Rally Held Calling For More Community Schooling Throughout Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Residents from around Philadelphia Wednesday called on elected officials to help bring change to the education process at public schools throughout the city.
More than two dozen parents, teachers and concerned citizens rallied around City Hall as the Philadelphia Coalition Advocating for Public Schools released a report of how they think community schools in Philadelphia should be run.
"We've been working for three years to promote community schools in Philadelphia," says Ron Whitehorn with the Coalition. "We've been working with parents educators at a variety of schools around the city to involve them in developing the community schools vision.
Whitehorn says they want to see schools focus on children's emotional, social and educational needs...not a narrow set of skills:
"We're advocating that there be school councils at community schools made up of parents, teachers, students when appropriate and people from the neighborhood."
During the unveiling of the report speakers called on Mayor Jim Kenney and Council President Daryl Clarke to develop an inclusive process for developing a community schools plan.