By now just about everyone has seen the posters around the neighborhood over the last few weeks – the ones with a woman’s portrait stylized like the President Barack Obama “Hope” posters.
The woman portrayed is Fatimah Loren Muhammad, who is challenging long-time incumbent James Roebuck in tomorrow’s primary for the Democratic nomination in the state General Assembly’s 188th District, which includes a sizable chunk of West Philly. Muhammad is an intriguing candidate to say the least. She is young (27), a Penn graduate, Muslim, openly bisexual and she grew up poor, and sometimes homeless, as the daughter of a single mother. That story resonates with lots of West Philly voters. The Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity recently endorsed her.
But there is another Fatimah Muhammad, one whose candidacy is being bankrolled by many people who have a very different life story. Her connection to conservative, pro-voucher (or “school choice,” depending on your political persuasion) donors has been well reported. Rep. Roebuck, who has served in the General Assembly since 1985 (too long for some people’s taste), has been an obstacle for the pro-voucher contingent, which aims to provide students public money to attend private and parochial schools.
Spend a few minutes with Muhammad’s campaign finance reports (they are included below) and another couple of minutes on Google and you will find a straight line between her campaign and pro-voucher, Republican billionaires.
Many West Philly residents received these pro-voucher flyers in their mail this election season.
Roebuck’s campaign has drawn money from those opposed to vouchers, including $5,000 from the Committee to Support Public Education, a PAC funded by the Pennsylvania Federation of Teachers. That single contribution accounts for about a third of the total donations to Roebuck’s campaign.
Muhammad has said that the whole voucher issue is a “distraction.”
As for the money, she recently told The Philadelphia Tribune that, as a newcomer, she can’t be choosy about donations.
“As someone who’s new to politics, I can’t afford not to take money from anyone,” she recently told the Trib‘s Eric Mayes.
She continued in the article: “In this campaign vouchers have been used by my opponent to try and pigeonhole me in a particular area,” she said. “My stance is to keep everything on the table. I want parents at the center of this — not for political gain or anything. My stance has always been empowering parents.”
Below is the recently released campaign finance report for Friends of Fatimah. At least 80 percent of the $76,030 she raised is from groups and individuals connected to school voucher lobbyists, mostly organizations funded by Students First.
Here is a playbill for the biggest contributors:
• Students First PAC – $25,000
A school voucher campaign contributor that receives its funding from the American Federation for Children, a network of wealthy pro-voucher contributors. Finance wizard and billionaire Joel Greenberg of Bala Cynwyd sits on the organization’s Board of Directors. Gov. Tom Corbett reportedly received $50,000 from the organization in his campaign for governor.
• Women for Change – $4,000
The City Paper calls this organization, which lists an Elkins Park address but very little else, a “shell of a PAC.” On March 21, Students First contributed $10,000 to Women for Change. On March 23, Women for Change contributed $4,000 to Fatimah Muhammad.
• Public Education Excellence – $7,500.
A PAC run in part by Joy Herbert, a parent of a West Philadelphia High School student who served on the school’s School Advisory Council. The PAC received $6,000 from Students First on March 19 and another $6,000 on March 27, according to campaign finance reports.
• Progressive Agenda PAC – $5,900
Another PAC that received money from Students First. On March 27, Students First contributed $6,000 to Progressive Agenda, about a week before Progressive Agenda contributed $5,900 to Friends of Fatimah.
• Black Clergy PAC – $1,000
Also on March 27, Students First contributed $6,000 to the Black Clergy PAC, according to campaign finance reports. On April 6 the PAC contributed $1,000 to the Muhammad campaign and April 17, the Black Clergy publicly endorsed Muhammad.
• Citizens Networking for Progress PAC – $3,000
On March 27, Students First contributed $8,000 to this PAC. On April 9. Friends of Fatimah received $3,000 from the PAC.
• Barbara Chavous – $9,239.03
An individual contributor whose address is listed in Macon, Ga. on campaign finance reports, Chavous works for the Muhammad campaign. Her daughter, Dawn Chavous (who contributed $4,000 to the campaign), is married to Philadelphia City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson. Dawn Chavous is also the executive director of Students First PA.
(h/t City Paper‘s Daniel Denvir, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Amara Rockar, The Philadelphia Tribune, UC Neighbors)
April 23rd, 2012 at 6:23 pm
Ugh, that Tribune quote is TERRIBLE. Can’t believe she said that. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!
April 23rd, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Thanks for covering this, I’ve been keeping an eye on it and was wondering if it would hit this site. I’ve not voted locally yet, but I think I just might this year!
