weissjm
Joined: 09 Nov 2007 Posts: 22
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Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 7:40 am Post subject: 11-11-07 The schools' Oakland location enhances learning |
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The schools' Oakland location enhances learning
Regarding Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt's plan to close Schenley High School and Frick 6-8 and move students to the Reizenstein building and elsewhere ("City Schools May Empty Schenley, Move Frick Students," Oct. 30):
Frick and Schenley have produced great leaders, athletes, artists and scholars, and they aren't among Pennsylvania's "failure factories." Their home in Oakland is one of the main reasons for their success. As a Frick student, I had the chance to work hands-on with professors at Pitt for my science projects. This was possible because I could walk to the science labs right after school in just a few minutes.
Schenley and Frick provide an enormous number of opportunities for their students via partnerships with Oakland neighbors. Tons of Schenley students cross-register at Pitt and Carnegie Mellon every semester and can easily walk back to Schenley after their college classes. Both schools offer an extremely diverse environment, and that's thanks to two factors: the International Baccalaureate Program and Oakland's central location.
Oakland allows for easy access to many cultural and educational activities. Schenley students can take "walking" field trips to Pitt to see a performance for their IB theater class. The IB art classes have the Carnegie Museums at their fingertips. Biology classes can take advantage of Phipps Conservatory and Schenley Park. Oakland's familiar sights have become an integrated part of the hands-on learning experiences at these schools. A move to East Liberty would be detrimental to Frick and Schenley.
Being located in Oakland is certainly an asset for both schools. Taking Frick and Schenley out of Oakland leaves students with fewer options, fewer resources and fewer opportunities.
S.J. ANTONUCCI
Strip District |
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