Suburban Kids Get iPads; Philly Kids Get...
What do you think about the budget discrepancies?
Photos
With massive budgets hitting the School District of Philadelphia, school parents have rallied to raise money for basics—like pencils, papers and books. Spending is frozen, and schools are closing.
Across the Schuylkill River in Lower Merion Township, the school district touted new iPads for every student... in its 14 kindergarten classes.
On Wednesday, hundreds of dissatisfied parents took to the streets and protested the latest round of budget cuts in a march from City Hall to the Philadelphia school headquarters.
It's hard to avoid noticing the discrepancies between the two school districts, but what's to be done?
In a Patch opinion piece last year, Mt. Airy resident Catherine Collins seriously weighed the possibility of suburban living.
"Well, there's just no getting around the fact that the suburban public schools are better funded, and more money often translates into more and better stuff. More extracurricular activities, nicer facilities, fine and performing arts programs, foreign languages, sports, well-stocked libraries staffed with librarians, gifted support, and, as much as it pains me, better standardized test scores.
"I know that there are many less-tangible benefits to my children attending a city school."
So, Patch wants to know: Is it worth it to live in the city and put up with the school district's pitfalls?
Virginia C. McGuire
8:02 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012
This poll is a little misleading. The last sentence of the article makes it sound like you're voting yes for "it's worth it to stay" but the poll itself says a "yes" vote would mean "yes I'm moving."
And no, I'm not moving! I don't even like going to the suburbs to run errands. <shudder>
Michelle Mack
12:40 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012
If I were dependent on public school education, I would definitely considering moving to the burbs! As a West Mt. Airy resident, love my home and neighborhood, but the truth is we have been blessed to be able to send our son to a private school and stay in the community we love. Too many don't have that option!
brendon
9:48 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012
I'm a high performing teacher in the district and I dream of being in the suburbs on nearly a daily basis. I love my kids, but I want to know what it feels like to be supported in the work I do.
brendon
9:51 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012
I'm tired of feeling like I should be grateful just for having a job. After 5 years, I'm exhausted by the politics of fear and uncertainty....is that what my student loans from Columbia and Penn granted me access to?
Al
11:44 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012
@brendon I taught high school math in the Philly School District for three years. It was not only a thankless experience, but in the eyes of many suburban districts I was "type cast". The Philly School District has a terrible reputation and if you stay too long you'll have a hard time getting hired in the burbs. My advice is to get out as soon as possible.