I am sure a graduation at the Academy is lovely, but Central is one of the city's "Elite" schools. Few of the other Public High Schools have the budget or the pull to reserve the Academy. Graduations take place in June, with probably all of the Public High Schools commencing on the same day (or at best within a matter of days). Irvine Auditorium (at PENN) is available (I don't know the fee structure) for smaller school graduations. Temple also has theater space. But, it is already a struggle to find places able to handle all of the graduations that get condensed into a relatively short span of time. Can you imagine the scheduling nightmares when all of the Public High Schools compete for a reduced number of spaces? Than allow for big gaps of times between schools with existing basketball (or other) rivalries. Graduation is more complete without a rivals using competition for parking or prime photo op space as an excuse to revenge old slights. While Central is a representative of the Philadelphia Public school system it is not typical. I think we should save our pride until the average child has a reasonable chance of being in a classroom that performs at or above grade level. Where are we now? at 25%?
I think the convention center buildings were relatively mediocre and mismatched. I will miss the museum building, but can't get excited enough to fight for it. My disgust is that we (the citizens of Philadelphia) sold out so cheaply. PENN got all the land, including acres of waterfront, for a pittance. I imagined that land as being banked for the future need and use of us citizens. I contemplated developement of Senior Housing and Care Centers, along the river and convenient to the Health Care at PENN and the events of CC and UC. I was shocked that Rendell traded it all away for a short term budget fix. I don't want to retire to Gwynned or some other distant suburb. I want to remain active when my legs and sight have weakened. I want the convenience of cabs, buses, trains and planes. Rendell did us no long term favor with this sale. The scheduled medical buildings could have been built on a small piece, but as it now stands, only the rich can count on a decent retirement in Philadelphia. As to UCHS, it is clear they do pick their fights. And that scares me. To give them the added powers of a PHS-HD becomes terrifying. The P.H.S. operates under a loosey-goosey set of rules that relies on neighbors to become informants and features enforcement by whim. The head of PHS can put a garage in his parlor but the widow nearby must match 1960's aluminum mullions. Money talks and developers can create hi-rises which shadow and can demolish grand theaters for parking. I have been at PHS hearings where meetings seemed little more than censorship. One person's art was another's porn. I have checked out some of the properties owned by avid UCHS supporters and one consolation is that should UCHS prevail, their own costs will triple and repairs will become tedious and they may not be allowed to keep existing decks or satellite dishes or security measures, if they ever need to remove them for change or repair. And decks do need frequent repair. But, I don't want consolation. I want to retain the rights I have. I feel adequately protected by current zoning regulations and building codes (subject to their proper enforcement). The problems I see are from inadequate or improper enforcement of current codes. I think we should achieve enforcement of the existing regulations before layering on more. It is hard enough to keep our old homes in good repair without adding permit and materiel requirements. Sincerely, Liz On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 12:07:26 EST [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > In a message dated 12/30/04 5:53:48 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > <<...one thing that bothers me about the demolition of the > auditorium. > > > > Traditionally it has been the place where most high school and > college > > graduations take place. Central and Girls used to use the Academy > of Music for > > this ceremony and may still, but it isn't really large enough to > accomodate the > > family and friends of the graduates. > > > > What other auditorium in the city is large enough to perform this > function?> > > > > > > > When my son graduated from Central a couple of years ago, the > graduation was > held at the Academy of Music. > > Pretty elegant, and a moment that made me feel proud of the > Philadelphia > school system. > > Melani Lamond ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
