Letters
African American history milestones
Parent involvement in school budgets
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Letters to the Editors
African American history milestones
To the editors:
Congratulations and thank you for the Winter 2005-06 issue. The dedication of the issue to the historic decision, making a course in African and African American history mandatory in all Philadelphia public high schools, is commendable.
Knowledge of the life, culture, history, and equality struggles of African American people is crucial for historical studies and a quality curriculum. It can help impart a deeper, more rounded-out understanding of the U.S., the world, and enhance public education.
You are right to go back to the walkout of thousands of Philadelphia high school students in 1967 to demonstrate at the Board of Education for African American history.
I would like to mention another milestone along the way to today’s achievement.
In 1970, I was a social studies teacher at West Philadelphia High School (WPHS), with concentrations and curricular components in African American and labor history. With the support of my department and central office, I was able to arrange for Herbert Aptheker to visit WPHS to speak to the social studies and English teachers. That day, Aptheker – the literary executor of W.E.B. DuBois and author of such ground-breaking studies as American Negro Slave Revolts (1943) – lifted the consciousness of the teachers considerably and made a historic, dynamic contribution to the study and teaching of African American history and literature at WPHS.
George M.
Fishman
Retired teacher, West Philadelphia High
School
New Haven, Connecticut
Parent involvement in school budgets
To the editors:
The No Child Left Behind law empowers parents and caregivers to make informed decisions about their child’s education. Parents have a right to hold the School District of Philadelphia accountable and to be a part of decision-making committees at their child’s school, such as school councils or Title I advisory committees.
Parents – are you more often than not finding out what districtwide programs and budget decisions are impacting your schools by reading about it in the newspaper?
Recently, the School District instructed schools to cut 30 percent from their budgets. I learned about it from the newspaper. In November 2005, the District informed staff that it was facing a $19 million shortfall but was confident the “challenge” could be addressed without impacting individual schools. It wasn’t. By the end of February, principals were to meet with regional superintendents about the cuts.
Were parents invited to those discussions? Were parents informed how their children might be impacted? I join many of my parent colleagues in being the “last to know” about decisions impacting my child’s school. This is unacceptable.
The School District has a districtwide parent involvement policy. Parents should have recently received this seven-page booklet. Throughout this comprehensive document, the District speaks of involving parents at the decision-making table. Great news!
But parents and caregivers should ask yourselves the following questions. Have you been invited onto your school’s decision-making committees? Are your school council and Home and School a part of the school budget process? Do you see your school’s budget? Do you know how much money is coming to your school for your child? Have you been given input into your school’s School Improvement Plan?
If not, I strongly encourage you to talk with your school’s principal and your Home & School and to also contact the District’s Office of Family Engagement (215-400-4180) and ask for their support in ensuring your school’s compliance with the parent involvement policy.
Spring is school budget time at your child’s school. Parents, it is time to step up your involvement and be invited to the table. After all, it’s about our children.
Karen D. Lash
kdlash@comcast.net
President, Forrest Elementary Home &
School
Mayfair