Dozens of students have committed to walking out of South Philadelphia High School due to on-going concerns for their safety. A meeting on Friday with District officials did not satisfactorily address their concerns, students said. Instead, the students will be spending a week working on their own plans and conducting research and study as well as meeting with community and district leaders.

On this show we hear a feature about how Philadelphia Student Union has affected the lives of members. We also hear a piece that asks whether Advanced Placement classes are dividing students and distributing schools' resources inequitably. Then we look at the ways music shapes people, with a Song Breakdown of 'One More Drink' and a story about conscious hip hop. Plus, there's music and other news from Philly's schools.

Last week Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, the Reverend Al Sharpton and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich came to our city as part of their  “Listening and Learning Tour” regarding a national agenda for public education reform.  Students, parents, teachers, and community organizations were left wondering who the group was really listening to, since none of us were included in the tour’s agenda.  We were only able to speak with them through a locked and guarded wrought-iron fence.

In the coming weeks, the School District of Philadelphia and the
Philadelphia Federation of Teachers will negotiate a new, four-year
teacher contract. This is an important opportunity to influence the
negotiations and to make sure our students and teachers have the supports
they need to succeed in our schools. 


All the parties involved in the negotiations must do everything in
their power to ensure that all children in Philadelphia’s public
schools have effective teachers.