500 teachers, supporters rally
More than 500 teachers, counselors, and others rallied outside Philadelphia School District headquarters in advance of the SRC meeting.
500 teachers, supporters rally
Kristen Graham
More than 500 teachers, counselors, and others rallied outside Philadelphia School District headquarters at 440 N. Broad Street today. The demonstration was held in advance of the School Reform Commission meeting.
Union members dressed in red waved signs; passing cars honked horns.
Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan said the union plans to fight against budget cuts and union busting.
“It is going to be virtually impossible for our kids to get the kind of education they need with the kind of cuts they’re proposing,” Jordan told the crowd. “We’re fighting back because it’s not good for kids.”
Jordan was joined by the heads of the principals’ union and Local 1201, the union representing bus drivers, custodians and other support staff.
“Children are being hurt, and a war is being declared on workers simultaneously. We will not stand by for this,” said Robert McGrogan, president of the Commonwealth Association of School Administrators.
“Where’s the accountability? The SRC was formed to make sure there was fiscal responsibility. They have failed the children of Philadelphia,” said George Ricchezza.
After the short rally, most of the 500 streamed into district headquarters, singing "Solidarity forever! Our union makes us strong!" The main auditorium where the SRC meeting is usually held filled up quickly; an overflow crowd was diverted to watch the meeting on TV.
Superintendent Arlene C. Ackerman is not attending the meeting tonight.
The PFT and district are due in Common Pleas Court tomorrow morning. The PFT won a temporary restraining order halting 1,500 teacher layoffs - it objects to the exemption of 200 teachers at Promise Academies. The district asked the state Supreme Court to intervene, but there's been no word from the court so far, so it looks like the Common Pleas hearing is a go.
fearless leader arlene is not showing up? why am i not surprised. so spineless. i'd bet she be there if it another pathetic staged rally to show "support" for her.— phillyboy100
Comment removed.- I am a BCA（Bilingual counselor assistant）. I got a layoff letter last week while half of the BCA (more than 0ne hundred total) were cut this time. I am getting ready to looking for a new job. But the district office still need me to serve as an interpreter in a school the last day.My god !I am thinking about so many new English language learners they really need us help at school with their parents.— immigrant
- Comment removed.
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- AMEN! NO NEW TAXES! City Council and Mayor Nutter need to listen to the vast MAJORITY of taxpaying PHILADELPHIANS and NOT raise any new taxes for the school district. Make due with what you have. If layoffs have to happen then so be it! Join the rest of americans. Times are hard enough as it is without adding any more tax money to that sinking ship of an organization. — UselessPhiladelphians
- If this were a corporation that makes widgets, it might be reasoned and understood that four-figure layoffs would be necessary for the corporation's survival...
The Philadelphia's school system is not a corporation. Massive layoffs do not compute into saving anything except money. The children, who are treading water,even without the cutbacks and layoffs, educationally, are now being thrown diving weights, by Ackerman, instead of life jackets.— EscapedfromOz - Oh well! Such is life in these hard times. There NOT my kids, I didnt have them, why should i have to raise them? NO NEW TAXES — UselessPhiladelphians
- Thank you for pointing out what should be - and isn't - obvious. Children are not widgets. The lay-offs have not touched a single highly paid employee at school district HQ. They are laying off secretaries - lots of them - which means a paperwork catastrophe that will throw everything into (more) chaos in September, when they attempt to call back teachers but can't find the paperwork - and when they attempt to figure out how payroll works. 440, already top-heavy, hasn't lost a single six-figure employee, but the people who actually do the work are being told they're going to be used up, then booted prior to September. — Devoted Teacher
- and so what? thats your problem — UselessPhiladelphians
- I think this count is off....there were FAR more than 500 there today.
- Who cares? I for one dont. NO NEW TAXES. Do like the rest of us and deal with it. — UselessPhiladelphians
- Of course you don't! You're not smart enough to recognize the need for an apostrophe. How can we expect you to understand why educating 160,000-plus children prevents them from living lives of crime, poverty and despair - and therefore saves you from the chore of supporting them through your taxes. — Devoted Teacher
- Their YOUR children, you educate them on YOUR dime not mine. Im tired of dumping my money into the endless pit that is the philadelphia school system — UselessPhiladelphians
- Their YOUR children, you educate them on YOUR dime not mine. Im tired of dumping my money into the endless pit that is the philadelphia school system — UselessPhiladelphians
During the school year, you’ll frequently find her hosting live chats about the district on Philly.com. Please do pass along the scoop about what’s going on at your Philadelphia public school; Kristen welcomes tips, story ideas and witty banter at kgraham@phillynews.com or 215-854-5146.
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