Today, the Philadelphia Daily News published my commentary on the myth of racial inequality in the Philadelphia School District, which originally appeared on this blog on July 10th.
If you missed this one (or want to give it another read in the pages of the Daily News), click here. Feel free to leave comments below.
Thanks,
Christopher [...]
Entries Tagged as ‘Dr. Ackerman's Strategic Plan’
July 15, 2009
Daily News publishes ‘myth of racial inequality’ commentary
July 10, 2009
The myth of racial inequality in Philadelphia public schools
Despite accusations of segregation, academic achievement and failure in district schools transcend neighborhoods and racial boundaries.
by Christopher Paslay
There’s a line in the movie JFK where Kevin Costner explains to the jury that theoretical physics can prove that an elephant can hang from a cliff with his tail tied to a daisy.
“But use your eyes, your common sense,” [...]
June 25, 2009
Inquirer editorial insults teachers and oversimplifies education reform
Using clichés and sarcasm, the Inquirer endorses the district’s recycled ideas.
by Christopher Paslay
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that students struggling academically need more, not less, time in the classroom.”
This is a quote from a recent Inquirer editorial headlined, “A new deal for schools”. It wasn’t the condescending tone of the [...]
June 4, 2009
Witch-hunt mentality is hurting morale of principals and teachers
by Christopher Paslay
In a recent Inquirer article, Dr. Ackerman spoke about a wounded spirit in the city, a sadness that she described as “ever-present”.
Although she was referring to the community’s frustration over its troubled public school system, her words could have just as easily applied to the district’s principals and teachers.
While attending several [...]
March 1, 2009
Paul Vallas reincarnated?
by Susan Cohen Smith
On a sweltering September day in 2002, mad dogs and school teachers sat out in the midday sun, awaiting the arrival of Starship Vallas to descend on our wretched souls and breathe new life into the beleaguered Philadelphia public school system.
Paul Vallas sailed into the School District of Philadelphia promising sweeping reforms [...]
February 26, 2009
English classes respond to ‘Imagine 2014’
by Christopher Paslay
Yesterday, while the Philadelphia Student Union staged a predictable protest outside District headquarters to voice their concerns about “Imagine 2014,” Dr. Ackerman’s new strategic plan, I took time to discuss the school reform blueprint with students inside my 11th grade English classes.
I introduced “Imagine 2014” by having students read an overview of [...]
February 24, 2009
District officials must solve problems, not rename them
by Susan Cohen Smith
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. The more things change, the more they stay the same. The School District of Philadelphia’s new Superintendent, Arlene Ackerman, has embraced the time-honored method of enacting wholesale institutional change within the Philadelphia school system: if something’s not working, change its name and call it [...]
February 21, 2009
To Mayor Nutter: What happened to stopping contracts with outside managers?
by Christopher Paslay
“As Mayor, I will call for a reduction in contracts with outside contractors unless there is a compelling educational purpose for renewing the contract.”
–Mayor Michael Nutter, Putting Children First
In an educational reform plan dubbed Imagine 2014, Philadelphia schools’ chief Arlene Ackerman announced her intention to shut-down 35 of the [...]
February 19, 2009
Imagine 2014
by Christopher Paslay
(Re: Imagine 2014)
Imagine there’s no insults
It’s easy if you try
No blaming just the teachers
No waving 30 schools goodbye
Imagine the SRC
Giving us what we need
Imagine no outside managers
It isn’t hard to do
No wasting millions of dollars
And no consultants too
Imagine all the parents
Pulling their own weight
You may say I’m a dreamer
But [...]
November 16, 2008
District’s Strategic Plan Must Reflect Its Core Beliefs
by Christopher Paslay
Currently, the Philadelphia School District has five Core Beliefs:
1. Children come first.
2. Parents are our partners.
3. Victory is in the classroom and facilitated by a strong instructional leader.
4. Leadership and accountability are the keys to success.
5. It takes the engagement of the entire community [...]
