EDU

    The article also explains, “Charter schools are funded by taxpayers but are privately managed. Most of the schools are not unionized, but do, say supporters, offer children in failing schools a better alternative. Those against the idea of charters say they drain money and space from traditional public schools and that they are not interested in aiding the most challenging young people” (“Despite Criticism, NYC Success Charters Face Overwhelming Demand”) This reiterates the main conflict between public and charter institutions of which has been touched on several other times throughout this blog.

    I came across another political cartoon, almost identical to the previous one. I saw it worth of connecting them because both use the alphabet, one of the most basic foundations, and first steps of education, to stress their point. It comments on how lawmakers are willing to truncate the essentials in the name of “saving” money. But what does this really save? It may mask immediate issues for other things that demand funding, but I believe education is a long-term investment. The benefits of allocating more funding towards education may not be instantly apparent (although I think it is), but the end result is what’s really going to matter. A society won’t stay afloat with a bunch of citizens going out into the world, equipped with a subpar education and poor resources. 

    I love this political cartoon because it’s simple and to-the-point. Schools are so severely underfunded that they are unable to provide students with even the most basic of supplies and necessities.

    This photo was posted in celebration of reaching a financial goal for the organization. PSU supporters had donated over $15,000 to the organization so that it could afford to remain at its office. It shows the power behind unity and the will to push towards a goal. People are willing to go lengths to support a cause that changes circumstances for the better. The teachers in the back, in red t-shirts commonly protested alongside PSU events. Their group’s focus was attaining better contracts and wages for teachers and educators.

    My favorite aspect of this photo is the diversity of protesters in participation. One is able to observe not just diversity amongst races and skin color; but also in age groups. Students, educators, parents, and more march in protest as a response to heightened police brutality in schools. The angle of the photo allows the viewer to grasp the density of the crowd. The black and white effect gives off intensity, seriousness and makes the signs appear more impactful. 

    “Property taxes today make up the majority of support for public schools, Madigan said, with the state pinching in about 34 percent of the total cost. Madigan’s proposal doesn’t put a percentage on how much the state would be on the hook for. But he repeatedly said it would amount to at least 51 percent under the proposed language, which says the state has the “preponderant financial responsibility” to fund schools” (“Illinois education-funding amendment gets initial OK”).

    I thought the documentary was very well organized and carried out. It was intimate which made it more relatable and enjoyable to follow. As the viewer, I felt like I was right there in school with Idris and Seun, and as a Black American student myself, I could connect with them on an even more personal level. The documentary does a great job bringing light to issues that are never considered when people observe people of color in educational institutions. It encourages people to shatter their preconceived notions on minorities in education and look at the hidden issues that affect so much.

    Another photo that depicts the unrest of the teachers and parents of Oakland Unified School District. Multiple teachers hold up signs during a school board meeting. The first sign that catches the eye is big and bold, reading, “protect and defend public education”. Another sign that takes a little squinting to read says, “corporate hands free our schools”. The teachers behind the large sign look tired and frustrated but solidified and determined. It’s incredible how much of an influence money can have on the education one receives. And it’s unfortunate that education is often operated as a business when it should be treated more as a right and a bare necessity. 

    The photo itself is interesting because I believe it speaks for itself. The way the photo is angled, it’s as though the viewer is in the crowd, in the midst of the protest, which gives a very personal and intense feeling. It reminds me of when I would participate in strikes and walkouts throughout my school district in Philadelphia. Funny enough, we also protested against the transformation of our public schools to charter schools. But look at Wilson’s face. His face says everything. He has these frustrated people striking at his event because they are passionate about the direction of their education and he looks incredibly tired and disinterested. He seems completely detached from the sentiments of the students and parents of his district, which so often seems to be the case in power-struggle situations such as this.

I chose to interpret the image in terms of funding as well. The white and asian students on the pile of books can represent private/charter institutions that are more likely to be stocked with superior scholastic resources and funding, giving them a better position to receive education. The black student represents public institutions where one is more likely to be left without any resources or adequate funding, leaving great potential stifled and unrealized.

    Interestingly enough, this issue is also connected to my recurring theme of funding. This new nonverbal program created in 2005 immensely subdued the racial disparities between “gifted” students. However, budget cuts and funding decreasing led the program to be cancelled in 2010 and the old-slightly modified-program returned. Racial disparities also returned: “Racial and ethnic disparities re-emerged, as large as they were before the policy change. In 2012 the district reinstated a modified version of universal screening, but it has not achieved the same results. 8 percent of white students in Broward County are classified as gifted. That is twice the rate for Hispanics and four times the rate for blacks, much higher ratios than under universal screening” (“Why Talented Black and Hispanic Students Can Go Undiscovered”).

Aside from the obvious help of a monetary prize, I believe this campaign can be very influential in a world where people are constantly posting, sharing, and creating photos that span across multiple forms of social media. It’s easy to catch on and participate. It also takes very little time. If a student is bogged down by other work, they may not be eager to write a five-page paper on why they should win a scholarship; but they may be willing to take ten minutes to take a picture of themselves and share it. This can poise more students/prospective students to showcase themselves and get themselves out there and take on a challenge.

This quote is already very famous, but it holds significance to me in another way because it was painted on top of a mural on the walls of the fourth floor hallway at my alma mater, Julia R Masterman. I walked by it every single day. It’s a great message to be reminded of. 

    I still remember how crazy this day was. Everyone was so excited and so passionate. People were screaming and shouting, and throwing their fists to the sky. We were fed up, but we were united, organized, and focused.

Another photo courtesy of Philadelphia Student Union, taken in 2013, City Hall, Philadelphia. Hundreds of students walkout in protest of underfunding. 

In relation to the previous post, this photo, provided by Philadelphia Student Union organization (I’m a proud alumni) shows a citywide student protest against budget cuts. But perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of this photo is the sign being held up which reads, “you belong in jail”: Words uttered by School Reform Commissioner, Sylvia Simms. She said this in response to all of the walkouts and protests performed by public school students. Simms, as an SRC member, is one of the larger voices that have a say in policies that affect the school district and the resources made available to the students. She’s reprimanding her students for being concerned about their education and squalor conditions. Isn’t there something wrong with that?

    It’s going to take more than a $20 million increase to reverse the effects of underfunding on the district, but it’s surely a start in the right direction. Education is priority.