Main Street

Word on the Street: By design – the dumbing down of Pennsylvania

Vanessa Miller – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

When I was in school, we had civics class. We were assigned to bring a news story about the community and we all discussed it. We were taught to take pride in our neighborhood, to ask questions about our government, and to take an active part in our communities. Now, my grandchildren barely have to take history or social studies class.

When I was in school, we had arts and music classes. Kids were able to express themselves through paintings, singing, or playing an instrument.

When I was in school, we had physical education. We had time to exercise our bodies and get our energy out. Now we have an obesity crisis, and gym classes are being cut by overstressed budgets. Kids’ frustration levels are so high because they don’t have a structured outlet.

We even had a banking program. You could start with a quarter, and add to it every week or every month. We were proud to have a banking book to show us how to save. We were introduced to finance at an early age and taught about the importance of money management.

School in Pennsylvania is different now and this year we are in a crisis. With Governor Corbett’s atrocious budget cuts- arts, music, physical education, and advanced programs are all being cut. Taking a note from Tom Ridge-even funds for school buses are on the line- and as we close more and more neighborhood schools and gas prices continue to rise, kids will no longer be able to get to school.

Yet Governor Corbett wants to push more money into our prison system. We are cutting money from education, yet increasing funds for jails. To me, this seems like it is done by design. If they are taking education away from children, if they are taking opportunity away from children, they are expecting them to turn to crime. This budget says that they are anticipating a flood of crime into the community- a flood of citizens to be locked up and put away.

Are they expecting people to go to jail because we aren’t planning on bringing any jobs back?

Are they willing to sacrifice a generation of people who aren’t educated, who will turn to crime because they have nothing left?

If we truly are America, the land of opportunity, how have we allowed politicians (that we elected into office) to sacrifice our kids? How have we allowed our country to become a place just for corporations and the rich, where the rest of us don’t matter?

Corporate CEOs can afford private school for their kids.