A matter of money
Philadelphia schools are struggling, yet some critics question whether more funds are needed.
Photo: Harvey Finkle
Protests like this Market Street march in August have been aimed at persuading officials in City Hall and Harrisburg that Philadelphia schools need increased aid.
Try telling Owen Tuleya that money doesn’t matter.
For the first weeks of school, the 8-year-old at Cook-Wissahickon Elementary in Roxborough was happy and thriving in 3rd grade. His teachers were great, he had many friends, and he got a lot of attention because there were fewer than 20 students in his class.
Then on Friday, Oct. 25, out of the blue, parents were notified that changes were coming. The following Monday, more than six weeks after school started, Owen was moved to a class with 24 4th graders and seven other 3rd graders – a “split class.”
His reaction, said his mom, Stefanie, was bewilderment. Why was this happening? He missed his 3rd-grade friends. He couldn’t even eat with them in the lunchroom. They took away his 3rd-grade books and gave him 4th-grade books. And there were 31 other students vying for the teacher’s attention.
While Owen did his best to adjust, “there was definitely some anxiety about being in a whole new class,” said his mom.
How do you explain a disruption caused by budget cuts to a 3rd grader?
Do you say that the School District had to find two teachers for another school
