Radio host discusses schools issue

With the Philadelphia public school situation being one of the hot topics in city talk radio these days, WPHT radio talk show host Dom Giordano thought he might be able to add a unique perspective on the issues surrounding the schools and their possible privatization.

In a speech that discussed what Giordano sees as the socialist nature of the teachers' union and the possible positive impact that private company Edison Schools, Inc., would have on Philadelphia's school system, Giordano presented his view of the problems in, and possible solutions for, Philadelphia's school system last night in the Klein Law Building on Temple University's campus.

The event was hosted and organized by the Temple Law School Republican Association and the Temple Law School Federalist Society. Approximately 30 audience members attended the event, most Temple Law students, to learn more about the problems facing Philadelphia's debt-ridden and underachieving public schools.

"It's such a large issue," said Lou Messinger, a third year Temple law student. "It's a complicated situation, and it's not being broken down [by the press] very well."

The controversial proposal by Edison Schools to take control of some of the city's schools was one issue Giordano addressed. While he did point out the benefits of the involvement of Edison Schools with the public school system, Giordano was quick to point out that he did not expect the company to solve all the issues facing the Philadelphia school district.

"I have little faith that Edison will do anything magical," he said. "What they will do is move us from a stagnant point to getting things moving."

Giordano did not limit his discussion to the recent state takeover of Philadelphia's public school system, but also discussed school reform on a broader field.

Giordano disagreed with those demanding that public schools need more money in order to succeed.

"If Philadelphia got $3 trillion tomorrow [for education], although the students may get swimming pools and new technology, the level of education would not go up significantly," he said.

The teachers' union was another frequently mentioned topic during yesterday's discussion.

"Philadelphia's the biggest union town in the country and they're proud of it," Giordano said, mentioning that Mayor Street left a holiday parade to visit a group of labor unions protesting the state takeover of schools last year.

Giordano said he sees the teachers' union as hindering, rather than helping education, allowing unqualified teachers to remain in the schools teaching the students.

"Once you get tenure, unless you shoot someone in the middle of Broad Street in the daylight, you're in there. And even then the teachers' union will try to get you off," Giordano said.

Another problem in the school system that Giordano said he would like to address is removing students that are not interested in learning and are dangerous and disruptive from regular classrooms. Giordano believes that such students should instead be sent to other schools.

Additionally, Giordano said he believes that implementing learning programs that work, such as phonics, is needed.

He said today's schools favor "creative" programs instead, where the focus is on the creativity of a method rather than the resulting student performance.

Since Giordano worked as a teacher for 15 years, education is a topic that is very important to him.

"There's two reasons I speak on education," Giordano said after the speech. "One, I'm a former teacher and two, it's an issue that comes up frequently in talk radio."

Representatives from Penn College Republicans attended the speech.

And Giordano made sure to greet the Penn students in his address.

"I'd like to welcome the people from Penn. Conservatives and Republicans from Penn are an endangered species," he joked.

Audience members, who were mostly from conservative student groups, appreciated Giordano's remarks.

"It provided a good perspective on the Philadelphia school system," said College junior Brett Singer, chairman of Penn College Republicans.

Singer then added Giordano's speech "was inspirational to a dying conservative movement."

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