The School District of Philadelphia is proposing to close 18 to 20 schools starting in the 2027-2028 school year as part of a $2.8 billion, 10-year facilities master plan. The proposal lists 70,000 vacant seats, poor building conditions, and budgetary constraints as the reasons for the many closures, transfers, and firings. The district plans to modernize 159 schools, and closures will impact thousands of students. The changes will affect the poorest neighborhoods, but this is not new. The city leaders have postponed decisions for decades.  Education has not been a priority in most administrations.  Looking back over the years, we can remember when the city lost control over the district. It isn’t just the city or the state that have not dealt properly with the problems of schools. The Trump Administration wants to close the Department of Education and has brought more budget problems to the states and cities. Future generations will suffer the effects of decisions to buy more guns and build bigger, and faster planes, while denying funds to our educational institutions. Let’s keep in mind that totalitarian governments always prefer an uneducated citizenry.  

When Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced that the state would not require a college degree for new hires, the voters gave him a nod of approval. We are certain Shapiro understands the value of a good basic education, and he sees the need to reform. Many students attend classes in decrepit buildings and crowded classrooms. Solutions are not easy, but there must be a willingness on the part of our leaders to improve the situation in our schools. Firing teachers might help the budget, but it will discourage others from entering the profession. The problem is that many schools, especially in poor areas of this country, are not preparing our children with the most basic tools, and the main reason is lack of money. The federal government might have different priorities–therefore it is up to state and municipal governments to come up with solutions that will require sacrifices. We need to provide safe and productive environments for our children because they are the future.