Teaching in Philadelphia: is it worth it?

By Mary Cordivari
Collegian Reporter
March 21, 2007

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Philadelphia has over 200,000 students in need of teaching, with both teachers and students needing a safe school environment. With recent news reports about playground battles at elementary schools and high school teachers landing in hospitals, it’s no wonder many teachers are doing whatever they can to avoid the School District of Philadelphia. Especially for education majors like myself, now is the time for future teachers in the area to make a big decision. I think everyone involved must not give up on Philadelphia’s students – that includes teachers, parents and the students themselves.

Violence in Philadelphia schools is not new. In early 2003, USA Today reported an incident of a kindergarten student punching a pregnant teacher. In 2004, an 11-year-old raped a 12-year-old in a Philadelphia middle school. Clearly, the School District of Philadelphia waited too long to take action against the rise of violence. It took the media attention surrounding Frank Burd, a Germantown High School teacher who had his neck broken by students from whom he confiscated an MP3 player, to push Paul Vallas, CEO of the School District, to finally make a change.

The efficacy of these big changes remains to be seen. An anonymous teacher safety hotline is in the works, as is an increase in alternative schools for those students who pose the greatest physical risk to a school community. This doesn’t promise safety, however. I went to high school near an alternative school. Those students saved their violent habits for students from my school on the SEPTA bus ride home. Also, the School District of Philadelphia implemented metal detectors in all of its schools several years ago; no metal weapons were needed to break a teacher’s neck or rape a classmate, so violence continues.

Yet, I still would not recommend teachers start applying for jobs somewhere else. The overwhelming majority of students are not violent. Yes, safety for everyone in a school is incredibly important. However, most students, even those who can be discipline problems, do not take to extreme violence. What all students need is attention from teachers and parents. I advise teachers, education majors, parents and future parents alike to take a look at the Philadelphia charter schools, schools funded publicly but with requirements for operation differing from other public schools, differences that are established by the school’s charter. They are much like public schools, but they require a great deal of parent involvement, and usually teachers at charter schools are proactive in teaching both academics and proper behavior. At regular public schools, many students get ignored because one or two students take up all of a teacher’s time and attention. In addition, parents often don’t communicate with teachers or don’t trust them.

There are many reasons why violence occurs in children, but if this issue is addressed from all fronts, a difference could be made. I hope Vallas’ new implementations do work. I want to see more teachers and parents working together with an eye to safety and learning for each individual. All is not lost. Some teachers have the disciplinarian soul to deal with the difficult students, and most teachers want to make a difference. Optimistic, yes, but the educational show must go on. If teachers flee the School District of Philadelphia, over 200,000 students could miss out on a good education from a caring teacher.

cordivarim1@lasalle.edu