Bye Bye Birdies ...

There are 37 schools in the Philadelphia school district that are in line to be shut down, mixed-in, or relocated. Why? Don’t ask me. Recently, I have read an article called “Philadelphia Superintendent Identifies schools he intends to close” by Kristen A. Graham, inquirer staff writer about how the superintendent intends on closing about 37 schools, 22 of which are elementary, 4 of which are middle and 11 that are high schools for many different reasons, such as the cutbacks of the utility bills, the cut principals and school staff.

There are several reasons that the superintendent intends on shutting down, relocating, mixing-in, closing programs, reshuffling grades and more. The school district of Philadelphia has been borrowing tremendous amounts to pay the utility bills as well as the major funds for books and supplies. The school district of Philadelphia has also been losing many of their students, over 50,000 to be specific, more as though to charter schools than any other schools.

I think that a lot of students who have previously been relocated are not too happy with the change in the school district. I think that a lot of schools will begin to lose their students to charter schools because parents are already complaining about the books, the lunches, and the disciplinary actions taken by the school district of Philadelphia. Masteries are now taking over (becoming one of the top schools),  so I think that all of the schools that are being shut down, relocated, and or mixed-in should just become a few more Mastery Charter campuses.

Parents are already not too happy with the Philadelphia school district, so by the superintendent wanting to shut down and relocate schools, it’s only getting worse. I think that the superintendent is right by wanting to save money, but there are other ways to handle that, because being a student, I know for sure that if a student like THEIR school, it not only consists of the staff and students but the building as well. Some of the schools that are being shut down, have been around for centuries. I don’t think that it’s right for the superintendent to just take away buildings, surroundings or even the jobs of some.