Make it better in schools right now
“I’m afraid my whole life is going to be like this. People will always be calling me names.” -Jordan, 8th grader, inConfessions of an Urban Principal: OctoberAsher Brown recently committed suicide. He...
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In hard times, how should the School District spend its money?
The recent financial bounty we have enjoyed in the School District of Philadelphia is coming to an end.A decrease in state revenues, the end of federal stimulus funds, and a newly elected governor who...
View ArticleEverybody's children; Other people's money
In the 2011 school year and going forward, the probability that a major financial shortfall will cripple the operations of the School District of Philadelphia is increasingly becoming a...
View Article70,000 vacant seats: A convenient truth?
During its recent January planning meeting, District staffers presented a preliminary facilities usage report to the School Reform Commission. At this time, the SRC was informed that there are 70,000...
View ArticleComprehensive plan needed for school violence
The Inquirer’s recent series on school violence has sparked comment from many quarters. The response of Mayor Nutter and Police Commissioner Ramsey, in particular, has provoked some controversy. They...
View ArticleSave Our Schools March and National Call to Action
This Saturday, the Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action will take place in Washington D.C. The rally, which will be staged at the ellipse, starts at noon. Around 1:30 p.m., participants...
View ArticleSchool autonomy for curriculum to return
Earlier this week the District announced a shift away from mandated, scripted curricula in favor of autonomy for individual schools. Over the past decade, the amount of autonomy a school has over its...
View ArticleCommentary: The SRC leaves Creighton school behind
The Philadelphia School Reform Commission recently chose to ignore a great opportunity to encourage and support authentic grassroots school reform efforts in the District. They did so by rejecting a...
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Stand united: An appeal to commenters
I have been troubled by the negative tone of several comments posted in response to Notebook articles over the last few months. Anonymous posters have increasingly engaged in highly critical and often...
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A school's value cannot be so easily calculated
Superintendent William Hite has changed a flawed school-closings plan, and the revision was an encouraging sign. Hearing the concerns and suggestions of individual school communities was exactly what...
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