Education

Take Note

June 09, 2004 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Cosby Show

The entertainer Bill Cosby is coming back to television—as the producer of educational programs for the Philadelphia public schools.

Mr. Cosby and the city’s School Reform Commission, which runs the district, have formed a partnership to provide the programs on the district’s cable television station, PSTV, Channel 52.

“He is a warm, caring, very smart, passionate man, and he has an insight for change and implementation,” said Cameron Kline, a spokesman for the school district.

Mr. Cosby, 66, grew up in the city and graduated from Central High School. He received a doctorate in education from the University of Massachusetts.

Long known for his philanthropy in the African-American community, Mr. Cosby on May 17 received an award at the NAACP’s celebration in Washington of the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Cosby told the audience that “the lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal,” and he criticized some African-Americans for not helping themselves and not actively raising their children. His remarks caused an uproar that has since played out on newspaper editorial pages and elsewhere.

“We would never suggest that any race or class has a monopoly on poor parenting, nor do I believe that this is what Dr. Cosby meant,” said Cecilia Cummings, the executive director of communication services for the Philadelphia schools. “But we have high standards for parents’ involvement in their children’s education.”

The district and Mr. Cosby plan to produce four programs:

  • “Bill Cosby Homework Club” will try to motivate students to study and commit themselves to the academic process.
  • In “Test Preparation,” the entertainer will record insightful and humorous comments on the process of test-taking.
  • “Real Life TV” will explore issues such as school violence, learning differences, homework, and health matters, told through real-life experiences of Philadelphia students, teachers, and families.
  • “Community Histories” will aim to inspire Philadelphia students to gather information on the histories of their communities in a city known for its neighborhoods.

—Tal Barak

A version of this article appeared in the June 09, 2004 edition of Education Week

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Equity & Diversity Webinar
Classroom Strategies for Building Equity and Student Confidence
Shape equity, confidence, and success for your middle school students. Join the discussion and Q&A for proven strategies.
Content provided by Project Lead The Way
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Disrupting PD Day in Schools with Continuous Professional Learning Experiences
Hear how this NC School District achieved district-wide change by shifting from traditional PD days to year-long professional learning cycles
Content provided by BetterLesson
Jobs Virtual Career Fair for Teachers and K-12 Staff
Find teaching jobs and other jobs in K-12 education at the EdWeek Top School Jobs virtual career fair.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Briefly Stated: March 15, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: March 8, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: February 22, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read
Education Briefly Stated: February 8, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
6 min read