April 23rd, 2012 at 9:34 pm
I am curious about whether the people who are watching this race have children in our neighborhood schools. I do and i want my children to have an excellent education. They deserve options. Ms. Muhammad is bright and believes that parents have a voice in the conversation. I pray that she wins tomorrow. We deserve a change after 27 years.
April 23rd, 2012 at 10:26 pm
It is incredibly disingenuous of her to blame the Roebuck campaign for trying to “pigeon hole” her on the voucher issue when it is her own supporters who sent out the sleazy pro voucher mailings that were the first exposure most people had to her. After they caused an uproar, suddenly she changed her tune. I was surveyed by someone who was clearly polling for the Muhammad campaign right before those flyers came out, which was the first I had ever heard over her, and the survey questions were overwhelmingly about vouchers.
April 23rd, 2012 at 10:56 pm
Angelique, I recall you commented previously in support of Muhammad’s version of events regarding the 27th Ward meeting. A voicemail subsequently came out showing Muhammad’s campaign was either lying or incompetent, your choice. Interesting that you turn up here again tonight showing a clear lack of understanding of this blog, its readership and the neighborhood.
April 24th, 2012 at 8:16 am
Why would you take money from ANYONE, though? It not only looks bad and it makes it look like you have an ulterior motive.
I was going to vote for her, but now I’m not so sure anymore.
April 24th, 2012 at 8:16 am
*I mean from JUST anyone.
April 24th, 2012 at 9:49 am
I just can’t fathom why anyone would want to use taxpayer money to send kids to private schools rather than making a concentrated effort to improve the neighborhood schools of our own community. It just seems like a no brainer.
April 24th, 2012 at 9:54 am
Agreed, Stacey. School vouchers are part of the short-term me-first mindset.
April 24th, 2012 at 10:35 am
My husband and I just moved to Walnut Hill from Powelton Village and we plan to get involved with Lea so that by the time we have children we can feel confident that they have a nice place to go to school. The idea of vouchers, to us, is crass. Choice? You have a choice. Get involved with your community or DON’T.
Also, speaking of Muhammad being shady/disingenuous, did anyone get a flyer yesterday that showed a middle-aged, “square” white person on an old 1980’s phone with Roebuck’s name over it and then next to it pictures of modern cell phones with Muhammad’s name? It was a compelling political argument, I have to say.
April 24th, 2012 at 11:25 am
I don’t understand your logic supporting the education chair and a leader of 27 years when clearly the education in his own district is horrendous. I have to work hard volunteering every chance I get in the public school my son goes to just because he is not supposed to be eat that location. I drive 35 mins every day to get him there too. Why because my eldest went where is supposed to go according to our zip code. She cut herself there and need special care… UNTIL I MOVED HER TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN CENTER CITY. She is now at George Washington University.
If it were up to you or Roebuck she would have stayed and God know what would have happened. What qualifications do any of them in Harrisburg have to decide the faith of my child or what they need.
I am not sure who you all are to support this old man but you obviously don’t care for MY child. I therefore have to fight for a way to take care of mine… legally.
Why should the politics matter if the children do?
April 24th, 2012 at 11:38 am
Appeals to emotion in politics don’t fall under “logic.”
Vouchers will only help a small percentage of children and is outright giving private and religious institutions tax payer money without any of the regulations and requirements that comes with government money.
If you take tax payer money, you should be held to the requirements of public institutions because you are now a public entity. Vouchers are a money grab, a gross misuse of tax payer money, and will only go to line the pockets of private and religious schools. I’ll pay for your kid to go to public schools. Not to private schools.
Also, what have you done with in the school district to improve the community? I don’t mean the schools your kids, by your own admission, should not be at, I mean the schools in your district. In your own community. If you aren’t willing to work at improving your community, why should I or anyone else pay for your kid to go to a private school?
April 24th, 2012 at 11:45 am
OK…
So while those talking heads are trying to figure out the faith of all our children (not just the privileged) why can’t my child have a chance.
There would be nothing for public schools to worry about if they were any good because children won’t leave. Why should my tax dollars fund a failing system and why should my child suffer because they can’t fix it.
I bet money his kids didn’t go public and if so… definitely not local.
When they fix it I’ll fight for it. I’m not sending my child his future unprepared.
Trust me… I am doing a lot in the public school my son goes to. I am Vice Pres of Home and School. I volunteer and raise money. I developed their website and maintain it for free.
Still no logic
April 24th, 2012 at 11:53 am
Tax dollars belong in the public sphere, period. We’ve got a real problem in this country with private interests grasping for as much as they can in government money without giving it back. Like hell we should just hand them that money in the from of a voucher under the guise of “for the children.” It’s not and you’re being taken for a ride.
