It's known as the City of Brotherly Love, but these days, the city's love seems unrequited. Philadelphia has a dismal student retention rate, despite the tens of thousands of students who come here to continue their education.
According to 1990 Census, only 156,027 of the city's one and a half-million residents hold a college degree -- only ten percent, far less than the 26 percent nationwide average and trailing 19 other major American cities. As Philadelphia struggles to play the part of a first-class city, many of its students apparently see it as decidedly second-rate.
This is a serious problem at a time when the city and state and trying to lure companies on the cutting edge -- companies that need a highly educated workforce. But recent efforts -- including Pennsylvania Governor Mark Schweiker's push to let students know that "it's all here" and Mayor John Street's work to make Philadelphia more attractive to students -- are working to change that. The programs, though a little late, are needed to improve the city's image problems and poor student retention rate.
Programs like the mayor's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative -- which will work to eliminate blight -- and the new Safe Streets program are working to erase the unfortunate image the city has developed. Over the past two years, an effort has been made to sell Philadelphia as a college town and, more importantly, to convince students to stay beyond commencement.
Designed to publicize all that the city has to offer, these efforts
are a good first step toward selling Philadelphia as a financial,
entertainment and cultural center. Youth-oriented events such as the X Games have drawn further attention. And organizations like Greater Philadelphia First work to ensure that for those students who do stay, there are plenty of job and internship opportunities.
The efforts by the city and state will soon succeed in reshaping Philadelphia, creating a better place to live and work for its residents -- students or otherwise. The city should be commended for their first steps in the right direction.
