Old Marquette Hospital Disappears, Former UP State Rep Going to Trial, International Students in UP and Across Michigan, State Revenue Down, and a Disturbing Number
This Week in Rural Insights
On Wednesday we will be re-publishing “Bridging divides:
The Ford School’s Resilient Democracies initiative encourages conversations across differences” by the University of Michigan.
Old Marquette Hospital Disappears
(See image above). Yup, the former location of the Marquette General Hospital is one BIG open space now with all the buildings totally demolished and debris removed. The property belonged to the Northern Michigan University Foundation who received it from the hospital. In September 2024 it was sold to Veridea Group, who plans to build housing on the site. The Veridea Group CEO is Robert Mahaney of Marquette, a former member of the NMU Board of Trustees. Veridea Group paid $2.5 million to the NMU Foundation for the property.
Former Upper Peninsula State Representative and House Speaker Going to Trial
Lee Chatfield and his wife, according to the Michigan Attorney General, have been bound over for trial in their capital corruption case. Also going to trial are three of his former staff members.
Mr. Chatfield represented the 107th House District which included the Upper Peninsula’s Chippewa county and several counties below the bridge. Prior to being a state Representative he was a Christian School teacher in a school operated by his father.
International Students on Upper Peninsula Campuses and Across Michigan Campuses
The federal government is calling for the deportation of thousands of international students on campuses across the country–at public and private universities and colleges.
This federal effort will have an impact on campuses in the Upper Peninsula and in Michigan. We do not have the number of international students on the three Upper Peninsula campuses as we write this edition of Whispers.
We are working on it and will let you know. Not verified, but we are told that Michigan Tech has the most international students including many from China studying in their engineering programs.
However, as we said, we are working on getting exact numbers. These students usually pay full out of state tuition and spend thousands of dollars each year in the local economies where they are studying.
There are over 9,300 international students studying at Michigan universities and colleges each year. That is about 3% of the total enrollment at universities in Michigan. 17% of the University of Michigan student body are international students.
State Revenue Down
According to the State Revenue Estimating Committee, state revenue is down by $320 million for the FY 25/26 budget. The state legislature and the Governor are working on budget bills.
Disturbing Number
Only one-in-four 4th graders in Michigan can read proficiently.
Age Limits in Congress
We had a large response to our recent survey of our readers on whether the United States should have age limits in Congress and the Presidency. Lots of comments to us after the poll on this topic and the comments continue.
The US Senate is the oldest on record. It has a median age of 64.7. Over 35 of their members are age 70 or older with Senator Grassley of Iowa ringing in at 91.
The United States House of Representatives average age of 57.5. The four oldest members of the Michigan delegation are Representatives Bergman, Walberg, Thanedar and Dingell–all in their 70s.
Former US Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn) retired at 80 and observed that: “80 is enough” and once described the US Senate as “America’s finest assisted-living facility” (Washington Post. 5.12.25).
Quotes That Make Us Go Hmmm
“Whatever their education or wealth, no one fully escapes the class they were born into.” Keith McNally.
“We all do better when we all do better.” Paul Wellstone.
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What was the source of your comment about 4th graders and reading ability. Shocking!!
That’s really not a “comment”. It’s available to look up anywhere. Michigan public schools have consistently ranked in the lowest ten states, nationally. The last time I checked-about a year ago, we were number 41. 😢
People are generally surprised to hear this-or just won’t believe it.
With all of the screen time the young generations experience, I am not surprised that reading ability has suffered. Social media participation requires knowledge of “internet shorthand”. However, reading comprehension tests don’t include that, nor should they. Parents should balance some of the screen time with book reading. (Actual books, not online books. Give those eyes a break). This is the single best way to improve reading skill, comprehension and vocabulary. Find them some well-written books in a subject that they have interest in. Summertime is an especially good time for this as kids are out of school. Reading will help to avoid some of the summer brain drain kids experience. This may sound old-fashioned, but sometimes the tried and true methods are still the best.
You can tell that you aren’t actually raising children in this era of tech. Several years ago they removed teaching phonics from the curriculum and started teaching sight words. Thanks to all the resources available online for free, I’ve been able to get all mine at or above their grade levels. If you know how to use the technology is isnt going to harm you. In a few years teachers won’t even be needed and AI will have individual tailored plans for each student.
I agree, based on my observations of family members that reading skills have and are suffering.
I understand that reading cursive is a non-existent skill and disappeared when schools no longer taught cursive writing. Reading ordinary books seems to be lacking too, but I don’t think it is fully the fault of schools. The desire to read is instilled in children by having books read to them in the very early years and then encouraging them to read books back to us even before the school years.
That’s correct, I’m saying parents have a responsibility to create a desire to read.
I believe the limits at most education levels in the early years reflects on home and parenting.
This could have been written better if it was done by AI, or maybe if I put it through one of those grammar programs, and maybe those aren’t really helping us either.
The fourth graders were most definitely impacted by Covid, and virtual classes being required when they began school.
We need to stop blaming Covid for everything. Yes Covid impacted alot of things but it can’t be used to Crutch everything that doesn’t line up In a perfect world. I did great on tests as a elementary student I also lacked caring for them the older (5, 6 and 7Th) I got…. doesn’t mean our education system failed….I lost caring for them.
I am a reading tester for a statewide non-profit. In my experience, clearly the current 4th and 5th graders were most impacted by COVID, as they were in kindergarten and first grade then, and not able to attend school. Some parents did teach their children, but many were either unwilling or unable to do so. Kids were often unschooled during that time and those in rural areas with poor or limited Internet service also suffered. Now they’re able to catch up, with great success for most. I test them at the beginning of their program (usually about 10 weeks to start, often continuing for another 10 or 20 weeks) and again at their completion. Almost every student improves at least half a grade level. I attribute that success to one-on-one working with a tutor, learning basic phonics, and oral reading practice. Of course attitude, from both thevstudent snd supportive adults, makes a huge difference in reading success, too (as noted by an earlier post).
How do I delete this duplicate?
I am a reading tester for a statewide non-profit. In my experience, clearly the current 4th and 5th graders were most impacted by COVID, as they were in kindergarten and first grade then, and not able to attend school. Some parents did teach their children, but many were either unwilling or unable to do so. Kids were often unschooled during that time and those in rural areas with poor or limited Internet service also suffered. Now they’re able to catch up, with great success for most. I test them at the beginning of their program (usually about 10 weeks to start, often continuing for another 10 or 20 weeks) and again at their completion. Almost every student improves at least half a grade level. I attribute that success to one-on-one working with a tutor, learning basic phonics, and oral reading practice. Of course attitude, from both the student snd supportive adults, makes a huge difference in reading success, too (as noted by an earlier post).
I believe it as I watch and listen to my 2nd grade grandchild read. It’s painful. Maybe phonics aren’t for everyone. Reading and writing are life skills ,and too important to not do well!