- On Monday, after years of budgetary woes, Philadelphia suddenly cancelled its contract with the teachers union. The move cuts a number of benefits and forces teachers to contribute between $55 and $140 per month for health care. Of course, these financial problems are nothing new. Philadelphia schools, despite receiving more per-pupil funding than the national average, just can’t seem to run efficiently, and unworkable pension obligations are largely to blame. Fortunately, there’s a fix—even in Philadelphia.
- The fall issue of American Educator highlights the timely, renewed interest in career and technical education (CTE) and how it can benefit both American business and young people. Six articles written by various experts tell of CTE’s history, explain its versatility, correct common misconceptions (e.g., vocational ed can be as challenging as traditional curricula), and profile a number of successful technical schools already in operation. At a time of sky-high college costs and debilitating student loans, it’s important to remember that college prep isn’t for everyone—nor should it be.
