Protesters fight to save Philly schools from 'doomsday' budget
by thenotebook on May 31 2013 Posted in Latest news
by Mark McHugh
Hundreds of public education supporters gathered outside Philadelphia's School District headquarters Thursday afternoon to protest the proposed bare-bones budget that the School Reform Commission voted to pass later that night.
The ensuing budget cuts will eliminate several school elements next year that many find indispensable, including sports, music, arts, guidance counselors, librarians, and support staff.
The protest began an hour before the commencement of the SRC meeting at 5:30 p.m. Several members of the community took the stage to rally the raucous crowd, which displayed their unity by wearing red. A series of impassioned speeches and angry chants filled the hour before the meeting.
Many who did not wield a microphone, however, had a lot to say as well.
“The governor, since he’s taken office, has put more money into prisons than he has into education,” said Amelia Loughlin, a schoolteacher of autistic children at Feltonville School of the Arts and Sciences. “The children that we work with come from high-needs areas. They cannot afford to go out and take private music
The protest began an hour before the commencement of the SRC meeting at 5:30 p.m. Several members of the community took the stage to rally the raucous crowd, which displayed their unity by wearing red. A series of impassioned speeches and angry chants filled the hour before the meeting.
Many who did not wield a microphone, however, had a lot to say as well.
“The governor, since he’s taken office, has put more money into prisons than he has into education,” said Amelia Loughlin, a schoolteacher of autistic children at Feltonville School of the Arts and Sciences. “The children that we work with come from high-needs areas. They cannot afford to go out and take private music