Education Beyond the Headlines

Posted by on February 24, 2014

We all know that Philadelphia’s schools are in trouble, but with new developments every day, it can be hard to keep up with education news.

Regardless of the news, each day approximately 150,000 thousand students and 10,000 workers face the devastating reality of the city’s underfunded school district. At the start of the year, schools had 3,000 fewer employees than they had last year. [1] School nurses are serving 1500 students each, and have to travel from school to school.[2] Some high schools are relying on only one or two guidance counselors to serve thousands of students.[3]

It’s going to take the engagement of all of us to turn these trends around. That’s why I want to invite you to a Bread & Roses community forum to help us start that process:

http://breadrosesfund.org/1822-2/

Education Beyond the Headlines
A community forum on public education
Thursday, March 6
5:30-8:30 p.m.
3417 Spruce Street
Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall
The University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19143

Metered parking available on Spruce Street between 33rd and 34th or in Penn Tower for $13.
Pizza and soft drinks will be provided.

At Education Beyond the Headlines, you’ll get the real picture of education in Philadelphia and learn how you can get involved in changing it.
•    We’ll watch a video from Media Mobilizing Project that takes you inside Philadelphia schools and shows you exactly what this past year has been like.
•    Then you’ll have a chance to share your reactions with other attendees and start to talk about the big picture.
•    Finally, we’ll witness a conversation between students, parents, teachers, school workers, and policy experts. They’ll go into more depth about their personal stories and talk about some of the inspiring organizing that’s going on despite the big challenges.

This event will be one of the largest gatherings of Bread & Roses grantees, donors and allies this year, and the issue couldn’t be more urgent. Click here to let us know you’re coming:

http://breadrosesfund.org/1822-2/

Students, parents, and grassroots groups need us all to join the conversation. With everyone involved, I know we can guarantee a better future for our region.

I hope you’ll join us!

Sincerely,
Casey Cook
executive director

1.      Mezzacappa, D. “No relief in sight for District’s troubled finances,” Philadelphia Public School Notebook, December, 2013, retrieved from: https://thenotebook.org/december-2013/136677/no-relief-sight-districts-troubled-finances

2.      Mezzacappa, D. “Corbett to release $45 million that Pa. has been withholding; 400 jobs to be restored,” Philadelphia Public School Notebook, Oct 16, 2013. Retrieved from: http://thenotebook.org/blog/136553/corbett-release-45-million

3.      Wilford Shamlin III. “Recently reinstated counselors work in difficult conditions,” Philadelphia Tribune, November 7, 2013, retrieved from: http://www.phillytrib.com/cityandregionarticles/item/11592-recently-reinstated-counselors-work-in-difficult-conditions.html