On this, the first day of classes for Philadelphia public schools, parents and public school advocates were outside the Philadelphia office of governor Tom Corbett this morning, reading thousands of letters written by Philadelphia school students regarding state funding.

Laurie Friedman, who lives in West Philadelphia, had tears in her eyes as she read letters written by students begging state lawmakers to increase funding for the city’s schools.

(Reading a letter from elementary school student Jessica Sam:) “Dear state leaders in Harrisburg, we need to have an art teacher because art is my favorite subject and I like to color, draw, and paint.”

Friedman (at left in photo) was holding her three-year-old daughter during the demonstration outside the Bellevue, at Broad and Walnut Streets.

“What message are sending?” she asked aloud. “The kids see it — they see it! — they know that kids ten minutes away, in the suburbs, have a lot more.”

She says it is emotional for because, as she put it, they are not asking for anything more than the basics.

“I think it’s ridiculous,” she said. “We’re asking teachers to take pay cuts, we’re asking parents who are stretched really thin… I have friends who get a list of cleaning supplies to bring to schools, and paper to bring to school.”

CBS Philly – September 8, 2014 – Read article online