'More collaboration. No intimidation.'
by Paul Socolar on Feb 25 2011 Posted in Latest news
Audenried High junior Maurice Johnson addressed the rally outside 440 N. Broad Street.
Braving a bitter wind on Broad Street, a diverse and vocal crowd of hundreds of demonstrators tried to send a message to District officials Friday - they're tired of being excluded from important decisions and angry that they see the District squelching dialogue about its plans instead of encouraging it.
The protest action at District headquarters Friday follows a series of student walkouts and heated community meetings this month in response to District proposals to radically overhaul 18 schools as part of its Renaissance Schools plan.
A series of speakers - teachers, students, parents, and other activists - addressed the shivering but boisterous crowd, which extended along the sidewalk outside 440 N. Broad Street. Most called out the District for a series of decisions regarding school overhauls on which they say there was no opportunity for community input. Several of the speakers exhorted the crowd to raise their voices so that Superintendent Ackerman and others inside might hear them.
"We deserve the right to stand up, express our opinions, and be heard in a democratic forum," said David Kirui, a second-year English teacher at Martin Luther King Jr. High School, where many students and staff are unhappy about being named a "Renaissance Match" school. King is slated to be turned over to an outside manager, most likely as a charter school, and teachers at the school will be force-transferred.
Kirui was one of several speakers who also addressed concerns that protesting students and teachers are being targeted by the District.
"I challenge the School District to live up to the democratic ideals of our nation and let its constituents speak out and be heard without fear," he told the crowd.
Kirui quoted one of his students, frustrated about year after year of upheaval at King, as saying, "It's like we're guinea pigs or something."
"They deserve better and we can do better," said Kirui.
The crowd chanted,"More collaboration. No intimidation," and "We deserve a choice, we deserve a voice!"
Two of the speakers - student Maurice Johnson and English teacher Hope Moffett - were from Audenried High School, where a plan to convert the school to a charter managed by the community development group Universal Companies has sparked resistance.
Moffett, 25, was taken out of her classroom last week and later charged with endangering her students' "safefy and welfare," following her involvement in a series of protests, but she has continued to speak out while she spends days in an administrative building awaiting a hearing.
Johnson, a junior and a student of Moffett's, summarized the demonstrators' demands and said the District was using disciplinary threats to intimidate teachers as well as protesting students at schools like West Philadelphia and King.
He also challenged the "failing" label put on his school.
"They call us failures without giving us a chance to even try, without showing us adequate data to back up these decisions they are making," he said.
Organizers of the event, from the Teacher Action Group, read a statement of solidarity from Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan, who said he was unable to attend. The union had urged its members to participate.
The turnout was more than 500, according to organizers. The largest contingent appeared to be teachers, but significant numbers of parents and students joined in as well.
The call to the rally challenged the District to address three main concerns:
- "Give students, parents, teachers and community members a legitimate role in helping to decide the direction of school reform.
- "Stop intimidating teachers and students.
- "Have a transparent process of school change that is grounded in actual data, a space for open dialogue and questioning, and proof that the proposed turnaround models actually work."
School District spokesperson Jamilah Fraser commented afterward that District officials "have their listening caps on," adding, "We are not trying to intimidate anyone."
"We understand there's a major concern out there, that people want to know more" about the plans for the Renaissance Schools, she said. Fraser promised the District would continue to meet with students, parents, and staff to listen and provide further details of what the changes at the schools will look like.
In a prepared statement, the District said that "emotions are running high in the face of the changes being made to the operation of our schools, but we are confident that the positive results generated after implementation will be met with welcome." The statement also encouraged participation in upcoming public meetings about Renaissance Schools and possible school closings and promised "an honest dialogue."
Comments (35)
Submitted by Ron Whitehorne on Fri, 02/25/2011 - 21:57.
Those are some "listening caps" they wear at 440. I hope they have a warranty on them.
Submitted by Philly HS TEacher (not verified) on Sat, 02/26/2011 - 04:31.
The statement from the PR machine at 440 N. Broad is another patronizing, insulting statement. I was at the rally with my 3 children (who are also Philadelphia students) and was energized by the many speakers. If the leadership at 440 N. Broad (and Wayman and the AD1 office) still don't get it, maybe we need to hand deliver "listening caps." Those same "caps" need to go to local politicians who sanction Ackerman's and Wayman's autocratic, dictatorial, and threatening leadership.
Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/26/2011 - 10:04.
This is the highest level of discourse that they can engage in. That sounds like something you would say to a third grader. They listened and then re-upped Ackerman - what's that another 1/2 million flushed down the hole. This reminds of the extraordinary passage from Ellison's Invisible Man in which Dr. Bledsoe describes the true nature of his own (Bledsoe's) power.
Submitted by Yahhmm (not verified) on Fri, 02/25/2011 - 22:34.
Mass-produced and distributed by SRA - one comes free with every corrective program purchase.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/25/2011 - 22:56.
Listening caps is the new name for dunce caps? Seems like they still aren't getting the message. We want a all meetings from here on to be filled with teachers, students, and parents while the administration includine Ackerman will just listen, for a change. If not, then Philly citizens will have no choice, but to demand that the district be audited so we can find out where our money is truly going.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/25/2011 - 22:58.
YES, emotions are running high, and why wouldn't they be? Charters, turnarounds, Rennaisssance, Promises,and whatever the flav of the week is, are moving in with such speed, as to cause real dismay and concern. When people talk but school choice, they don't anticipate that all the choices will be made FOR them ,unillaterally. At this point, it's no surprise that parents, students, and teachers are saying, what about us?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/25/2011 - 23:11.
I would like an audit. Or even just for someone to ask "Why are you spending all this money on these promise academies, when there is no money for regular teachers, not to speak of the teachers who are paid extra to work at these promise academies". dont get me wrong though, im not faulting the teachers. ackerman's spending makes no sense to me, especially at a time like this.
Submitted by Anne E. Levin Garrison (not verified) on Fri, 02/25/2011 - 23:30.
SOOOO PROUD!!!!
Thank you to all of you for your courage and spirit!!!
That so many of you came is such encouraging news!
This is the kind of effort that can turn things around!!!
THANK YOU!
Submitted by Angela Chan on Fri, 02/25/2011 - 23:32.
Thanks to TAG for organizing this rally, and also to all the speakers for your inspiring words! We need more events like this to remind ourselves of our strength. It was uplifting to be able to stand together as citizens who care about our students, schools and communities.
Submitted by Meg (not verified) on Sat, 02/26/2011 - 00:14.
Frank Murphy spoke about the respect needed from the administration for a productive team in any situation. Not coming out to hear us was not resepct. The SRC extending Ms. Ackerman's contract today, that is not listening to our concerns, either...Not listening and not respect.
Emotions are running high, but the lack of respect in this district right now is too high.
The fact that this rally did not receive any actual news coverage beyond the notebook is sad.
Submitted by Sharon Newman Ehrlich (not verified) on Sat, 02/26/2011 - 00:43.
Thank you to TAG for organizing the rally and getting the word out!!!
I would like to know how much the providers get to run the schools and if the SDP gets money from the providers to run the schools.
I think that Mr. Gamble ( as one example that has been discussed in the media) has good intentions, but does he know how to run a school?? Kenny, if you are listening...please make sure you have caring, committed EDUCATORS with EXPERIENCE, on your team, so that all teachers, students AND THE COMMUNITY will benefit from your intentions and especially your money!!
I am sorry to hear that freedom of speech is not allowed in some schools...what are we teaching our children with the example at "Audenreid"?? That you need to shut up and put up with whatever happens??? That's why so many parents and students don't speak up in the first place...becasue they've been shot down before.
Keep speaking up for what you know is right...NO MATTER WHAT>> at least you will sleep at night knowing you did your best!!
I encourage anyone in the media to contact me to know what has gone on in some schools in Philadelphia for the past several years.
All citizens of the city, especially tax payers, deserve transparency and I am willing to be as transparent as is needed. Just ask.....
I am not afraid to speak up...what I am afraid of, is that the students in Philadelphia will NOT get the education that they NEED and DESERVE.
Respectfully,
Education215@gmail.com..
Submitted by Benjamin Herold on Sat, 02/26/2011 - 10:02.
"I would like to know how much the providers get to run the schools and if the SDP gets money from the providers to run the schools."
In the first year of the Renaissance initiative, turnaround providers received the standard per pupil charter school payment ($8,608 per regular education student and $18,512 per special education student) to operate schools. They in turn lease their school buildings from the District.
