Philadelphia Teacher: 'We Are In Awe Of' The Protests Our Students Pulled Off
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – On Talk Radio 1210 WPHT, Dom Giordano talked with Kelly Collings, a teacher at the Feltonville School of Arts and Sciences, about the School Reform Commission's decision to cancel their contract with Philadelphia's teachers union and the response of students to organize a protest.
Collings said she and other teachers are proud of the demonstration that their students organized in less than a day.
"We are in awe of what the students have been able to pull off in a matter of 12 hours or less. They put together a city-wide student strike. They're standing up, saying, 'This is what we, as students, parents and teachers need in order to make our schools as effective as possible.'"
She supports their efforts to draw attention to what is happening in the city's schools.
"The only way for us to get what we need in Philadelphia is to all be supporting each other. Parents, community members, teachers, students -- this is a larger fight. It's not about one union. It's not even about one school district. This is about fair funding for all students in Pennsylvania, so we have to support each other."
Collings stated this is just the latest in a long series of events that have interfered with students' education in Philadelphia.
"The education has been disrupted, year after year, by the lack of funding. The layoffs have disrupted education. Sixty-four kids in an Algebra I class have disrupted education. This is just taking it to the people who have the power to make the decisions."