A Word on 'Safety First'

This perspective, featured in a Letter to the Editor in the Friday, Dec. 5, 2008, Philadelphia Inquirer, is worth considering as we continue to navigate how best to address behavior and discipline in Philly schools. -- Sheila

Re: "Safety first," editorial, Monday:
While I agree in principle that the Philadelphia School District needs to send a clear message to troublemakers by expelling them or transferring them to alternative schools, I am not sure enough people truly appreciate the scale of this challenge. As a student teacher in an affluent suburban district, I could issue an index-card-sized referral slip to a disruptive student and send him or her to the office, no questions asked. In Philadelphia, where I taught for six years, referral forms measured a full 8½ by 11 inches and had to be completed in triplicate. Furthermore, a teacher was expected to exhaust other strategies - a detention, calling home, etc. - before referring a student. Indeed, a sure way to curry disfavor among administrators was to send disruptive students to them a bit too often.
Ronald L. ZiglerAbingtonrlz2@psu.edu

Talking Teacher Equity and Quality

If you're looking for an opportunity to discuss issues of teacher quality and equity, here's a great evening co-sponsored by the Philadelphia Student Union and others in the Southwest community.

Community Forum on Teacher Quality & EquityOn Tuesday, December 9th at 6:00 p.m. at the Kingsessing Recreation Center in Southwest Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Student Union and other community-based organizations will be holding a Community Forum on issues of Teacher Quality and Equity.

This open forum will feature Dr. Heidi Ramirez of the School Reform Commission, as well as representatives of the School District of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. The goal of the forum is to hear about current practices of teacher hiring, distribution, training, and retention, and to explore questions and suggestions from parents, students and other community members to inform district policy as well as contact negotiations.

*The bulk of the meeting will be devoted to open questions and discussion from the community.*

Co-sponsored by Philadelphia Student Union, Healthy Family, Healthy Life, Inc., Vernard Johnson, Walnut Hill Community Association, Southwest Action Collaborative. In conjunction with the School District of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. For more information contact:info@phillystudentunion.org(215) 471-5970