50 years after King’s speech, will public education be a last stand?
As we honor the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington today, we reflect on the powerful words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at his most prophetic and radical: “When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.” Never is that more
Back to school: “This isn’t reform. This is destruction.”
(Photo: Emma Lee for Newsworks)
Emani Edwards, 9, and Khyair Goodwin, 7, rally at City Hall for Philly schools.
Emani Edwards, 9, and Khyair Goodwin, 7, rally at City Hall for Philly schools.
Listening to Superintendent William Hite on “Radio Times” was a harsh wake up call to every parent across the district. He said that the resources given to him will allow Philadelphia to open “functional types of schools”:“On September 9th, we will expect 134,000 young people to return to schools, and when they return to school, they will find very different schools. Now I don’t want anyone to get me wrong. We will be ready for those young people to return. However, schools will not have the same number of individuals that were there. They will have teachers, they will have access to services . . . however some of the resources that we typically expect in schools will not be there.”
News has started to leak out about what exactly this means. Consider:
- Overcrowded and split grade classrooms: During the Vallas administration, Parents United successfully worked to eliminate split grade classrooms as a matter of policy. Split grades (when two grades are merged in one classroom due to budget cuts) were universally deemed a pedagogical fail. Today, they may be back in schools all across the city since the District is only allotting teachers based on the maximum number of students allowed by the teachers’ union contract.
Parents United statement on school fundraising
The following statement came out of a numerous requests to have Parents United weigh in on recently publicized school efforts to fundraise for basic staff and services amidst the current budget crisis. Parents United for Public Education believes that public education must remain free and available to all children regardless of background. This is particularly important in Philadelphia where pover
Parents United statement on school fundraising
The following statement came out of a numerous requests to have Parents United weigh in on recently publicized school efforts to fundraise for basic staff and services amidst the current budget crisis. Parents United for Public Education believes that public education must remain free and available to all children regardless of background. This is particularly important in Philadelphia where pover
AUG 19
Citywide Parents Meeting: Back to School?
What can parents expect for the first day of school? What are our best strategies to change school resources before school starts? The last 10 days have been a rollercoaster of school ultimatums, dueling press conferences, and protests and actions. Get the latest updates on the schools situation, work with other parents citywide to address school resources, and determine strategies and actions to