I view the School District NOT as a well-oiled, well-moneyed gorilla such as Penn, but a monolithic political gorilla loosely masquerading as a public educational institution.
In politics, making a good showing and "follow the money" is always an acceptable credo. If not, why as I do my taxes this weekend, do I have receipts totaling nearly $1500 for out-of-pocket classroom expenses for 2007, so I can have the means to do my job. The School District gives us $100, (up from $50 from the last contract). For most of my career it was a $25 allotment. The Feds will let me deduct up to $250 I believe. Let me add I was more prudent this year in my out-of-pocket spending that I have been before. Many teachers do not bother to fork over the extra expense and I don't judge them. I just do what I must to try to provide an effective, competitive education for my students. I WILL agree with you about the School District always wins on this point; primarily when it comes to making its teachers and administrators carry the lion's share of the load and blame for trying to educate its students. On 4/6/08 9:01 AM, "Anthony West" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Wilma, any parent who's wrassling with the School District values an old > hand on the teaching side like you. > > The system is much larger than either of us. We both know that by now. > > If I had one central idea to contribute to this wide-ranging and often > acrimonious discussion, it is this: > > For some UC-list posters, Penn-bashing is the only subject that > interests them. For these posters, there is no interest in the > Penn/School District partnership if it can't be bashed. Their conclusion > is already written, before the school is even opened. > > Penn-bashing is not bad in itself, in University City. Oftentimes it is > rational, because Penn is a 700-lb. gorilla in its own neighborhood. > > But rational people also understand Penn isn't the only gorilla in town. > The School District is a fellow gorilla. And if I had to bet on one of > them in a heavyweight bout ... I'd pick the School District. In the > end, the School District always wins. > > So let us focus on what the School District is doing, and then see how > Penn fits into it. This is the approach that will best discern Penn's > expanding role in neighborhood education. > > -- Tony West > > > > Wilma de Soto wrote: >> Your experience as a parent with the school district is laudable. I feel my >> experience working in the system is just as important with regard to what >> these kids are like and how the system really operates. >> > > > ---- > 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>. ---- 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>.
