Glenn's right. This is the second time around for the Penn-Lea
relationship. The first time around was not a glorious triumph for
inner-city school reform by the Anointed.
The current effort has to be evaluated in the light of this history. One
hopes the leaders of the plan studied this history and learned from it.
Time will tell.
Initial results suggest the current Partnership is more sober, more
detailed and more comprehensive. Also it's turning out some early good
numbers. There is such a thing as "right the second time" and maybe this
is it.
Even if not -- the state of public education in University City ca. 1998
was so deplorable, it would be hard for any intervention to make it
worse. This wasn't a bad precondition for a public-policy experiment.
-- Tony West
Thanks for reminding us. I typed in Belmont 112. There is some
interesting stuff. Newberg at Penn has some things. A book called
The Gift of Education. (I'm having trouble sending links)
Here is a very interesting paper and some history of Penn pulling out
of Lea in 1969. They went in for real estate reasons and they
abandoned Lea for real estate reasons.
West Philadelphia Public Schools: What Works, What Doesn't by Lauren
Rosenello
This is an excellent indication of Penn's commitment. In the Inq.
article about the school forum, it was revealed that Drexel recently
did the same thing. They pulled out from the very neighborhood
schools they are now offering charity.
(According to Rosenello: One third of Philadelphia public schools do
not have full time music or art teachers)
Everyone owes it to themselves to read this history of Lea and Penn.
Thanks again,
Glenn
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