I was exceedingly dismayed today to find out about the donors-only conference taking place in my hometown today and tomorrow. I was also surprised to find out the location of the conference: the Union League of Philadelphia. As a location that was built to support policies of Abraham Lincoln and the Union in 1862, I very much doubt the founders would have wanted a set of rich, exclusive people making decisions over the populace of Philadelphia. The closed-door nature of the affair adds insult to injury, providing yet another place where the stakeholders of the city's education system are barred from sharing their thoughts.
One look at the agenda of this conference plainly shows the direction the creators are aiming for: a non-public school system driven by rich people who make policy and pedagogical decisions for poor residents of Philadelphia. The schools they visited today are only charter and parochial - no traditional public schools involved. Perhaps it is because of the fact that class sizes have ballooned and there are no counselors to assist students in applying to college. Or perhaps it is because there has been systematic disinvestment over the past five years. Whatever the reason, they are not seeing how their donations and policy influence is ruining one of the oldest school systems in the country.
One look at the agenda of this conference plainly shows the direction the creators are aiming for: a non-public school system driven by rich people who make policy and pedagogical decisions for poor residents of Philadelphia. The schools they visited today are only charter and parochial - no traditional public schools involved. Perhaps it is because of the fact that class sizes have ballooned and there are no counselors to assist students in applying to college. Or perhaps it is because there has been systematic disinvestment over the past five years. Whatever the reason, they are not seeing how their donations and policy influence is ruining one of the oldest school systems in the country.
I am particularly upset with the Director of Philadelphia Schools Partnership, Mark Gleason and the Director of PennCAN, Jon Cetel because we have had many conversations in which we all agreed teachers should be involved in these conversations and yet no teachers are in the agenda. There are plenty of policy directors and foundation representatives, but no one is there to speak on behalf of the teachers.
Ever since the Pew survey came out on who is truly at fault, I have been trying to focus people's attention to the chart on the right. Only 11% of respondents view the teachers and their union as at fault. If that is the case - and teachers are telling all that their rights are not the issue - why do groups like PSP and PennCAN call for the end to seniority rights? While I agree certain things can be worked on, there is a place for seniority in order to keep administrators from using a grudge to solve a budgetary problem.
I truly hope something good can come from this conference but I sincerely doubt that it will unless more teacher voice in included.
Ever since the Pew survey came out on who is truly at fault, I have been trying to focus people's attention to the chart on the right. Only 11% of respondents view the teachers and their union as at fault. If that is the case - and teachers are telling all that their rights are not the issue - why do groups like PSP and PennCAN call for the end to seniority rights? While I agree certain things can be worked on, there is a place for seniority in order to keep administrators from using a grudge to solve a budgetary problem.
I truly hope something good can come from this conference but I sincerely doubt that it will unless more teacher voice in included.
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