What is the problem with the education system in Philadelphia? (York: unemployment, school districts)

[nespera]

Hi everyone
I know your ongoing debates over what city is better (Philadelphia vs. NY) are of outermost importance, but as you have not seemed to be able to sort yourselves out I would like to shift your attention to the education problem in this state. Based on my experience it seems that getting a job in a better district is unattainable, no matter what your education level or experience is. UNLESS YOU HAVE A CONNECTION you are not going anywhere!!! Unfortunately, those shortcomings are also reflected in the private sector...

So after coming to that conclusion I would like to hear from other people who have come to the same realization and post their experiences. Better yet: How do these factors affect our economically unsustainable educational system? Does everyone in their nice suburban districts really believe they will survive what lays ahead?

[mancat100]

What, in your opinion, lays ahead?

[nespera]

economic factors and special interest could bring about results that none is willing to, or capable of envisioning today....Everyone is moving to a nice spot forgetting that PHL is just around the corner....People will have to look elsewhere if they want their kids to get a good education...where? That is the question...In the meantime it is all about an unsustainable jobs program based on connections and not what is best for the students and the future of a district.......

[NJT 9801]

You can get a good education anywhere if these students apply themselves the way their suppose to. These parents from them the failing school districts need to step up, and stay on their kids. It's never really the teacher's fault, because most will do all they can.

[PhillyViaBoston]

I'd argue that the biggest problem facing public schools in Pennsylvania is the pension system. This is widely recognized as an impending crisis.

Rather than funding retirement through more traditional methods found in private industry (401Ks, for example), public school employees traditionally earn a pension paid by the state. The state already has billions of dollars owed on these pensions, with no clear path to afford the payment.

The Delco Times put a number on the problem in June 2012:
"The State Employees Retirement System is facing an unfunded liability of about $10 billion and the Public School Employees Retirement System, a $26 billion liability. Those liabilities represent currently owed benefits only, not benefits that will be earned by current or future state employees."
Analysis: Proposed pension fixes only part of the solution - delcotimes.com

To me, this is far more concerning to the Pennsylvania public educational system than the complaint raised by the OP.

[bryson662001]

Originally Posted by nespera

UNLESS YOU HAVE A CONNECTION you are not going anywhere!!!

If what you say is true...... it seems to me that it would be your problem rather than the school district's problem.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by bryson662001

If what you say is true...... it seems to me that it would be your problem rather than the school district's problem.

Unsustainaby high pension plans probably will bleed most districts dry unless something is done (and fast).

[BPP1999]

Originally Posted by nespera

Hi everyone
I know your ongoing debates over what city is better (Philadelphia vs. NY) are of outermost importance, but as you have not seemed to be able to sort yourselves out I would like to shift your attention to the education problem in this state. Based on my experience it seems that getting a job in a better district is unattainable, no matter what your education level or experience is. UNLESS YOU HAVE A CONNECTION you are not going anywhere!!! Unfortunately, those shortcomings are also reflected in the private sector...

So after coming to that conclusion I would like to hear from other people who have come to the same realization and post their experiences. Better yet: How do these factors affect our economically unsustainable educational system? Does everyone in their nice suburban districts really believe they will survive what lays ahead?

I think you are correct that "unless you have a connection" you can't get a job in a good school district. Or, at best, it takes years to get a job with no connections. However, who argues about which city is better (Philadelphia vs. NY) and what does that have to do with your question about the educational system/pending pension crisis in PA? Further, while many people in Philadelphia prefer Philadelphia to NYC (hence they live in Philadelphia and not NYC), almost none argue that Philadelphia is better or has more to offer. So in that regard I'm confused as to your question.

[rotodome]

Definitely confused by the OP.

He/She seems (maybe?) to be speaking from the perspective of someone working in the education system. OK. But in general, one doesn't need a "connection" to get any kind of job in a new area, nor does one need special connections to move their residence to a different school district. We are nationally in a period of relatively high unemployment right now, no doubt, and jobs in general are harder to come by, but I don't think that's necessarily a causal argument.

He/She also seems to be implying that Philadelphia School district is like some sort of cancer that will inevitably spread to all neighboring school districts? Not sure where that comes from, as it certainly does not seem to be the case in reality.

I don't think the problems faced by Philadelphia schools are unique to Philly, nor do I think PA's education problems are unique to the state. I do think that Philly would be better off if the running of it's schools had never been take over by the state, but that's something of a separate issue.

[toobusytoday]

The best way to get ANY job is by knowing someone. Why would teaching be any different? I agree that education problems are not unique to Philly, it's a city problem. Go to the education forum for more discussion along that line.

As to the ongoing NYC vs. Philly debate, that's usually instigated by a New Yorker that comes to our forum asking why we think Philly is better.