Is this our Mayor?

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter made an appearance last night on “All In with Chris Hayes” on MSNBC  about the awful decisions made this year about Philadelphia public schools. From mass school closings to reckless charter expansion, from closing schools to opening prisons, from eliminating fundamental education responsibilities to laying off thousands of Philadelphians – what,Continue reading “Is this our Mayor?”

This is not a school: Parents United statement on district layoffs

[Update: The District has actually issued 3,783 layoffs, over 20% of its total staff.] “This is not a school” Parents United for Public Education Statement on District layoffs, June 7, 2013 3,000 layoffs.  Aides, secretaries, nurses, librarians, art and music teachers, classroom teachers, assistant principals, counselors—people who have worked in our children’s schools for years,Continue reading “This is not a school: Parents United statement on district layoffs”

A public thanks to Commissioner Joseph Dworetzky

The SRC’s vote May 30th stripped away any pretense that next year’s budget has a child-centered, education-focused mission. Gone from the budget are core educational responsibilities: the arts, guidance counselors, books & supplies, librarians, sports, and extracurricular activities and clubs. The budget hurt every single school in every neighborhood across the city, from the most strugglingContinue reading “A public thanks to Commissioner Joseph Dworetzky”