's Free Press that shown Robert Bobb the emergency financial manager for Detroit Public Schools, move Mark Twain to Boynton which have three times the number seats then students and was one of the reason's he gave for closing school to many empty seats."

 This is a serious issue and his deficit speaks to the educational dilemma Detroit faces, as city officials try to raise standards and elevate the proficiency of their students. According to the Detroit News, Mathis, 56, has had difficulties with language as early as the fourth grade, when he was placed in special education classes. Further, his college degree was held up for more than a decade due to repeatedly failing English proficiency examinations needed for graduation from Wayne State University, the paper also reported. Is he really the right person to lead Detroit's schools? Sorry, I don't think so. The reality is that Otis Mathis is a symptom of the problem in the Detroit Public School system. This isn't a rags-to-riches story. It shows that the system has failed. I hate to put Detroit down, but I seriously doubt this revelation would not have resulted in removal in some other cities across this country, including New York City, Washington D.C., and even Los Angeles. You have to lead by example and yes, that includes being able to write a coherent sentence.

Otis Mathis is a part of the problem in Detroit and I suspect many other cities. I don't consider him to be the raving success story he makes himself out to be. The only conclusion I can draw from this is that it seems that he garnered political success and plum career opportunities on the strength of his personality and judgment. In my opinion, his meteoric rise is an example of the system's failings and basically reinforces the point that a disinterested student can find a way to graduate because the system allowed him to do so -- a failed and flawed system. The reality is that it is a disgrace that the leader of any city public school system should be able to write a coherent sentence. You have to lead by example. America's educational system doesn't need to falter under the weight of ill-equipped officials. How can Mr. Mathis tell a student that mastering English is a requirement and not an elective course?

He makes the excuse about his limitations on the basis of justifying his the fact that not being able to write properly shouldn't automatically disqualify you from attaining your dreams. He told the Detroit News, "Instead of telling them that they can't write and won't be anything, I show that cannot stop you." "If Detroit Public Schools can allow kids to dream, with whatever weakness they have, that's something. ... It's not about what you don't have. It's what you can do." Sorry, what he is really telling these students is that mediocrity and disinterest is okay. This is an English-speaking country, the least one can do is master that language. Mr. Mathis' take on his success is not what we need in the United States today when we are losing our rank as one of the best countries to get an education.