Some call me "Flem"

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I'm an elementary school teacher turned high school English teacher, School-Based Teacher Leader (SBTL), and adjunct professor here in Philly. These posts are the views, as I see them, from room 105, my first classroom number. Enjoy, engage, and share!

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Corbett's "Interest" in the Philly region

Governor Tom Corbett's weaving himself into the SEPTA vs. The Electricians & Engineers discourse acknowledges the importance of the Philadelphia region to the state of Pennsylvania. It also reaffirms his short-sighted and illogical thinking regarding public schools in Pennsylvania and their long term impact on the sustained economic growth of the state.
This work stoppage by SEPTA electricians and engineers means that many six-figure, suburban, zone 4 (and others), white white-collar workers are inconvinienced! Heaven forbid!!! Act 3, Scene 2, que "The Governor"

This short term inconvenience to many wealthier citizens (the primary ridership of the regioanl rail system, though lowly teachers like me and others enjoy the ride as well) of the region means that they'll either have to carpool, drive, walk a little extra distance on sidewalk-less streets, ride the "other" SEPTA routes, or work from home. Boo hoo!! I don't wish for anyone out of work or inconvenienced and I mean, ANYone!! That includes people that look like me!

Here in Philly, schools are shuttered and children must walk, not sidewalk-less longer routes, but dangerous sidewalk-ful longer routes to get to SCHOOL, so that they too can make something of themselves! The guv? In favor of that! But heaven forbid those who make six/seven figures have to endure longer drives to plush Center City offices with working water fountains, functioning HVAC systems, clean restrooms, and pens and calculators that they, themselves, didn't have to purchase or pilfer!!

Although it appears a work stoppage by this group hasn't happened since 1983, here comes the guv, even willing to race to the top, President Obama, to force them back to work.

Meanwhile, the other engine that will either be the downfall or uplifting of the Philadelphia region, (and by default, the state) for DECADES, not a few weeks, but DECADES to come is suffering tremendously! That locomotive, the Philadelphia public school system (and others), is woefully underfunded. His short-sighted solution is to be school surgeon and cut, cut, cut!! Cut the schools to solvency and hold the teachers to a higher standard of accountability!

Governor Corbett, how about you get your nose out of the hind parts of big business and the wealthy long enough to fund the public schools in what is by far the largest and probably most economically significant region in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania!

If you want Pennsylvania to be an economic powerhouse for years to come, you must invest in the generation that will be here for years to come!

This is a call to full fair funding for public schools in all of Pennsylvania!

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