We don’t need to turn our educational system into a microcosm of the problems we’re dealing with on a federal level.
I also have a great deal of distaste for the fact that a woman took money from anti-choice activists and Republican/Main Line money with private interests. The Main Line is involved with West Philly politics and I find that insulting and infuriating. Who the hell are they, with all the money and access they want/need to get their grasping hands into our district?
Try getting involved with the educational community of your zip code, of your district. Every hour you put into someone else’s district is time, energy, and a chance for the one you actually live in. If you can’t be arsed to put the energy into your own community, why on earth do you think you deserve a check of tax payer money to spend?
April 24th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
@Stacey that flyer cracked me up. I swear the dude with the old school brick cell phone looks just like Al Gore.
I’ve receieved three Muhammad flyers in the past week, but not a single one from Roebuck. He is certainly outspent, and it’s showing–those every-present posters and flyers seem to be doing their job, whether people know who Muhammad is or what she stands for. Shoot, one of my neighbors who has made numerous homophobic comments to me and my partner over the years has a Muhammad poster in his window. I wonder if he knows she’s openly bisexual and strongly in favor of LGBT rights?
April 24th, 2012 at 2:46 pm
@Lou – Ha! I totally thought it was AL Gore, too. Also, ew. Which neighbor is that?
April 24th, 2012 at 2:58 pm
@Stacey glad I’m not the only one who thought it was Al! Re: the neighbor, remind me to tell you next time I see you.
April 24th, 2012 at 4:54 pm
@ El
I’m not convinced that this is the right way either but it will help some until they fix the whole thing. In the meantime we have to try something. This is the only thing that will work for those parents that are fighting for a decent future for their kids.
I don’t see how anyone that will begrudge a child a decent education just because they don’t like Catholics receiving tax dollars can make sense to me. I am not fighting for a Catholic education but just to have a choice. Both my kids go public and I have no need to change that but my “SPECIAL INTEREST” IS MY CHILD. Your child could benefit from you tax dollars… but wait you live in a district with more failing public schools. I bet any money you don’t send your kids there… if you have any. Most of the public school teachers I know send their kids to Catholic school.
Wow. Its unfortunate that my child’s fate rest in your hands.
Geese… now I’m depressed.
i wonder what your “special interest” is?
April 24th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
So what have you done for your district and community to improve it? Not the school you’ve admitted your child isn’t supposed to be at, the ones in your area?
If you can’t be bothered to improve your community, why do you deserve tax payer money to give away to private interests?
Could you really afford private school tuition? Vouchers don’t cover all of it. The only people who will benefit from vouchers are those who can afford private school tuition without them. Not the children in west Philly.
Do you honestly believe your child will be one of the 10% vouchers could help?
Why do you support a program that will ignore the plight of 90% of our children? A program that just takes more money away from our public education system? More money out of the system to private schools means less money to public schools. It doesn’t fix the problem.
It makes it worse. Stop living in a fantasy world that you could live like the 1% or the Main Liners. Vouchers aren’t going to get you that. Vouchers aren’t going to help you or any other child in our public school system.
April 24th, 2012 at 5:45 pm
how is my tax dollars going to private? I have told you several times. My children always went to public… what are you not getting. MY ONLY SPECIAL INTEREST IS MY CHILD. I don’t give a hoot about the voucher I just want a choice. I just want to make sure you cannot force my child into my local school if I don’t think its good for him. Maybe vouchers are the reason YOU help to fix the local school… if you can because as smart as Roebuck is… he couldn’t do it in 27 years and he does not have the time of day for me… not even to listen.
People always think money will fix everything so keep it where it is and find more but I honestly feel when people like you who believe so strongly in this system get upset then that’s when things will start to change.
Vouchers may not be the answer for all our kids… so do something! Be part of the solution or be quiet and let me decide for my own child. Is that such a bad thing to want?
What’s sad is you and everyone else who support Roebuck cannot hear us… but as soon as the money shows up everyone is paying attention… every article is about the money. No one is talking about all the kids in just my local school that are bullied, abused, failed and given up on except Fatimah.
Wish you could put more effort into finding a solution in education.. I think you’ll do great.
April 24th, 2012 at 5:48 pm
“how is my tax dollars going to private?”
That’s what a voucher is. Tax payer money going to private institutions.
If the Republicans funding Fatimah’s campaign get their way, that’s what will happen. Vouchers are government (tax payer)money given to parents to pay to a private or parochial school.
You didn’t know this? And you’re supporting something you didn’t understand? Holy crap…
April 24th, 2012 at 6:08 pm
I feel much more better to talk about Sandwiches instead.
