WDET News
- Cristo Rey, Detroit's Newest Catholic High School
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Sep 15, 2008General - Link to Audio
Since 2005, eight Detroit high schools have closed. Job losses, financial strains and a shrinking population have forced public and Catholic high schools to shut their doors. But this year a new high school opened in Detroit.
As part of our occasional series, Feet In Two Worlds, Martina Guzman reports on Cristo Rey -- a high school for low-income students that combines rigorous academics, on-the-job work experience and religious education.SOQ
START AMBI (students chatting)
The school day is just starting at Cristo Rey, Detroit's newest and now only co-ed Catholic high school. There will be no math class. No science or history. Today, Cristo Rey students will go to work.
Most of these ninth graders have never had a job. But holding a job is a key element of the school's mission to build confidence, self-esteem and success among poor black and Latino teenagers. So one day a week, off to work they go.
"I WORK AT R.L POLK WHICH IS AN AUTOMOTIVE INTELLIGENCE COMPANY, THEY HELP WITH THE MARKETING AND PRODUCTION AND SALES OF CARS. I WORK AT ST. MARY MERCY HOSPITAL, I WORK ON FRIDAYS. I WORK IN HUMAN RESOURCES, I WORK AT KITSCH ATTORNEY'S AND COUNSELORS, I WORK AT ST. MARY MERCI HOSPITAL, AT THE BIRTHING CENTER."
To get ready to join the work force, the students at Cristo Rey, which means Christ the King in Spanish, attended a two-week boot camp. While other kids their age were still on summer vacation, these students were learning how togive a proper handshake, tie a neck-tie and speak with adults in the workplace.
"HELLO, I'M PAULINE, GOOD MORNING PAULINE NICE TO MEET YOU, NICE TO MEET YOU TOO."
It's 14-year-old Pauline Hryzodub'S first day at R.L Polk, a Michigan marketing company. Pauline is the daughter of immigrants from Latin America. She seems a little nervous yet she's poised and polite.
"SO NOW THAT YOU HAVE YOUR BADGE EVERY MORNING WHEN YOU COME IN AND GET DROPPED OFF AT THIS MAIN DOOR"
Pauline is taken through a typical orientation. She meets her co-workers and gets an ID before ending up at her bare, grey cubicle.
"SO, WE HAVE YOU A DESK THAT'S OVER HERE, IT'S GOING TO MAKE ME FEEL OFFICIAL""LOOK, IT'S GOT MY NAME ON IT TOO."
Pauline is one of four students who work at entry-level positions at R.L. Polk. The salary she earns goes directly to towards the $10,000 tuition at Cristo Rey Under the school's guidelines No family pays more than $2,200 out of their own pockets for tuition But the job is more than just about paying tuition. Erica Koski who works in human resources at Polk says the company takes a chance on 14 year olds from the inner city because they want to provide opportunities the kids might not have otherwise.
Feet in Two Worlds is a project of the Center for New York City Affairs at the New School - "telling the stories of today's immigrants."