District officials have said the net cost increase to the District of its first group of Renaissance charters was $10.2 million, attributed to higher than expected enrollments at the schools and lower than expected recovery of fixed facility costs.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/26/2011 - 21:26.
So, it sounds as if this didn't save the district money but cost them an extra 10 million, and for no result at Vare Middle at least where Universal's charter was non-extended for showing no progress. Why can't people see that unless they personally get involved nothing will happen. HERE, NOW, THIS IS THE CHANCE for people to mobilize. Change doesn't come from the top people. Look at the middle east! Change comes from the ground, from the everyday folks like you and me. Unless we take the chance and act now nothing can be accomplished. Yes, there are casualties. Hope Moffett and her passionate dedication to her students may be one of them, but she has shown that she is willing to sacrifice and risk it to achieve the utmost goal of improving the educational opportunities for the youth of Philadelphia. She was achieving results because she does care. She did spend many unpaid hours I am sure to connect with her students and differentiate the curriculum to their individual needs and they responded with increased motivation and dedication to her and education in general. Nobody is perfect, but together change can be made with ACTION.
Submitted by Sharon Newman Ehrlich (not verified) on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 04:54.
Thanks Benjamin. Now for the real question. Why doesn't the school district show us where ALL the money is. We need a full audit of all of the employee salaries and extra hours worked..including retired principals who are getting a pension as well as a consultant fee...any perks given to the SDP and SRC members...cars..vacations..bonuses..itemized orders of ALL equipment to all schools and let's take Edison Fareira HS for example. How is the 14 million dollars distributed at the school??
salaries? equipment? extra curricular activities? paper? books?
We need itemized information from the operations officers of ALL of the schools to see where the money is going and a random inventory of items. I would love to take a walk around any school building with an inventory list to SEE that all that is ordered is in it's place. Especially Educational Materials!!!
Interesting how no one commented on my statements about speaking to the media. I am not sure if given the opportunity...people really want to know what goes on in schools..for they may not know what to do with the information.??
Ready and willing to speak ...SNE
Submitted by Teacher (K.R. Luebbert) (not verified) on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 12:01.
I agree, we need a complete, independent audit of ALL expenses--including every penny spent at 440. All perks for administrators need to be eliminated. Our budget is too fragile to have luxuries when schools barely have paper and supplies.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/27/2011 - 20:37.
I agree about the audit, but Alan Budkowitz won't turn on the Democractic machine that hires him. What ever happen to the paintings that Vallas took and Alan could not find when he went to look for them? Every hear anything more about that? Why isn't he auditing Ackerman's claims about everybody having enough books, they were just left in the closets because teachers were too dumb to look for them. Wait until March 8th when Corbett reveals his budget. We live in interesting times.
Submitted by Sharon NE Teacher (not verified) on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 16:20.
I think that Alan Butkovitz is doing whatever he can with his limitations.
I think that more teachers and parents need to speak up, although the media is not responsive to us. Unless they get the "go ahead". Seems that there is money involved between some city offices and the media??
I know several former students who are accountants who would be happy to go in and do a complete audit. Can we as citizens order that to be done and send in our own people??
I'll spearhead that.
Let me know.
education215@gmail.com
Submitted by Teacher (K.R. Luebbert) (not verified) on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 18:39.
I would love for us as citizens to be able an accounting of our hard-earned tax money. I think we should.
Submitted by Ken (not verified) on Sat, 02/26/2011 - 10:27.
Very impressed with the rally yesterday. A diverse group of speakers. A statement of support from Jerry Jordan. A vocal, loud crowd. My one regret was not getting around to personally thank Mope Moffett for her advocacy.
Submitted by Teacher (K.R. Luebbert) (not verified) on Sat, 02/26/2011 - 10:34.
Seeing all my colleagues, students, parents, and members of the community at the rally yesterday made me proud to be a Philly teacher! Maurice, especially, made a wonderful heartfelt speech and I know made his family and all his teachers proud. He is a great spokesman for his school and his generation. I hope the district and the SRC can truly learn to listen and collaborate with all the people they are "experimenting" on.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/26/2011 - 11:41.
I am wondering if anybody has bothered to invoke their FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) rights to request an explanation from the district on why Universal was chosen to take over Audenreid. I'm hearing a lot of people comment on how the district is refusing to provide information, but under FOIA I'm pretty sure it would be a violation of federal law for the district to do so.
