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It’s our last day at University Prep working on our project with MGR Foundation and Mr. Sigal’s 9th grade civics class to make student-produced videos about gun laws, gang violence, drug use, and high school drop-out rates in Pittsburgh neighborhoods. Stay tuned; those videos will be released on youtube soon!
Last Monday we helped the Community Empowerment Association host a forum on Education Issues in Pittsburgh. Here’s what the New Pittsburgh Courier had to say:
Tags: A+ schools, community empowerment association, Education, election, forum, pittsburghPanel says community must be responsible for students
From 1973 to 1990 the achievement gap between White and Black students was beginning to shrink. Since that time, the narrowing has stopped and in some places that gap has widened.
In light of this and other startling facts, the PA League of Young Voters and the Community Empowerment Association held a forum May 4 to discuss how to bridge the achievement gap.
A panel of educators, school administrators and school board candidates addressed issues of discipline, resources and parent involvement. Several concluded the community must take on the responsibility to ensure students reach academic success.
“If we’re going to talk about how we fix education in Pittsburgh, it’s going to be fixed by community involvement,” Rev. Johnnie Monroe said. “This is the only city I’ve seen where the community isn’t involved in forcing the administration and school board to make changes.”
Monroe shared stories of other cities around the country where schools were directed by the wishes of the communities.
“I think we need to understand our schools are in our community as a community resource,” Monroe said. “This is a district where we have let the administration write the blueprint.”
Superintendent Mark Roosevelt has said that much of the federal stimulus money will be used to target middle school. While all of the panelists agreed middle school is a key intervention point, they said the money should be spread across other grade levels and should also be concentrated in making an impact before middle school.
“The data shows if you can get a young person at a young age, they’re less likely to drop out and less likely to flunk,” school board candidate Sharene Shealey said.
When addressing causes for the achievement gap, Faison Primary School principal Leah-Rae Bivins said the problem is not so much a lack of resources. She said male students, particularly, display a lot of aggression and the problem lies in how to reach them.
“I don’t think it’s a money issue for us,” Bivins said. “A lot of our teachers don’t really understand the aggression so they isolate students.”
Instead of punishing students, Faison has engaged them in a number of activities such as bike riding and visits with firefighters. Bivins said these types of actions have helped the suspensions rate drop substantially.
Many of the panelists agreed that parents need to become more involved and suggested fun activities to motivate them. Shealey said parent involvement could be stimulated by making sure parents know what their children should be learning.
“At my kid’s school, parents are in the school all the time and they’re not Black parents,” Shealey said. “But parent involvement isn’t just putting your face in the school, it’s supporting your student to the best of your ability.”
However, some panelists said African-American parents might be experiencing factors that hinder their involvement in the schools. They said it is therefore up to the community to take on this responsibility.
“We’re here because we see the inequity. In these communities we have things that hinder our involvement in the (parent teacher associations),” PA League of Young Voters member Adam Golden said. “We do not fit that model. We as a community have to replace the PTA.”
Several panelists said it is hard to show the value of education to students when their parents do not value education. A+ Schools Program Director Mayada Monsour [sic] said teachers must sometimes fill in for parents.
“As humans we have needs that go past learning,” Monsour [sic] said. “Two needs are a sense of belonging and self esteem. Teachers can be that for their students.”
The taped Mayoral debate on public safety will air again in its entirety at the following times on cable channel 21 (PCTV) between now and the election:
It’s not too late! You can still hear what the candidates had to say about safety in our neighborhoods five more times between now and the election, May 19th.
We are helping facilitate a Community Forum on Education & Schools for School Board District 1 - which includes the neighborhoods of Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar, Homewood North, Homewood South, East Hills, Friendship, Shadyside, Point Breeze, Larimer, and Point Breeze North
WHEN: Monday, May 4th, 6pm - 8:00pm
WHERE: Faison Primary School, 7430 Tioga Street 15208
The Community Empowerment Association is organizing this community forum to address topics effecting the community, parents, youth, teachers, and administrators from District 1. They hope it will be the first of a series of discussions regarding reform in the Pittsburgh Public Schools. All school board candidates for District 1 have been invited to attend and participate.
Tags: and Point Breeze North, board, candidates, christine stone, East Hills, forum, Friendship, Homewood North, Homewood South, Larimer, Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar, pittsburgh, Point Breeze, public schools, school, Shadyside, sharene shealey, sherry brooks
The community safety mayoral debate is in full swing here at the kingsley association on this rainy night. First question: when will we see an assault weapons ban?
Catch the full debate on PCTV ch 21 on May 16th, just before the election!
ACTION ALERT! Pittsburgh City Council plans to vote TOMORROW on a package of legislation that deals with lobbyist and campaign finance disclosure and no-bid contracts, introduced by Councilman Bill Peduto.#1 Campaign Finance Reform bill would:
#2 No-bid contracts bill would eliminate no-bid contracts with the city valued at more than $30,000
#3 Lobbyist Disclosure Act would require all Request-For-Proposal responses to disclose finder’s fee or payments to lobbyists or consultants.
#4 Lobbyist Registration Act would require anyone engaging in more than 30 hours of paid lobbying during a three-month period to register as lobbyists with the city.
The vote is scheduled for TOMORROW, Wednesday April 29th. This would be a major step for Pittsburgh towards good government practices and policies.
http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/council/
Tags: campaign finance, city council, legislation, pittsburgh, reform, transparency, vote
The 2009 Netroots Nation convention is the fourth annual gathering of the netroots community from across the country and includes panels and caucuses led by national and international experts; prominent political, issue and policy-oriented speakers; a progressive film screening series and the most concentrated gathering of high-profile progressive bloggers to date. Lots and lots of bloggers! And this year’s convention is in Pittsburgh, PA from August 13th to 16th!
Lots of local activists, organizers, and caring volunteers are already planning to either attend or be a part of this thing. It’s a big deal.
DFA and Netroots Nation sends a group of progressive activists who had proven their skills, but may not have the resources to get to the convention on their own. Last year, they sent 30 great progressive leaders.
THE COMPETITION STARTS TODAY - APPLY NOW
The scholarship covers the cost of admission and lodging. Go here learn more about the NetRoots Nation event.
Tuesday, April 28th, 7pm at the Kingsley Association
Hear what the Pittsburgh mayoral candidates have to say on topics relating to our city’s safety and plans to address violence and crime in our neighborhoods.
Remember, what happens in any part of the city affects us all, so this is an important event not to miss!
Tags: debate, forum, gang, gun, mayoral, pittsburgh, public, safety, violence, Youth
Roxanne and Carly tabled at the Big Throwback last night, where former Leaguer Omar-Abdul was spinning his new finds. Nice to see everyone!
So the mayoral debate we worked with the League of Women Voters to schedule with KDKA and the primary candidates was postoned and has now been rescheduled — mark your calendars for 8pm on Saturday, May 2nd when it will air.
(That’s only 17 days before the election, folks!)