April 24th, 2012 at 6:08 pm
I am and always will be a defender of public schools. However, I understand that a parent of a child at a failing public school would feel that they can’t afford to wait for the school to turn around. From a long-term perspective, I think vouchers are a terrible idea as they divert resources away from where they are needed. But I have a heard time blaming a parent for wanting an alternative NOW.
To my eye the real issue is the tax structure – the idea that money is pooled at such local levels results in the horrible discrepancies between public schools. But pooling even at the county level would mean wealthier districts would “lose” money to those less-well-off. I can only imagine how that would go over.
April 24th, 2012 at 6:36 pm
I completely understand the desperate parent. The problem is, outside of the tax issues (it’s always taxes…) desperate parents make excellent cannon fodder for those seeking profit. A desperate parent is an easily swayed parent. I know it’s hard, it’s your kids for cryin’ out loud!, and real change takes too long when you want to see something now. And those seeking to profit will promise you now in order to get what they want.
The absolute last thing we need right now is to divert funds from the school district. Well, the dissolved/in-the-midst-of-reforming school district. What a lovely thing to drop on the public on election day.
If Pennsylvania can afford to give breaks to the gas companies destroying Pennsylvania’s environment, they can afford to send some more money into the educational system.
April 25th, 2012 at 6:58 am
You have a problem with private schools taking tax money and not giving it back???? What about public schools taking money and giving back failed students. I student taught in Philly public schools and not one graduating senior could write a decent paragraph in all my classes. How dare you lambast parents alone and ignore the should-be- criminal failure of the teachers who are dearly protected by their teachers unions who care nothing for children, and sacrifice them on the altar of teacher salary and convenience.
At least private schools give back an educated student, which is a great gift to a democracy! Urban public schools are wasting the money–it should b given to those who care enough to do the job, and not be discriminated against according to religious affiliation.
April 25th, 2012 at 7:28 am
I’m not lambasting them. I’m pointing out that desperate people are more likely to grasp onto promises made to them by those playing into their desperation for their own personal benefit. It’s a legitimate point that should be acknowledged. Angelique here didn’t even realize that’s what vouchers were.
How about, crazy thought here, we get our attention back to our public schools, our money back to public schools (instead of, say, gas companies or wasting time on legislation constricting women’s health care), and have parents actually get involved in their own community and school district, something else Angelique (as representative of desperate parents here, I suppose) could not answer. Volunteering at a school outside her district doesn’t help the problem, it makes it worse.
There is no easy answer to the problem of our public schools but desperate people generally want and easy, fast, instant gratification answer instead of focusing on long term goals which helps everyone, not just their own kid.
Private schools are under no obligation to take the struggling student or the disabled student. What do those parents do when they can’t afford another private school? The public school system takes ALL children, of all walks of life, of all disabilities.
Vouchers are only going to help a small percentage of students. Why on earth would you want to take MORE money out of a struggling system and basically condemn the other 90% or so of students vouchers didn’t help to a lifetime of struggle and as you so nicely pointed out, criminal activities? How dare you leave them behind?
April 25th, 2012 at 7:35 am
Not that vouchers are an issue until the next time Mr. Roebuck is up for re-election.
No more campaign posters, flyers, mailers littering our neighborhood, thank god.
April 25th, 2012 at 8:58 am
We should have had Philly Clean up AFTER the election!
April 25th, 2012 at 10:05 am
Angelique White wrote:
“I bet money his kids didn’t go public and if so… definitely not local.”
Angelique,
Jim Roebuck & his wife Cheryl have no children. However, Jim is a product of the Philadelphia public schools, and his wife has taught at a public school – Meredith – for many years. At a campaign event last week, Cheryl explained that she considers the children at her school to be “her children,” and every time the School District makes a bad move, she comes home and says, “Jim! You have to do something!” This is one of the reasons his focus has been on public education.
But, do you understand that the Democrats are the minority now in State government? And do you understand that even when Philadelphia’s own Ed Rendell was governor, Philadelphia was not a popular place with legislators in Harrisburg who come from other parts of the state? Have you heard the line, “Philadelphia & Pittsburgh, with Alabama in between?” Tell me how a brand-new State Rep could get more for Philadelphia than a seasoned one. If that could be possible, I’d vote for that person.
April 25th, 2012 at 10:12 am
Terrible that someone with no children, who has done nothing for West Philadelphia schools, gets re-elected. Back to business as usual: I recommend that realtor Melani and other privileged people who were so adamant about Roebuck put in some real time in West Phil schools — I mean, spend a few hours a day there for a month or so, until you fit into the culture. At which time you can not only inhale the sickening fumes of urine, the open trash dumpsters, the screaming disorganized teachers, the lack of education these kids are getting. You want to trap them in these schools because you’re privileged, your kids don’t attend them, you don’t care about or know anything about the kids who do.
