Category: education

bookmark_borderLeon Theremin’s Secret Weapon

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A special exhibit at the Franklin Institute:

Saturday, June 29 – 1:30PM
Free with Museum Admission

How did a troop of Russian Boy Scouts become involved in a famous international spying incident?

What Russian spy invented a one-of-a-kind musical instrument, and what amazing thing does his instrument do?

Who was the American spy that was shot down over Soviet air space, and what was his connection to all this?

Find out in LEON THEREMIN’S SECRET WEAPON, hosted by Andrew Baron.

The presentation will include an introduction to Theremin’s secret activities in the early years of the Cold War and feature a live demonstration of The Franklin Institute’s own historic Theremin instrument. The presentation will conclude with a rare opportunity for volunteers from the audience to try their hand at playing, and responses to questions from the audience as time allows.

Andrew Baron is an historian and restorer of Theremin’s rare original instruments, and has conducted research and repairs on The Franklin Institute’s original 1929 Theremin, and Clara Rockmore’s RCA Theremin at the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Phoenix, Arizona. He is the co-host of the educational website RCATheremin.com, with his colleague Mike Buffington.

bookmark_borderSchool District Layoffs

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Mayor Michael A. Nutter issued the following statement in response to the announcement by the Philadelphia School District to lay off 3,783 teachers and support staff:

For months, the School District has been open and honest about the impact that its $304 million budget shortfall would have on District students and employees and the quality of education that it would be able to provide.  Today is the reality of that disastrous, bare-bones budget.

The layoffs of the 3,783 teachers and school support staff is devastating not only to those individuals who will lose their jobs but to the thousands of students and parents and the school communities that will suffer because of these regrettable personnel reductions and other budgetary cuts

This has been an exceptionally difficult process for Dr. Hite, the School District leadership and the School Reform Commission.  No one wants to close schools, lay off teachers or staff but the current leadership is determined to make the District’s fiscal health, immediate and long-term, a top priority.

To help the children of this City, there has to be a real commitment from the Commonwealth, City and the unions to find critical funding for Philadelphia public education.  I have proposed a revenue package that would provide the District with $95 million in vital funding.  Now, we need action in Harrisburg and City Council to pass that legislation.  We need Harrisburg to do its share and support the School District.  And, we need the education unions to accept critical economic and work rule changes.