Council candidates discuss dropouts
Public School Notebook contacted all announced Philadelphia City Council candidates we could identify (as of Feb. 21) and posed the following question, in connection with the newspaper's spring edition on dropout issues:
In City Council, how will you promote a true citywide campaign to keep students in school, ensure access to high-quality learning opportunities for struggling students and out-of-school youth, and support our most vulnerable young people – i.e., those who are involved with the foster care, juvenile justice, and abuse and neglect systems, and those who are pregnant and/or parenting?
All responses received by the deadline appear below.
District 1
Michael Seidenberg - Republican
Minimizing the dropout rate is critical to the future of our city. While truancy enforcement can have some success, what is truly required are reforms to the education system and changes in social behavior by those whose children are most at risk.
The issue is multi-faceted. Different organizations need to be responsible for separate results. The School District is best suited to spearhead prevention within enrolled school-aged children and should be charged with this responsibility. Truancy enforcement currently underway should continue.
Unfortunately, any effort the school makes is really only treating a symptom. Without a strategy to address the root causes of dropping out such as family dysfunction, poor parenting skills, and low civic responsibility, the District will continue to be overwhelmed by at-risk youth. Therefore, other organizations must find ways to intervene earlier in children's lives and be held to similarly high levels of accountability.
As a Councilman, I will help establish a comprehensive strategy, assist in identifying funding, and provide oversight of the actual effort. I will also work within my district and across the City to seek out and raise awareness of programs that are effective in preparing youth for educational success.
District 5
Haile Johnston - Democrat
Investment in our city's youth must be our top priority. By funding and expanding early education programming, we can better prepare Philadelphia's youth for scholastic success and prevent them from falling behind. All schools should also offer well-rounded learning opportunities in arts, culture, and athletics. Schools must be transformed into enjoyable learning environments that appeal to a child's interests and provide positive incentives for participation.
Providing a full slate of afterschool programming enhances the educational experience and keeps children engaged in positive activity. The program that my wife and I started at the Blaine K-8 School in our neighborhood provides at-risk youth positive incentives for improved classroom behavior and attendance. After homework is completed, children can participate in physical, nutritional, and environmental learning activities along with their favorite activity, chess.
It is critical to target the most at-risk children with early intervention programs before they fall out of the educational system. We must also create specialized learning centers that are tailored to the acute needs of adjudicated youth, teen parents and other dropouts.
It is my intention to bring the needed resources and programming to create positive educational environments that our most vulnerable of youth can enjoy.
