> Don't you think that Penn is mainly interested in getting free schooling for
> their professors and well paid staff in the neighborhood who normally would
> send their children to private school? > Sharon
Yes.
And also to make Penn's graduate education program more competitive by offering
its own student teachers internships in a highly acclaimed "urban" elementary
school [Penn Alexander], populated by a well-behaved, highly motivated, upper
middle class student body. If UC High becomes a Penn partnership school, then
Penn can offer its grad students teaching opportunities in a similar "urban"
high school, and Penn Alexander grads will have a top-notch neighborhood high
school.
http://www.gse.upenn.edu/cms/cms.php?id=171http://www.upenn.edu/campus/westphilly/pas.html#PAS4
Although Penn's website mentions working with Philadelphia public schools other
than Penn Alexander, having what amounts to its own elementary and high school
gives Penn's Graduate School of Education (GSE) its own "lab". This arrangement
accomplishes two goals simultaneously: both the GSE student teachers and the
Penn Alexander students receive a stellar education. And the GSE has the
advantage of not having to waste precious educational time dealing with the
social ills that other public schools have do deal with.
The existance of Penn Alexander is causing its catchment area to undergo
gentrification, and that would be increased if UC High became "Penn-Assisted
High". Penn employees and young people with children will want to send their
children to a top-notch public school, and will move to the catchment areas, in
turn creating a more upscale neighborhood, in turn reversing the public
perception of the neighborhood being dangerous, in turn making it easier for
Penn to market the University. Rising property values would eventually force
those deemed undesirable out of the area.
While Penn is saying that 70% of a new UC High's students would come from the
neighborhood, the gentrification that Penn-Assisted High would very likely
cause would mean that the "neighborhood" would probably not consist of the same
people who live there now.
Having top-notch public schools is the obvious ideal, and if Penn Alexander and
possibly UC High are such schools, that is wonderful. But these schools have to
exist across the board, not just in select neighborhoods for select
demographics. The key is creating Penn Alexanders in all of the city
neighborhoods.
Motivated, advantaged kids are going to do well in any event, because their
parents have the ability and resources to see that they do. The really hard
job is in creating strategies that will reach disadvantaged kids and their
families and in doing whatever it takes to make sure that those kids can also
take full advantage of the opportunities those schools present. THAT would be
world-changing! Penn, are you up to THAT job?
