By Senator Vincent Hughes and Sharif El-Mekki
A decade ago, Pennsylvania certified 20,000 new teachers. Last year, that number was down to 6,000. Chronic understaffing, along with underfunding, is driving increased burnout and shorter teaching careers.
That loss of teachers is particularly concerning among communities of color which make up 37 percent of the student body, but only 7 percent of teachers.
On Monday August 19, Senator Hughes and the Rev. Gregory Holston, executive director of POWER Interfaith, marched from historic Overbook High School in Philadelphia to the modern marvel that is Lower Merion High School in Ardmore. The purpose of their 3.5-mile journey was to shed light on the worlds of differences between two public high schools separated by a mere 8,000 or so steps.
Philadelphia, Jan. 30, 2014 – Senate Democrats gathered in communities across Pennsylvania yesterday to challenge Gov. Tom Corbett to produce a spending plan that is aligned with the needs of the Pennsylvania.
HARRISBURG, February 27, 2012 – – At today’s Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearing, Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent Hughes (D-Phila./Montgomery) questioned Pennsylvania Department of Education Secretary Ronald Tomalis about the potential impact of Governor Tom Corbett’s $400 million in proposed education budget cuts.
PHILADELPHIA, February 22, 2012 – – In light of Governor Tom Corbett’s budget proposal, which includes deep cuts to basic education, state Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Phila./Montgomery) will tour Cook-Wissahickon Public School and hold a community meeting to discuss public education and the impacts of the proposed budget cuts.