School District subject of reality show
Thursday, August 20th, 2009
By: Peter Crimmins
pcrimmins@whyy.org
The Philadelphia School District will be the subject of a reality television series a year from now. The School Reform Commission has approved a proposal from a TV production company to bring actor Tony Danza into Northeast High School this fall to teach English and Drama.
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SRC commissioner Heidi Ramirez was the sole "no" vote to the idea of bringing TV cameras along with actor Tony Danza into the classroom, she said it would disrupt the learning environment.
But this fall the hidden cameras will roll as Danza – formerly on Taxi and Who's the Boss? – begins a semester of teaching for a planned 13 episode series called Teach.
School District spokesman Fernando Gallard says the students who will participate in Danza's class have already started auditioning.
Gallard: We plan to take advantage of everything Teach productions has to offer for our kids. A drama club, any other opportunities to use him to provide students with a unique oppoprtunity.
The School District will be paid $3500 dollars for each episode. Superintendent Arlene Ackerman says the show will highlight the joys and challenges of the teaching profession.
