while you were distracted by Greenwald: “Indescribably insane”: A public school system from hell

[uhnope]

http://www.salon.com/2013/08/19/indescribably_insane%E2%80%9D_philadelphias_public_school_nightmare/

Things have gotten so bad that at least one school has asked parents to chip in $613 per student just so they can open with adequate services, which, if it becomes the norm, effectively defeats the purpose of equitable public education, and is entirely unreasonable to expect from the city’s poorer neighborhoods.

The needs of children are secondary, however, to a right-wing governor in Tom Corbett who remains fixated on breaking the district in order to crush the teachers union and divert money to unproven experiments like vouchers and privately run charters. If the city’s children are left uneducated and impoverished among the smoldering wreckage of a broken school system, so be it.

To be clear, the schools are in crisis because the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania refuses to fund them adequately. The state Constitution mandates that the Legislature “provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education,” but that language appears to be considered some kind of sick joke at the state capital in Harrisburg.

It’s worth noting that the state itself runs the Philadelphia School District after a 2001 takeover. The state is also responsible for catastrophic budget cuts two years ago that crippled the district’s finances. And in a diabolical example of circular logic, the state argues that the red ink it imposed, and shoddy management it oversees, are proof that the district can’t manage its finances or its mission and therefore shouldn’t get more money.

No headlines for this. No breaking news for this. No discussion. No hard questions for Obama or the right wing governor. If half the energy spent weeping for Snowden and cheerleading Greenwald were spent on this, maybe we could do something about it

[DisgustipatedinCA]

1. Then maybe you shouldn't be starting Snowden/Greenwald threads anymore.

What, do you think that if you close your eyes when you post, no one will be able to tell it was you? No sale.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. No discussion in GD, which has been hijacked by Greenwaldites

But discussion elsewhere - http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251320075

And this has nothing to do with the President. This is strictly a state/local issue - with the unfortunate overlay of a great recession that killed the economy and a loon governor out to pad his own and his cronies' coffers with all sorts of goodies before he goes. As a sidenote, the SRC that runs the school system (a financial body) was created under Rendell.

[uhnope]

3. you're right, nothing to do with Obama but I was thinking he should be asked about it or

maybe commenting on it, there should be national discussion of it. But even NPR is leading with the story of Greenwald's boyfriend's nine hours of tragic darkness.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. Why should he be asked about it?

The President has a debt ceiling fight coming up + a government shutdown threatened if no contining resolution is passed... along with Immigration reform that needs to be resurrected, the rollout of the ACA Oct. 1, gun control legislation that needs to be resurrected, issues with Egypt & Syria & Iran, G20 summit coming up, and on and on. Full plate of issues.

It's a state issue and it's a GOTV issue. People can't sit these off-year elections out.

[tazkcmo]

10. Not his "bf"

His life partner. Husband, if you will. Not boyfriend.

[snappyturtle]

4. I think I'll read other posts on the disaster of the PA education system.

Throwing Greenwald and the words indescribably insane in the
subject line, notably the standard article title line,....shows your
real intent here. imho

Edit: Referencing the same article:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251320075

[hrmjustin]

5. With all due respect if you really wanted to bring attention to this story you should not have

included the Greenwald and Snowden stuff.

[uhnope]

6. you're right. thx nt

[hrmjustin]

7. YW. It is a good OP and let it stand alone.

[GeorgeGist]

9. I know its hard to believe ...

but most DUers can manage several 'distractions' everyday. Yours is no exception.