Members of the Power Interfaith coalition highlighted the steps of West Chester’s historic courthouse with signs of pleading remonstrance this past Thursday, Sept. 30. The specific congregation is just over a week away from their court date as they take a lawsuit all the way to the top of Pennsylvania’s education system.
The Power Interfaith (PIF) coalition is a widespread, faith-based justice organization devoted to mobilizing their members in the legal sphere. They are less of one centralized group and are, in fact, a coalition of over 50 different congregations all working towards their own goals. The current goal for this Chester County based congregation is nothing less than a full lawsuit.
Known specifically as the PA School Funding Lawsuit, the suit challenges the notion that Pennsylvania state governments are required to devote a certain percent of tax dollars equally among PA public schools. According to PIF, the state has failed to comply with these laws and the percent of overall revenue that PA public schools have received from taxes has dropped from 50% in 1973 to 37% today. Per the PIF website, the accusations are on “behalf of six school districts, a group of parents, the Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools (PARSS) and the NAACP Pennsylvania State Conference” in the name of high quality education for all students. Evidently, the Pennsylvania constitution states that the General Assembly must “provide a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth.”, PIF insists that the system in place is in fact “irrational and inequitable” and meets none of the needs of general students adequately.
This was the general tone of the events that took place last Thursday in a demonstration that was publicly described as a Pre-Trial Vigil. PIF’s court date is Nov. 12, and they came out hoping to draw as much attention to the cause as possible. The procession began with one of the cause’s leaders, John Barnett, atop the courthouse steps, acknowledging the many people who came out and the large number of signs all bearing pleas for the PA government to stop the unfair treatment of schools. Barnett, a major contributor to the PIF congregation, then gave way to Rabbi Shelly Goldman. Goldman, a rabbi at the nearby Kesher Israel Congregation, had many heartfelt words to say on just what this cause meant for the area.
“We must make the system more equitable to meet the needs of the children,” said Goldman, whose history with the area includes getting her education in Philadelphia. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” she went on to add, along with a number of quotes from the Torah that highlighted the need for equality and kindness unto others. Many of PIF members concluded the vigil by taking up the signs that previously surrounded Barnett and Goldman’s speaker, and lining High Street for the passing cars to see.
It is unlikely that PIF’s fight for equal funding will cease regardless of the Nov. 12 trial result. During the Vigil, John Barnett outlined the future of activities for the dozens of people who came out to support their cause. This includes more demonstrations, this time on the steps of the Pennsylvania capitol in Harrisburg every Wednesday in Dec. in what PIF are calling Way Overdue Wednesdays, in an attempt to increase knowledge of the issue on a much more national level.
There is no doubt that schools need help. The COVID-19 pandemic truly brought to light just how ill prepared public schools can be in times of dire need. As with any grassroots legal case, the process can be long and drawn out, but it is the hopes of Power Interfaith, and likely the many people who struggle with poor funding for education daily, that this momentum — and this lawsuit — make a difference.
Matthew Shimkonis
Matthew Shimkonis is a third-year History Major.