High school students in Philadelphia protest resources deficiencies in Philadelphia schools, Kevin McCorry, October 8, 2015.
Today in Philadelphia, the legacy of the 1967 student walkout lives on through students who continue to hold walkouts for the improvement of their schools. In May 2013, the School District of Philadelphia announced a new budget which decreased the number of school aides and closed many public schools, launching a series of student walkouts.
"Under a draconian budget passed by the Philadelphia School District last month, none of these supporting players — aide, counselor, secretary, security monitor — will remain at the school by September, nor will there be money for books, paper, a nurse or the school’s locally celebrated rock band. Pink slips were recently sent to 19 percent of the school-based work force, including all 127 assistant principals, 646 teachers and more than 1,200 aides. Principals are contemplating opening in September with larger classes but no one to answer phones, keep order on the playground, coach sports, check out library books or send transcripts for seniors applying to college"- Trip Gabriel, "Budget Cuts Reach Bone for Philadelphia", June 16th, 2013, The New York Times.
"State aid to Philadelphia schools declined by $274 million in the past three years, according to the Pennsylvania State Education Association.'The state has never funded the city of Philadelphia and its schools very well,' said Michael Casserly, executive director of the Council of the Great City Schools. 'For decades now it has been the subject of lawsuits and partisan politics and pushing and shoving, and the chickens are finally coming home to roost'" -Trip Gabriel, "Budget Cuts Reach Bone for Philadelphia", June 16th, 2013, The New York Times.
"With 33 percent of its 200,000 students in charter schools, the district made a long-delayed decision in March to close about 30 underused schools" -Trip Gabriel, "Budget Cuts Reach Bone for Philadelphia", June 16th, 2013, The New York Times.
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A table showing the decrease in revenue per each pupil in Philadelphia,"Fiscal Crisis Figure 1", School District of Philadelphia Comprehensive Financial Report, June 30th, 2013.
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"Philly students make a plea for the future of their schools", NBC 10 Philadelphia, May 7th, 2013.
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"On Friday, May 17th over 2,000 Philadelphia students staged a walkout, rally, and march to voice their opposition to the wave of school closures being planned by their school system. Citing a massive budget deficit as justification, the city is moving to close or relocate at least 23 schools. The already resource-starved schools that remain will face cuts in extracurricular activities, libraries, counselors, and other staff that allow schools to function at a basic level. The racist character of these attacks is revealed by the fact that most of the schools and communities that are being negatively affected are African American and Latino"- Paul Prescod, "Philadelphia Student Walkout Shows Power of Students", May 20th, 2013.
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"The student walkout on Friday was a wonderful expression of the dynamic potential that exists for this movement. The students were diverse, organized, and perhaps most importantly, they were passionate. The march to City Hall drew car honks and cheers of support from the people passing by. The creative signs decried cuts to the arts, elimination of services, and demanded education equality"- Paul Prescod, "Philadelphia Student Walkout Shows Power of Students", May 20th, 2013.