April 25th, 2012 at 3:14 pm
@ El
I have a better understanding of vouchers than you think and so that you are not totally confused by the lies put out there… Private schools are not the only place vouchers can be used. Special needs kids can use them at school that cater to their unique challenges, they can be used for home schooling, cyber and OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Roebucks biggest argument was that these other private schools won’t take (or want) these poor, underserved kids… If that is the case the money will stay right were it is and there is no problem. But all this time I have been speaking for myself. I would like to keep my son in his public school and I will keep on working for that schools community… I just want to be able to do it legally.
Thanks to people like I risk going to jail just so that I can educate my son.
You have confirmed that you prefer spend your tax dollars on prisons, re-entry programs and institutions (big business in that) than educating the children… PROPERLY. I understand. Once you do the math it all makes sense.
I wonder how many of the 40 schools being closed by the district are your mighty reps district? hmmm Guess there is room for a couple more prisons.
April 25th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
@ concerned voter
so true… They really have no idea what these kids are forced to endure.
April 25th, 2012 at 3:25 pm
A fast way to guarantee your candidate never wins an election in this area for ANYTHING (dog catcher, I don’t care) is to use a coded “they” and assert that anyone who didn’t support your candidate must not have kids in Philadelphia public schools. Keep at it, ladies!
April 25th, 2012 at 3:30 pm
@ Melani
I am sure the Roebucks are lovely people… to have as neighbors. But I am originally from the Uk and recently got sworn in as a proud citizen. I love the democratic process and have become entrenched. This is not how its supposed to work. He needs to go.
Roebuck has become too comfortable. He has no clue what is going on in his district, only his neighborhood and they are all fine (happy to keep things as they are).
Working in the community has proven they don’t even know who he is. Never seen him before he had a real opponent. He will say anything to keep his job (and thats all it is to him) the responsibility to the community has disappeared because he feels safe and protected by those that think he is a “nice neighbor”.
BTW
The man is too old and detached. After 27yrs I am sure he has taken care of his retirement. It’s time for him to go.
April 25th, 2012 at 3:44 pm
Angelique, I’m sure you don’t mean to be insulting, but you certainly don’t argue politely!
You say, “The man is too old…it’s time for him to go….”
Rep. Roebuck is just 6 years older than I am, and I don’t think I’ll be unable to do my job in 6 years. I don’t see age as a reason to disqualify him.
Turning that around, perhaps Ms. Muhammad is too young, or too inexperienced, for the job. The voters must have had some reservations about her; they didn’t elect her! Let her spend some time in the district – she only registered to vote here in mid-February. Let her get to know the neighbors and understand their situations. Let her help out more and develop some thoughts on solutions for more than one issue. THEN, in 4 years, perhaps she will seem better prepared and more qualified for the job.
Thanks.
April 25th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
You are right. That was impolite. Perhaps the method of communication made it too easy. I certainly don’t think that I would speak the same way face to face. However, when i say “old” it had nothing to do with age but rather way of thinking. You are also right about Ms Muhammad, she may be a little too young. Either way what i said still got nothing to do with age but rather way of thinking. Just think of how this country was build (I’m so into the history now that I’m a citizen :-), and all the innovation. Staying the same in not what “we” do. There has to be growth.
Perhaps in 4 years yes.. My guess is she is not going away.
I have really enjoyed being engaged not just because my son’s future is at stake but because it has allowed me to see how power really works, who has it and who wants its and who really doesn’t not care about who they hurt to get it.
I saw everything that happened yesterday. Its not enough that the under-served suffer, its got to happen to more of us for change to come. I guess the conservative way is still strong… we can’t all grow as a community, only the strongest should make it.
April 25th, 2012 at 4:46 pm
James Roebuck has been a OK legislator for a long time. But as Melani herself pointed out his seniority is basically meaningless under the current state of Republican control in Harrisburg. He hasn’t been a powerhouse in terms generating a bunch of new legislation and most importantly, he’s never going to make a move to challenge our councilwoman. New ambitious blood is sometimes worth it just because politicians become calcified in one position. Its not an “old” thing, its a “what have you done for me lately” thing.
Its a moot discussion now but since a lot of Fatimah’s supporters were from the 52nd Business Association, maybe Jim could use this victory as a chance to think about what he can do to better serve 52nd St., promote jobs and economic development on the corridor.
April 25th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
@ Sean
I agree. I believe it’s been 6 pieces in 27yrs. My guess is he’ll have even less power after this.
But it would be nice if he tried to help the rest of the folk in his district in prep for the next time he is run against.
