Notes from the Field
Submitted by Frank Murphy, March 22, 2011
Can you create a sense of solidarity with a group of people who mainly identify themselves as anonymous when commenting on a blog post? When you stand together at a protest demonstration with hundreds of other like-minded people, is it possible to have a meaningful and substantial dialogue with them? The answer to both of these questions would be “No”! That is, according to the organizers of TAG’S community budget forum.
In order to physically bring together and mobilize this virtual community, TAG has organized a town hall meeting on Wednesday, March 23, 2010. The meeting will be held at Calvary Church in West Philadelphia from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. This forum will provide another opportunity for concerned citizens and educational activists to voice their concerns regarding the direction of educational reforms in our city. It will also create an opportunity for individuals who generally engage in on-line discussion to be able to meet in person.
The purpose of this event will be to focus on the School District of Philadelphia’s budget for the 2011-2012 school year. Since the district’s budget is essentially a statement of priorities and a blue print for its future direction, the organizers of this forum expect that a number of pressing questions will be raised related to these two topics:
•Does it makes sense to continue to direct district funds in support of the Renaissance School plan?
• Should limited public funds be directed to non-public organizations?
• What programs or initiatives are worth continued support in the school district?
• What actions should the SRC take in dealing with the possibilities of school closings, teacher layoffs and increased class sizes?
• What impact will the expanded funding of Promise Academies have on the programs of other city schools?
• Is the community truly involved in the decision-making process regarding the future of our public schools?
These important questions as well as others will be addressed at this public meeting. Such relevant topics deserve and in fact, demand honest and thoughtful public discourse. To be a vital part of this important dialogue, please come out next Wednesday for TAG’s Community Budget Forum.
The following panelists have confirmed their participation:
Alan Butkovitz, City Controller;
James Roebuck, State Representative, Democratic Chair of House Education Committee;
Brett Schaeffer, Director of Communications, Education Law Center;
Dr. “Torch” Lytle, University of Pennsylvania Professor and former school district administrator;
Joshua Glenn, Youth Self-Empowerment Project;
Jaileah Gibson, Senior at Sayre High School;
Arlenne Kempin, PFT General VP.
Join other teachers, students, parents and educational activists as we share our ideas about school reform in our city and actively participate in the governance of our democratic society.
TAG’s Community Budget Forum
co-sponsored by Action United & Education, Not Incarceration – Delaware Valley
Wednesday, March 23rd at 6:00 p.m.
Calvary United Methodist Church
48th Street and Baltimore Avenue;
West Philadelph
Visit tagphilly.org for more information.