Philadelphia is once again facing catastrophic budget cuts that threaten to gut public education.
Who is killing Philadelphia’s schools, asks journalist Daniel Denvir. Here is the sordid story.
The state has had control of the Philadelphia schools since 2002. It took control because of a budget deficit. The state School Reform Commission made the deficit worse.
Paul Vallas took over as superintendent and launched the nation’s most sweeping privatization plan. It failed. Vallas left the district with an even bigger deficit.
Now the School Reform Commission wants to have another go at privatization, even though a number of the city’s charters are under criminal investigation. The Mayor supports a pro-voucher group that has become increasingly vocal.
Governor Tom Corbett has slashed the state’s support for public schools. The state is threatening more cuts. Will public education survive in Philadelphia?
Does anyone have the nerve to say “it’s all for the kids”?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
The most telling statement in the article is:
“But state control and privatization failed to produce achievement, Rand found.”
Until parents and students take to the streets in Philly and Harrisburg, things will remain unchanged. Will public education in Philly survive? Hard to say, but then what is the alternative? A lap-top and internet connection? That, as we all know is NOT an education or school experience we should be proud of. Something needs to change…and teachers need to lead that change.
Sorry, off-topic, but if you think Rahm is bad for Chicago (and he is), here’s what our senators have in mind for us (both Mark Kirk, a radical right-wing Republican in moderate clothing and Dick Durbin who is always held up as the senator who is so liberal he’s to the left of Marx himself): http://michaelklonsky.blogspot.com/2013/05/wheres-outrage-over-kirks-jail-em-all.html And the really sad thing is that that much of the city (the elite, white part) reacts with a shrug, like, what else would you do with them?
I’m always glad I read the comments on here or rather not so much glad but glad to be informed about what is going on in my own state. I’d move …but where?
Finland?
I’ll go to Costa Rica with ya! I speak the lingo!
I hear Mackinac Island is lovely.
At least two “Chiefs for Change” made money off of failed efforts in Philadelphia. Ca-Ching!
Ca-Ching for Change.
Glad that Dr. Hite is gone from PGCPS. He couldn’t be bothered to visit most of the schools, just where he could get publicity for himself.
“Does anyone have the nerve to say “it’s all for the kids”?”
The edudeformers all have that nerve. But lying is never a good proposition.
Today, finally, two major philanthropists in Phila (Lenfest and Haas) came out for more funding for Phila. public schools. They realized that a city without an educated work force is a disaster, and that poorly educated people become an economic problem. They’re right, but sorry it took so long for this obvious fact to be realized!
“. . . that a city without an educated work force is a disaster”
Yes, a disaster for their bottom line. But a city without an educated citizenry is a travesty.
Personally, as a teacher who is charged with educating towards “A general diffusion of knowledge and intelligence being essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people. . .” (MO Constitution), I don’t care about an “educated workforce” unless that means they are completely educated in their rights and liberties as citizens.
Vallas helped to destroy Chicago, went to Philadelphia and destroyed it, goes to Louisiana and destroyed it. What is next for the destroyers? Anywhere you have mayoral control you have total destruction. Vallas was told by the city council of Philadelphia that he no longer had the capability to spend one penny anymore he made such a mess. Accident, I don’t think so. Total destruction, that is the plan.
Once again George is right!!! The plan is total privitization in all systems of government for a total business model. Both sides of the isle have signed onto this, either in agreement or in their bank accounts (follow the money!!), and education is just one of those systems. So, forget what you know or teach in government 101, we now have a CEO and Board of Trustees as head of state, each and every state, and in my opinion, the enemy is within we are the enemy!!!
And they say there’s a “dance of the lemons” with teachers!
Please explain, I’ve not heard that term. Thanks!
It’s when teachers are shifted form one school to another, rather than being fired.
Thanks Mark!
should be from, not form
If the financial times are really bad, there is nothing wrong with concessions from the unions. You have to keep the ship afloat. We want big raises when the economy is good, we have to scale back when it is not. BUT, the concessions have to be all the way through the system, from the super on down, equally, according to salary and benifits. There needs to be transparency with funding vouchers, charters, cyber, and other types of alternate schools. Taxpayers need to see where their money is going.
The only solution to this sordid (good choice of words) mess is a concerted political assault.
How about something on order of this?