education

During Philadelphia Student Union's summer leadership program, Building A Youth Movement, students hit the streets to ask people their opinions about public education. Along the way they talked to college students, third grade girls, adults who attended private school, a mother with young children, parents of high school students, and other Philadelphians--- all of whom had strong opinions about the state of our city's public schools. Listen and see if you agree with what these Philly residents had to say.
 

On this month's show:
    •    Highlights and victories from PSU's '09-'10 school year
    •    Connecting the struggles of students and taxi workers
    •    Philly & Harrisburg students talk about ending violence
    •    Youth express themsleves through poetry
    •    Music and education news
 
This show was hosted by Azeem Hill and Gregory Jordan-Detamore. Matt Johnson was the engineer.

Philly Student Union had a powerful year. As the school year comes to a close, we created this montage to capture the highlights of the 2009-2010 school year. Thanks to all of the people who helped make this school year so successful and congratulations to all of our graduating members!

Philadelphia Student Union is turning 15 this year. Celebrate with us on Tuesday.  Here's a look back at some of our victories over the years.
 
1995 A group of Philadelphia high school students who are concerned with the state of public education in the city realizes that if meaningful school reform is going to happen it will have to be led by the most-affected: students. The Philadelphia Student Union is formed.

 
Across the state of New Jersey, high school students staged a one day strike Tuesday to protest cuts to the state's education budget.
 
The action was organized mainly through facebook, where an event page calling for a statewide walkout drew over 17,000 attendees.
 

By Dan Jones & Azeem Hill
A key feature of any public education system is its purpose. Right now, a lot of people are putting forward the idea that the purpose of our schools is to prepare students to “compete in the global economy.” The proponents of this framework span the political spectrum, from Newt Gingrich to Barack Obama, but is it really the best thing for students?

 
Over at the PSU blog students have been following recent decisions by school districts across the country. Topping the news, Kansas City is making plans to shut down 26 schools, nearly half of those in the district.
 

When I first started high school, I didn’t have any school pride.  After I joined Philadelphia Student Union (PSU), I started standing up for my school.  I want to make Sayre the best it can be and a place where every student wants to come to high school.

A new model of teacher development is emerging that could help 'hard to staff' neighborhood schools build and retain a base of effective teachers by recruiting young adults in the neighborhood to choose a career in teaching.  This model is called 'Grow Your Own' and it is happening in Chicago, thanks to the organizing work of students and communities. Dan Jones interviewed Rod Wilson of Kenwood Oakland Community Organization (KOCO) in Chicago, about how 'Grow Your Own' is changing the way teachers and communities interact.

We, the students at Overbrook High School (OHS), have been working to improve our school for the last two years.  This is because we love our school, and we feel like students have to take responsibility for making it better.  We have been organizing students to come to school on time and attend their classes, meeting with district officials, elected officials, and community members who are all as committed as we are in transforming our school to educate each and every one of us for our future.  But the road has not been easy.