Public education, city stiffed by Corbett budget

[Video conceptualized, written & recorded by members of Philadelphia Student Union]

Governor Tom Corbett’s proposed budget did not slash public education funding the way it did last year with $1 billion in education cuts. But it didn’t provide much hope either. One of the Governor’s biggest cuts is his proposal to eliminate the $100 million grant program used to pay for full-day kindergarten. By eliminating that grant program, the Daily News reports, the Philadelphia School district would be about $2o million more in the red. And then there’s cuts to the state’s system of higher education. Temple, for example, would see its budget cut by 30%.

But the problems could not be more dire for the Philadelphia School District, and in turn the city itself, as Daniel Denvir contends in this week’s City Paper.

As Gene Marks agues in a piece on The Philly Post, despite the Economy League’s best efforts, there’s no way Philly can become a ‘World Class’ anything without a stronger educational system. He writes that as a business owner, better public education provide real benefits: A better skilled workforce coming right out of high school. A city that attracts higher-qualified professionals into the area. A place where more companies and people re-locate, which creates more opportunities for my services and products. A town where its two main universities can spend more of their resources reaching out to the community, rather than building fortresses to protect students from the blight of their surrounding neighborhoods. Better schools are like a rising tide.

Students are frustrated too. And in response to the Governor’s budget the Philadelphia Student Union has a plea for Tom Corbett: Fall back in love with public education. They’re taking their case to Harrisburg for a rally on Valentine’s Day. Check out their video above.