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Jan 25, 2012

The Future of Chester

kobymurp

The future of the Chester Upland School District In Delaware County is and has been up in the air for quite some time now.

As a result of the devastating state budget cuts to education Chester Upland’s school district went under financially.

Chester Upland gets nearly 70 percent of its annual funding from the state but lost almost 20 percent of its allotment because of severe budget cuts according the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Even with the well being of students on the line the state is not stepping in to rectify the financial instability that many rightfully argue was pushed by the states multi-million dollar cuts to education.

In fact as recently as January 17th, U.S. District Judge Michael M. Baylson ordered the state advance $3.2 million to the Chester Upland School District so it could meet its payroll for the time being.

Regardless of the state’s claims that the Chester Upland School District mismanaged its budget, students shouldn’t have to suffer not knowing whether or not they will be able to keep attending their schools.

Teachers shouldn’t have to question whether they will be paid and whether they will be able to continue teaching their pupils.

Remarkably, before the federal court ruling for the $3.2 million advance of funds the teachers vowed to teach without pay for as long as they could.

That is absolute dedication to not only their profession but also to the  state’s most precious resource: our students.

Why doesn’t the state display such dedication to its students and their instructors?

Furthermore why would any state allow conditions like this to go on this long?

Will you join students & parents from across Pennsylvania to demand that Governor Corbett make equitable school funding a top priority in the next budget?

You must register online in order to reserve a seat on one of the Philadelphia buses: www.showloveforeducation.eventbrite.com





















Posted by: kobymurp
Jan 12, 2012

Creating Nonviolent Schools & Communities: MLK Day 2012

kobymurp

Since 2009 the Campaign for Nonviolent Schools (CNS) has been working to engage leaders of the School District and the community in  addressing school climate issues that don’t push students into the criminal justice system .

The Campaign for Nonviolent Schools believes that by ending bias violence, the school to prison pipeline, and using restorative justice practices we can heal our schools and communities.

The work CNS does is important because nonviolent schools and communities can lead students to successful lives and as a result successful communities. The Campaign for Nonviolent Schools also brings together 11 diverse organizations from around the city all the while keeping youth voice and youth-created solutions at the forefront.

In honor of Dr. King’s legacy of nonviolence, youth and adults from around Philadelphia are coming together to take action to create nonviolent schools and communities.  

On MLK Day, Monday, January 16th, from 1pm-4pm at  Arch Street Methodist Church (55 N Broad St), join the Campaign for Nonviolent Schools for an expert panel of youth and adults, and workshops that will give you concrete skills and steps you can take to reduce violence.  

Some of the panel speakers will be Steve Korr from the International Institute for Restorative Practices, Ayesha Imani of Freedom Schools, Helen Gym of Asian Americans United and youth leader Joshua Glenn of CNS and the Youth Art & Self-Empowerment Project (YASP).

Workshops will include: Implementing Restorative Practices, Ending Bias Violence, Creating Nonviolent Schools, and Ending the School to Prison Pipeline.  This event is free and open to the public.  

Pre-register for the event at: www.endingviolence.eventbrite.com

King quote regarding the urgency of helping others


Posted by: kobymurp
Tagged in: Youth Organizing , Youth Leadership , voices , voice , Violence , transformation , The Philadelphia Student Union , Students , Special Events , school safety , school reform , school district , rev. dr. martin luther king jr. , quality education , public education reform , public education , PSU , Philly student union , philly , Philadelphia Student Union , Philadelphia Education , philadelphia , Neighborhood schools , Neighborhood safety , Martin Luther King , local , lives , learning , Leadership , Leaders , issues , Historic , future , fair , Equality , environment , empowerement , Education Stakeholders , Education Reform , Education for Liberation , district , Disparity , decisions , Community Voice , Community Input , community , Communities , champions , Campaign , buliding a youth movement , Alliance for Educational Justice , AEJ , 2012
Dec 20, 2011

Great Schools Need Community Input

kobymurp

Recently the School Reform Commission voted in approval of the Philadelphia Great Schools Compact which represents a handful of things for Philadelphia.

To be eligible to receive a grant from Gates, schools districts must agree to his vision of school reform and pledge cooperation by signing a compact which is essentially a contract.

In other words if the School District of Philadelphia wants money from Bill Gates it must follow his vision.

According to the official draft of the Philadelphia Great Schools Compact, the vision for Philadelphia is to strengthen its link between the School District and the charter school community in hopes to expand and simulate the best performing schools while eliminating the lowest performing schools (approximately 50,000 seats) by 2016-17. It will also align the District with the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools and the Philadelphia Charters for Excellence, two of the largest charter school umbrella organizations in the state of Pennsylvania.

I recognize that the Philadelphia School District is still trying come back from its $630 million budget deficit but is this really the path that they should steer Philadelphia education?

I would feel better if this process included more community voice. However this process was orchestrated without opportunity for Philadelphians to weigh in on the proposal and its decision. The plan was completed in a weeks time and was done behind closed doors.

Successful education reform in Philadelphia and abroad has to set aside time and input from the people most affected, the people that navigate through the education system.

We have to engage the entire community when taking measures on education.

For more information click here.














Posted by: kobymurp
Nov 22, 2011

Building Student Power Across PA!

megan

Written by Jaileah Gibson

This fall the Philadelphia student union has been working hard around our statewide funding campaign. So we have had multiple meetings with high school students from Reading, Pennsylvania.

So on November 1, 2011 a few students from the Philadelphia student Union took a trip down to Reading High School. Most schools in Philadelphia face the same issues that the students in Reading high school face. Like violence or having unqualified teachers. But the most common issue that students face is having our schools be underfunded.


Posted by: megan
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