2,500 teens walked out of their high schools in Philadelphia to object to the fact that they were going to be bought out by a for-profit company, called Edison. These teens were well aware of how the market takes advantage of them and targets teens; therefore they knew what it meant to be managed by a for-profit company. If this company were to buy them out they would feel like property. They are there to get an education and they shouldn’t have to worry about things like this. The residents should be first notified since it’s their tax dollars being used. Even though they come out of their own pocket to pay for public education they should still be against this idea. Everything Edison had to address sounded good, but how would they know if it’s true. From my opinion, all extra money would go to the company for profit and there would be none left over for improvement.
The teens felt they were being let down by the school board if this were to happen. The issue should have been brought upon the residents and the teens and than discussed. From the teen’s point of view, they felt they were being used. They were going to be a franchise, and they would be looked at like a Wal-mart or Wendy’s instead of a group of teens getting an education. Becoming a franchise would lower their school spirit since there are many other schools that carry out activities and instruction just as they do. Schools are not a franchise and shouldn’t be. No one should have to change schools to get a better education. With public schools, most of them are alike in many ways. If they were to be franchised the competition among students to get into the best school would put a lot of pressure on them and their parents. This pressure shouldn’t be brought upon young students trying to receive an education.
If I were in this situation I would want to be consulted. It’s my education and I want to know what’s going on behind closed doors. As a student at the school I would feel its only right to be informed and have an input on the decision. I would not feel comfortable knowing that every penny I had to pay to go to school was going to this company rather than towards my education. I’m sure it’s nice to receive new equipment and much needed items to better the education system, but this is going against people’s morals and it would have to require more money out of the student’s pocket. In this case they have the right to know what is going to happen along with the residents, and this is an issue that should have to be discussed before putting into play.