April 26th, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Sean claims that Jim Roebuck hasn’t been a powerhouse. What you don’t realize is that he has been a brick, impediment against those very elements looking to close out the public school options for all but those who fail to qualify for charters. The fact is that the house will be overwhelmed by elements which are at best indifferent or ignorant, (but more likely hostile) to the socio-economic interests of Philadelphia. Given that circumstance, it makes more sense to ensure Education Committee placement for a longterm resident of the community (who knows the players and tricks), with direct connection to the grass roots education experience (I’m talking pillow talk,here). Those committee seats may not seem glamorous or create a lot of public print, but they put people in the position to get an early bead on the sorts of quiet corrosive legislation which moved the necessary dollars out of the classroom in the first place.
Angelique, you are new to both the US and Philadelphia. I suggest that you do some research into the demographics and history of the area called West Philly, including the quietly kept stories of white flight and imminent domain (U of Penn) in particular. Once you’re done with that, look into the recent trials of the Stephen Girard school(which while not a public institution illustrates the dynamic which arises when minority children strike out in the direction of a good education.) Once exclusionist by gender and race, the charter was broken and children of all demographics were admitted. And suddenly, the funding started disappearing. to the point where conditions rivaled the worst public institutions. I mean trustees were just STEALING the rug right from under these kids.. and continued doing so until public attention was brought to bear.
That is effectively what has happened to public education in general. Point fingers as you like at the teachers, unions whatever.. the fact is that for years, money energy and good planning have been intentionally “disappeared” from public education.. And if you want someplace to look to a very short but spot-on description of how Phila pubic education has been undermined recently with high-priced, private-enterprise-boondoggle educational schemes, I suggest you Google Helen Gym. She writes a blog for the Phila Public School Notebook (a good general source for school system info, by the way) and is also associated with a group called “Parents United PA”. Heck, you might even want to email her and ask to chat. She could set you straight on how reliable those vouchers options really are. She could also help you find a place to focus some political heat.. which might be at least as effective as your PTA activities.
Fatimah may be full of ideas, but it takes a lot more than that to get action out of this political environment. Especially for someone who is new to the area. Even Barak had to spend serious time on the ground organizing before making his leap to the legislature. And frankly, anyone who thinks “things will work out ok” once they take money from folk who might not have the community’s interest at heart… Well they need to go back to school on that one. Take it from someone who has run campaigns in PA, and knows the way these things actually work; the money paints the path that politicians run on. Period…. As for the seniority issue, I say never underestimate it. Any community without representatives on the committees which govern their key issues, is SUNK.. no matter how Obamalike their candidate looks in 4 color separation graphics.
April 26th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
My mistake. I thought it was a legislator’s job is write legislation, to craft smart policy that chart a course for how to improve the current situation. My understanding was that the best way to fight off bad policies is to be proactive at putting your own better ones forward. Apparently not.
April 26th, 2012 at 5:49 pm
The West Philly Local article was about following the money, let’s not forget. I agree with sharonc. Once a candidate has been supported – especially in such lavish style – by right wing suburban PACs funded by Republican anti-abortionists, how could we expect her to be free to do what’s best for West Philadelphia children?
The postcards sent on her behalf about Rep. Roebuck were incredibly misleading. If that’s okay with her, then how could we expect her to be truthful with her constituents if elected?
I’m not saying that NO candidate would be a better choice than Rep. Roebuck – I’m saying that THIS PARTICULAR CANDIDATE, given how she conducted her campaign and allowed others to “help” her, seemed like a really frightening choice.
April 26th, 2012 at 7:23 pm
I am not new to the US or the West Phil school district, and I can attest that other than PAS, all the West Phil public schools are a disgrace. I have spent time in them. They’re awful. No one who had the money or mobility to do something else, who cared about their children’s education, would put them in those dreadful places. Sorry, but let’s speak the truth here. The people arguing on behalf of West Phil schools are people who have a monetary stake in the game: whether realtors, teachers, administrators.
April 26th, 2012 at 7:25 pm
Forgot to add the other stakeholders: property owners whose children are either in PAS or have already been educated in private schools or Masterman. All these people will talk a big game because they don’t have to walk up those steps and consign their children to these awful places.
April 26th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
Funny that anyone thinks that legislators care. Not a single person on this board has enough money to get the attention of legislators. Just like you can follow money with this candidate, you can follow the money with every candidate and every decision.
I am sure that Penn’s decision to open another K class is influenced by money just as much as Muhammad’s campaign was funded just as much as Roebuck is funded elsewhere. Sometimes these decisions look like they follow patterns, that there is logic but it’s a deception.
