IN MARCH 1966, THE DETROIT EDUCATION ASSOCIATION REQUESTED THAT THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON PROFESSIONAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION CONDUCT A FULL SCALE INVESTIGATION OF THE ALLEGED GROSS INEQUALITY OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO DETROIT'S YOUTH. THE COMMISSION DISCOVERED THAT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM LAY IN THE STRUCTURE AND SUBSTANCE OF THE URBAN SOCIETY ITSELF. SINCE 1950, THERE HAS BEEN A RAPID MOVEMENT OF MIDDLE AND UPPER-MIDDLE CLASS WHITES TO THE SUBURBS AND A LARGE IMMIGRATION OF LOW-INCOME NEGROES INTO THE CENTER CITY. BUSINESSES HAVE MOVED TO THE SUBURBS, AND THE LOWERED TAX BASE AND PROPERTY VALUE HAVE RESULTED IN A LACK OF TAX FUNDS FOR THE FINANCING OF CENTER CITY EDUCATION. IN CONSEQUENCE, THERE IS AN INSUFFICIENCY OF CLASSROOM SPACE AND QUALIFIED TEACHERS, EXCESSIVELY HIGH TEACHER TURNOVER, COMMUNICATION FAILURE BETWEEN ADMINISTRATION AND TEACHING STAFF AND BETWEEN SCHOOL SYSTEM AND ECONOMICALLY DISSADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, DE FACTO SEGREGATION, AND AN ACHIEVEMENT GAP BETWEEN LOW-INCOME AREA SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE- AND UPPER-INCOME AREA SCHOOLS. THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDED DEVELOPMENT OF THE CENTER CITY IN THE AREAS OF (1) FISCAL REFORM, (2) TEACHER PREPARATION, (3) URBAN PLANNING, (4) DE FACTO SEGREGATION, (5) HIGHER EDUCATION, AND (6) PUBLIC RELATIONS. THIS DOCUMENT IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS NEA STOCK NUMBER--165-04948 25M FROM THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, 1201 SIXTEENTH STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036. (HW)