This statement is in response to news that the School District of Philadelphia may begin disciplinary action toward teachers who had informed parents of their opt out rights around high stakes testing. The District move follows this City Paper article announcing that 17% of students at Feltonville School of Arts and Sciences refused to takeContinue reading “Our statement: We support the right to opt out”
Category Archives: War on Teachers
Statement: Students deserve an apology – not insults
Last month the School District of Philadelphia hosted a screening of the controversial film “Won’t Back Down” (read Helen Gym’s review of the movie here) shortly after the School Reform Commission took unprecedented action to revoke the teachers’ contract. Students conducted a protest of the film screening. It went downhill from there. According to this video,Continue reading “Statement: Students deserve an apology – not insults”
This happened today: Bodine High loses teachers, cancels physics
This is what “leveling” means in Philly public schools. It means the District refuses to hire needed staff so schools lose teachers to send to other schools seven weeks into the school year. What difference does a teacher make? Check out what happened when Bodine High School for International Affairs (one of Philadelphia’s “innovative” globalContinue reading “This happened today: Bodine High loses teachers, cancels physics”
Gerald Wright: The SRC has gone too far
On October 15, parents across the city gathered at 440 to decry the SRC’s decision earlier this month to throw out the teachers’ contract. Parents United for Public Education joined with Action United and PCAPs to organize the rally because we believe that a strong school district works in partnership with its labor force, notContinue reading “Gerald Wright: The SRC has gone too far”
Smart read of the day: Lisa Haver on why real accountability goes both ways
“The question then is: Is accountability applicable only to those in the classrooms? Why do we not hold those in leadership positions accountable? It is the responsibility of the Superintendent and the SRC to make sure that we have a functioning system which meets all of the needs of our students. It is their responsibilityContinue reading “Smart read of the day: Lisa Haver on why real accountability goes both ways”