April 26th, 2012 at 9:01 pm
@Happy Curmudgeon
First time I can’t agree with you more.
April 26th, 2012 at 11:02 pm
School daze, I am not a realtor, administrator, or teacher. I am the parent of kid about to enter kindergarten next year in a West Philadelphia school that is not PAS. And frankly, I don’t find your condemnation of parents helpful. Hundreds and hundreds of kids, whose parents love them and want the best for them, attend schools like Powel and Lea. I want West Philly schools to succeed because I believe in public education; I don’t want to squander my kids’ precious childhoods on commuting all over the city; and I believe that neighbors whose kids attend neighborhood schools create a stronger, richer neighborhoods. There might be specific schools that deserve your label of “awful places,” in which case I encourage you to name them, share your evidence for that label, and share your ideas about how to change the status quo.
April 26th, 2012 at 11:07 pm
@ Jane
Unfortunately your experience is going to be very different from what you expect. I pray that you continue to want these things and encourage you to be part of the solution but I guarantee you that once you realize your child is hurting because of this YOU WILL DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO for the safety and future of your child.
There are a lot of us out there that are trying to make changes that work I am just not willing to sacrifice my son’s future to do so.
Good luck
April 26th, 2012 at 11:31 pm
@46er, we’d prob agree alot. I try to keep my comments brief b/c I know how much I hate to read long posts and I prob leave out some key stuff in trying to keep it simple.
Clearly all of these issues are not that simple. By the time any “progress” reaches us plain folk and the higher ups have their piece it’s not so special and sometimes burden.
thx
April 27th, 2012 at 11:33 am
Schooldaze and Angelique: way to insult the public school parents of West Philadelphia. This is showing just how much the two of you really know put together. Call parents uncaring and the schools that they CHOOSE and SUPPORT awful. Excellent coalition building on behalf of Fatimah Muhammad! Fatimah for NOTHING for 2014 and FOREVER!
April 27th, 2012 at 11:52 am
@ anonymous.
Not sure where I called parents uncaring but i do support philadelphia schools… thats all my work does. I work closely with the parents also. I hope you have a better rest of the day since it seems I may have p’d you off.
April 27th, 2012 at 2:07 pm
my child ACTUALLY ATTENDED a west philly school other than PAS and it was excellent, thank you very much.
also, private schools produce educated students because they get good students going in. big deal. i attended a private elementary school and you know what they did with the bad kids? expelled them.
I do encourage everyone on this board to read Frank Murphy’s novel (on line at the blog city school stories) called confessions of an urban principal.
April 27th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
@ Lisa
I love stories like this, it helps encourage my parents to get more involved in their schools because things can get better. I don’t know too many private school parents but at least they had the means to chose for their child. I am certain no one forced them to make that choice.
I am sure all schools take their owe measures when it comes to “bad” kids… and private schools certainly do the same with bad teachers. Too bad the “good” kids are stuck with bad teachers in Philadelphia. I don’t mean to offend any teachers, I work with many fantastic teachers. Just wish we could get rid of the ones that really don’t care about the kids… we can always retrain those with out the skills.
I remember one of mine in high school. She wore her hair like a beehive and failed me at every exam. I finally did my O’Levels (English System) and got all A’s in English, Literature and History which she taught. No thanks to her. My parents paid for private tutoring but she failed me right up to the mock exams. lol that takes me back.
May 1st, 2012 at 9:48 pm
A huge part of the problem with vouchers and charter schools is the lack of transparency. For years, the School District of Philadelphia has “shoveled” multi-millions into charter schools with little or no transparency. The money seems to go into a “black hole” and the embezzlement horror stories seem infinite. These same charter schools “skim off” the best students from public schools, often dress them up in uniforms and teach them…I am not sure what. There is no transparent curriculum; often, non-certified, underpaid teachers and student achievement results which are abyssmal, obfuscated or fabricated to look better than they are. There is NO real indicators that these same students do any better than if they were in their public school counterpart. Meanwhile the “CEO’s” and other questionable charter school administrators pay themselves extremely well, at taxpayers expense. Many of the same pay themselves far more than a tradition administrator in public schools. Go Figure! Vouchers for private schools mean more of the same and worse: the reason they “chose to be private is so NOT to rub elbows with the “common people”. Now, we want hard earned tax dollars from the common people to subsidize this elitism. Finally, the School District, after allowing the best students to be “siphoned off” says, “We must close 40 schools because of declining enrollment. Let’s wake up Philadelphia. Take our schools back with a representative school board, upgraded/standardized curriculum and transparency of finances for starters!
