A girl can dream, right?

So the more i look into colleges and do my research, the more i feel as though I'm really going to be paying for a simple piece of paper. A diploma that really just says "I paid 50,000 dollars for this piece of paper in order to get somewhere in the world, and now i will be in debt my whole life". Not to say that i don't believe college teaches you and prepares you to succeed in your profession, but why must we pay to be educated? This is a very idealistic view of the world, but wouldn't it be lovely if receiving an education was free? I believe that education is priceless, and that we are all entitled to an education. I don't believe education should be a business either, which it already is. I dream of a world that educates you beyond average and then releases you into a world in which you will thrive. Idealistically more people would be receiving an education because it is free, which would result in more people ready and willing to better the world around us. However we do not live in a perfect world, and never will. So for now i will be going through the tedious process of finding scholarships, and making the very little money that i do have stretch in order to receive my education, all while trying to accumulate as little debt as possible. Pray for me?

PSD Student Advisory Board Creates Education Platform Targeted at Pennsylvanian Politicians

The PSD Student Advisory Board and I have finally finished our Educational Funding Platform. We are now trying to get Pennsylvanian politicians to pledge to this platform in hope that the PA education funding formula will be restored this year. Check out our platform:

Educational Funding Platform

In light of the current educational funding crisis in Philadelphia, The School District of Philadelphia Student Advisory Board has created an educational funding platform on behalf of all of the children of the School District of Philadelphia. In order to insure that our rights to an education will be fulfilled, we ask that politicians pledge to this educational funding platform, as well as include it in the future Pennsylvania education budget. It is vital that the School District of Philadelphia, and every school district in Pennsylvania will be equally funded according to the needs of their individual district. Currently, Pennsylvania is one of two states in the United States that does not use an education funding formula when distributing funds to their school districts. The lack of an education funding formula has resulted in educational funding crisis’ in districts across Pennsylvania, such as Philadelphia. As children we demand that our rights to an education be restored by any means necessary. The following is a detailed platform describing how the Pennsylvania education budget be reformed.

• More Money Invested in Public Education: Pennsylvania must begin to invest more money in public education funding. Approximately only 35% of the total amount of money spent on public education is given by state funding. When on average other states fund public education approximately 5% more. Pennsylvania must begin to contribute more money to public education in order to properly fund all districts.
• Restoration of a Fair Funding Formula: In order to insure that the money being spent on public education is being distributed equally, a funding formula must be restored within the Pennsylvania education budget. The formula must take into account the needs of each district. This includes the number of students within each district, the poverty rate of each district, the number of students with disabilities, the number of English language learners, and the districts ability to acquire local revenue. All of the data being taken into account for each district must be current and accurate.
• Transparency: The education budget of Pennsylvania and education formula must be recorded and made available for the public to view it.
• Monitoring Success: The state should be reviewing student data frequently in order to determine if the district should be receiving more funding. This will insure that each district will be performing better and accomplishing its educational goals. It is the state’s responsibility to be sure that each child is receiving an adequate education in direct result of proper funding.

Our rights to an education must be restored and the key to restoring our rights lies within this platform. Again we ask that Pennsylvania politicians vow to incorporate this platform in the 2013- 2014 and future education budgets of Pennsylvania.

The School District of Philadelphia Student Advisory Board

The School District of Philadelphia Students

Student Advisory Board Article featured in Philadelphia's City Paper

Please take some time to read this article that the Philadelphia School district student advisory board was featured in. 

http://www.citypaper.net/blogs/nakedcity/219274501.html

Volleyball Season Begins

Today was my first pre-season practice for CAPA Volleyball. I cannot be greatful enough that we are able to begin the season despite the on going school district crisis. Although we are able to start our season and other sports are able to begin, I fear that the season will be difficult. Our coach is no longer teaching at our school due to being laid off by the district, so my team and I will have to take a lot of responsibility in communicating about practices and games. My team and I intend on having an amazing season no matter what occurs within the school district. However, if school shouldn't start on time due to the lack of 50 million dollars that the school district insists on having to open schools, our season maybe obstructed. Today made me realize how much children truly do need extracurriculars. Not only for fun, but for a character-building experience. Not to mention scholarships and other opportunities that extracurriculars offer. Every child should have the opportunity to get involved in an extracurricular. It is vital to our futures that we are able to participate in activities that we enjoy and that provide even more opportunities for our futures.

Fight for Education Blog

I've decided to create this blog in order to document and share the many twist and turns that have been occurring with the education crisis in Philadelphia. I will be sharing my personal struggles that I have been faced with because of the budget crisis, and also the work I and many others have been doing to help reform Philadelphia's deteriorated school district system.  Stay posted for updates and posts, they will be coming soon!