RADIO DJ PULLED OFF AIR FOR REMARKS ABOUT URBAN SCHOOLS IN MICHIGAN

WHNN Apologizes, Pulls Host From Air Over 'Math Test'

CITADEL Oldies WHNN/SAGINAW, reacting to criticism from FLINT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, has taken morning man JOHNNY BURKE off the air for now for posting a joke math test on the station website taking shots at FLINT's troubles, including questions using drive-by shootings, drug deals, and prostitution as examples. The station issued a statement offering "sincere apologies" and said, "It was not the intent to embarrass any children, teachers or staff of the FLINT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS." The apology appears on the front page of whnn.com.

Before his suspension, BURKE told ABC affiliate WJRT-TV/FLINT, "All urban districts across MID-MICHIGAN should take this test. It would not have been nearly as effective as singling out one district to be the worst of all of them and I believe the FLINT SCHOOL DISTRICT is the worst. I honestly believe that you can print that.... I'm upset with the way the FLINT schools are being run."

Seven high schools in the FLINT area made a list of schools characterized as "dropout factories" in a JOHNS HOPKINS/AP analysis of EDUCATION DEPARTMENT data.