May 2nd, 2012 at 12:42 pm
Charters who don’t meet the standards for improved test scores that regular schools face should be closed that year. Their books need to be open and they need to be audited annually. Considering the current budget insanity they have to agree to set volluntary admission targets because we can’t have people fleeing from neighborhood schools in an unpredictable way that busts budget predictability. That said, parents are still flocking to them in ever increasing numbers so its “elitism” of the “I know better what good for you than you do” to say you are going to take away that choice from parents.
May 2nd, 2012 at 1:53 pm
I don’t want parents to have fewer alternatives for their school age children. I just want the choices they buy into to be legitmate. They frequently are not, even though they may present themselves otherwise. Parents are also “flocking” to Masterman and Central and not all students who are worthy are accomodated. Very few charters are better than Masterman or Central so why can’t the School District provide more quality choices as well as well as bona fide vocational training for those students who choose that route?
May 2nd, 2012 at 4:31 pm
Dunno. Maybe you should have asked that question to the last 5 or so school district celebrity managers who have failed to fix troubled neighborhood schools, despite a cornucopia of new management schemes with various acronyms. Masterman and Central are both academic magnet schools so they engage in a level of “skimming the cream of the crop” that goes far beyond what you are complaining about charters for.
May 2nd, 2012 at 4:34 pm
It sort of sounds like you are saying “skimming” by schools where the teachers are unionized is good but “skimming” by schools where teachers are not is automatically bad, regardless of the quality of education. Which is a fine position to take but you should just straight out say it.
May 2nd, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Sean, I have no feelings either way about unionized or non-unionized teachers. Generally, teachers don’t set policies for admission, don’t establish curriculum standards or upgrades. They, for the most part, do as they are told in any school; charter, public or private. As far as I am concerned, the last decent school superintendent was Constance Clayton. I don’t believe that magnet schools are necessarily a bad idea if the magnet is really compelling ( a music magnet, an architecture magnet, et.al). Just for the record, I was always a strong union advocate during my many years as a teacher and even as an administrator. A teachers union affiliation has little to do with these larger administrative issues, other than the fact that I believe there is a movement afoot to destroy the PFT. My point again, is that there is a plan to dismantle the public school system; just as there is a plan to dismantle the postal system, Medicare, Social Security and other safety nets created from the New Deal and up to the 70’s. I believe this to be destructive to a democratic society.This is what I mean as germane to school issues.
May 2nd, 2012 at 5:15 pm
Many parents feel the “safety net” provided by their non-charter neighborhood school has been far too full of holes for decades. Thats why they want alternatives.
May 3rd, 2012 at 10:57 pm
This article is an absolute must-read for anyone opposing or supporting the dismantling of the Philadelphia (and PA, and US) public school system.
http://www.citypaper.net/news/2012-05-03-whos-killing-philly-public-schools.html
Kimm
May 3rd, 2012 at 10:59 pm
Oh, I forgot, h/t to Amara Rockar and the WPCNS for bringing the CP article to my attention.
May 4th, 2012 at 1:15 am
There is no safety net or perfect solution and according to this article no money and too many poor student families in Philly…
Unfortunately, being able to see the whole picture does not change the outcome. They have no idea where that money comes from or how to rid us of poverty.
I still believe thats why they need to put each child’s education in the hands of their parents… until they fix this.
May 6th, 2012 at 1:50 am
The psd has failed the city for over 40 years. But I’m sure now that el is getting involved, things are different.
I love the anti school chice advice to get involved. Right get involved, but leave all the important decisions to the experts of the psd. Like where your child should go to school, as if allowing parents choose where their kids go to school isnschools prevents you from getting involved.
Who teaches them, what is taught, whether violent students are disciplined, the experts deal with all of this so well. The idiocracy of ed phds and political hacks who fail at the most basic tasks (like actually collecting property taxes for the schools).anyone with money already has a choice: move out of them city, which is the solution that hundreds of thousands of middle class people have.
There are some good Philly public schools. Some great ones. But the district as a whole has been a cancer on the city. The idea that charters are more corrupt than the psd? Come on. Any charter head get a 400k salry and 900k severance? You criticize charters because they enforce behavioral standards while ignoring that the psd chooses ,not to enforce such standards as a matter of policy.
The anti choice argument, like all anti choice arguments relies on the insulting idea that Parents don’t know what is best for their kids. Or the even more insulting notion that your kid’s interest has to be sacrificed for the greater social good. well, 40 years of these authoritarian social experiments have failed.
But I’m sure now that el is involved, water will flow uphill and the PSD mwill become an effective advocate of high quality education throughout the city,
February 23rd, 2015 at 10:48 am
Where are they now West Philly edition – Fatimah lives in Boston now for anyone wondering about her long term commitment to the area.