"Why doesn't the state of Michigan take responsibility for funding the schools?" says Diane Ravitch, about this.
"Teachers are not volunteers.A bizarre story from Detroit. Teachers are holding a "sick-out" to protest the fact that they won't be paid for working. They have been told that they should return to work it there is no guarantee that they will be paid. The teachers have mortgages, rent, normal expenses. They don't understand why they should be expected to work without pay. City officials, who do get paid, say the teachers are selfish."