David Hornbeck is a self-proclaimed psychic.
"If you tell me the kid's zip code, race, language and whether or not he has a disability, I will tell you what kind of opportunity that kid will have between kindergarten and 12th grade," the former superintendent of Philadelphia public schools and member of the founding council of Good Schools Pennsylvania said.
Hornbeck addressed students last night on the history and goals of Good Schools Pennsylvania, a non-profit organization that's aim is to "create the framework to enact new educational policy," he said.
Hornbeck, who served as superintendent from 1994 to 2000, quit once he realized the "kinds of radical changes" that need to be made to the public education system were "not going to happen at the initiative of the elected officials."
Good Schools Pennsylvania was established in November of 2000. The coalition has created three objectives: to obtain adequate and equitable funding for every school district, to implement proven practices of education such as pre-kindergarten programs and small class sizes and to hold educators accountable for the results.
The organization has created six strategies to realize its ambitions. These strategies involve the participation of community members, faith institutions, college students and high school students in petitioning state and local government officials to recognize the need for new legislation.
Hornbeck blames the status of public education on the complacence of the community regarding the issue. "We have permitted [public officials] to mistreat children," Hornbeck said.
With the gubernatorial elections approaching, Good Schools Pennsylvania is focusing on the enactment of an "omnibus piece of legislation with explicit provisions regarding the three agenda items" of Good Schools Pennsylvania, Hornbeck said.
"It's not about finding a cure for an incurable disease, but about using the tools we know exist and using them effectively," Hornbeck added.
Despite the small turnout, roughly 15 people, which Hornbeck attributed the the "rotten night," students in the class Education in American Culture attended the lecture.
"We are talking about reform movements and equality in Philadelphia and we talked specifically about Hornbeck and his reform" in class, said Education in American Culture Professor Lauren Silver.
Bringing Hornbeck to speak at Penn was due to the combined efforts of both the Penn and Temple University chapters of Good Schools Pennsylvania.
"Education is the civil rights issue of our generation," Temple Chapter President of Good Schools Pennsylvania Justin Diberardinis said. "We live in a state that would rather build a prison than make a pre-K program."
With respect to Penn, College senior Erica Young, president of the Penn chapter of Good Schools Pennsylvania, said that the current goal is to get the University, as well as student groups and academic departments, to endorse the campaign.
"This isn't going to happen by hoping somebody else does it," Hornbeck said. "These are life and death issues for these kids every single day."
