Notes from the Field
Submitted by Frank Murphy, on January 31, 2012
I started the new year cautiously optimistic about the future of education in our city and state. My hopeful spirit was quickly dashed. Shortly after I posted “To a Better School Year in 2012”, a wave of bad news washed over area schools. First the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced plans to close forty-nine schools in the next school year. The Chester Upland School District, which is tottering on the verge of bankruptcy, scrambled to find additional monies in order to keep its schools open. And in Philadelphia, members of the School Reform Commission announced more bad news regarding the district’s budget. It was revealed that a $61 million budget gap still exists for this current school year. Even worse news was the possibility that a $269 million shortfall in next year’s budget could continue to hobble the district’s effort to provide educational services to the city’s public school students. All of this is unsettling news.
These events have been occupying my mind for these last few weeks. Though I have not shared my thoughts on these matters, I have been keeping track of what others have had to say concerning these situations. During the month of January a number of articles and commentaries have caught my attention.
This editorial in the Philadelphia Inquirer makes the point that it is the responsibility of our state elected officials, particularly Governor Corbett to help to address the financial crises that faces not only our school district but also for the many other distressed districts across the state.
Chris Satullo made a similar though more pointed argument in this article posted at newsworks. His observation that we are flunking our communal responsibility to educate our children is worth serious consideration.
Ron Whitehorne’s, “Commentary: Shock and awe, coming to a school near you” recently posted on the Philadelphia School Notebook most closely mirrors my own thoughts on the current state of the education establishment in our city.
Thousands of school employees (such as teachers, aides, nurses, and custodial staff) have already lost their jobs. Thousands more will soon follow behind them as budget cuts force schools to close. For these individuals, this is a devastating life event. Their families will also feel the negative effects of their lost income and our community will be strained by the addition of even more unemployed people. School communities will be abruptly eliminated. Class sizes will increase and student services will decline. Many people are being ill served by the school closings and ravaged school budgets that are sweeping through our community.
The harm that is being inflicted on so many of our fellow citizens is a consequence of the poor choices of those to whom we have entrusted our schools. Perhaps the decision to close schools and to reduce budgets during difficult economic times is a wise thing to do. This would certainly be true if the affected schools were over- staffed and provided unnecessary activities and programs. Eliminating unnecessary positions and excessive expenditures are good ways to reduce costs. But this is far from the case. In the Philadelphia School District, nurses are being eliminated, class sizes are increasing and aides who assist in maintaining school safety have been terminated. These same problems are occurring in all of the other schools and districts that are cutting their budgets.
I understand that dire economic circumstances can force difficult decisions to be made. But why are budget cuts the only solution offered? How about finding a way to raise additional revenue?
The lack of sympathy or concern that is being expressed for the employees who are being affected by these decisions is appalling. The response from Governor Corbett’s secretary of education to Chester Upland School officials regarding their budget woes, is a glaring example of the “blame the school district, blame the school, and blame the teacher” mentality that has characterized public discourse in recent years.
This behavior is frustrating and infuriating. Leaders should to be concerned for the well being of every person they are sworn to serve. Finger pointing and name-calling on their part is unbecoming behavior. Saving money by denying children a quality education is a poor investment. Solve the problems facing our schools. Preserve and strengthen our public education institutions for the generations still to come. Find additional revenue then spend it judiciously. Don’t squander the future of our society in order to accomplish shortsighted savings today.