Submitted by Mary Beth Hertz (not verified) on Sat, 02/26/2011 - 14:32.
What I would like to see is the end of the SRC and a reinstated ELECTED school board. Why no one is pushing for this surprising. Why is the State still running our school district? We are taxpayers and voters--can't we do something about it?
Submitted by Mary Beth Hertz (not verified) on Sat, 02/26/2011 - 14:37.
I would like to see the State give back control of the District to the City. There can be no collaboration without an ELECTED school board. The parents, teachers and students have been powerless since 2001 when the SRC took control. We're voters and taxpayers--can we please have our school district back?
Submitted by L. Boyce (not verified) on Sat, 02/26/2011 - 19:45.
I agree wholeheartedly. What can we do to bring back democratic local control to Philly education? Let's get the conversation started.
Submitted by Ron Whitehorne on Sat, 02/26/2011 - 22:25.
Yes you are right. The state takeover had nothing to do with meeting the needs of students. The Ridge administration, heavily influenced by right wing, market oriented, ideologues, aided by Democrats like Dwight Evans, passed legislation that authorized taking over the city's schools, turning them over to private contractors and drastically restricting collective bargaining. Part of what drove the takeover was payback against Superintendent David Hornbeck who attacked the state for shortchanging poor, predominantly black and Latino, school districts. Mayor Street agreed to support the takeover in exchange for two seats on the SRC. Ridge's plan to farm out much of the District's management to the Edison company was defeated by a broad movement against privatization, but Edison and other EMOs did land lucrative management contracts that did little to improve educational outcomes, even with additional funding.
Elected officals and the city's elites have been more than happy to let the SRC exercise control in exchange for additional dollars, but that argument no longer holds water, particularly as we are facing massive cuts from Governor Corbett and the Republican dominated legislature.
We should have the same rights of self government as every other city and town in the state. Nor should we settle for a return to status quo ante...a school board appointed by the mayor and nominated by a mysterious panel historically dominated by bankers and lawyers. An elected school board is not only the most demoratic practice, it is the one that best assures that citizens will actively engage in thinking about what education should look like in our city.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/26/2011 - 18:00.
Imagine for one moment an urban school district driven by the desire to solve educational problems; thirsty for the kind of first-hand experiences that must be used to design long-lasting solutions, not simply more smoke and mirrors; and another committee report in three months. Imagine: our SRC folks would enroll in every UnderCover Boss program they could find; substitute teaching twice a month in different areas of the city; imersing themselves in the day-to-day realities of urban education in order to better understand how to break the drop-out cycle; how to energize and inspire parent-caregivers into becominmg equal, respected partners in this critical process. Imagine a model urban school district really passionate about listening, inspiring and building a culture of honest mutual respect....instead of Philadelphia politics as usual. In this imaginary urban school district, the superintendant would not feel the need to praise herself (himself) to the skies at every opportunity or place congratulatory banners at the entrance to 440 N. Broad...because the results of this enormous educational climate change would speak for itself.
Submitted by Dana (not verified) on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 14:24.
There is nothing more important in the school system than parents, students, teacher, and officials alike coming together to make decisions together. There is no place for any one person or group of people making all the decisions.
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Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 14:35.
The American Civil Liberties Union is investigating claims of intimidation and retaliation against teachers and students because of their questions or comments about District policies. At this point we are simply collecting information and all reports will be kept confidential. If you are willing to share information with us about something that has happened to you or that you have witnessed, please send an email to info@aclupa.org and give us a number and a time when one of our lawyers can call and get the details from you. All reports will be kept strictly confidential unless you give us permission to disclose it.
Submitted by Sharon NE Teacher (not verified) on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 16:23.
Interesting. I contacted them ACLU when I first was harassed in 2007 and they said that they could not help me. It's been four years now... You want the information?? I have witnesses ( students who were there and now are adults) and all of the paperwork that you need.
Contact me if you really care about this issue, because they did not at the time I really needed them. :(
Submitted by Sharon NE Teacher (not verified) on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 16:25.
Sorry...education215@gmail.com is my email...contact me please.
Thanks
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 17:48.
Great work everyone! Let our voices be heard!
Footage from the Rally:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObfIgzHAmYE
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 22:32.
"Universal's charter was non-extended for showing no progress"
So??? What is up with this?? DId they improve all of a sudden??
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im so glad i was there!!
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