Schoolmen’s Club of Philadelphia

As we quickly wind down the year 2022, I thought long and hard about what I wanted my final columns of the year 2022 to be about.
Of course, in my last column of the year, I am reserving for a Year End Review like I traditionally would do. But for today, I wanted to leave our SCOOP readers on a positive note, so I’m shining the spotlight on an organization that observed its 120th anniversary in December of this year. The organization I’m referring to is the Schoolman’s Club of Philadelphia. They honored a number of people recently during their annual awards banquet. One of the honorees is one of my favorite people in the city, Dr. Robin Cooper, President of Teamsters Local 502, CASA. I’ll get back to Dr. Robin shortly. But first, let me tell you some information about the Schoolmen’s Club of Philadelphia, a group I only just recently learned about, even though they’ve been around for more than a century.
The Schoolmen’s Club’s mission is “to promote the social and professional aspects of educational life in the City of Philadelphia and to aid in the betterment of educational conditions.” From its debut, the Schoolmen’s Club members and their accomplishments have proven noteworthy in the enhancement of public education in Philadelphia. The Clubs’ beginnings and the resultant paradigm shift were fundamental to the improvement in the delivery of public education in the city and beyond.
Founded in 1902, the Schoolmen’s Club is now a 120-year-old professional and fraternal organization of educators from the School District of Philadelphia and related areas. At the turn of the century, there was no consistent program designed to induct principals and teachers into their roles or to improve their leadership, management, or teaching skills–once they were appointed. The Schoolmen’s Club filled that void and has a rich history of service to educators and children.
The Club’s earliest beginnings were initiated by a deep concern for reform. The Club began with a nucleus of courageous Philadelphia educators in the midst of a movement of radical change. In 1905, the Club applied for its official charter, which was granted in September 1909 and incorporated as the Schoolmen’s Club of Philadelphia.
Much has transpired during the past ten decades, reflected in the 25th, 50th, 75th, 100th, and 120th Anniversary Programs, each of which– accentuated both professional development and social activities developed during the preceding quarter century.
Today, the Club proudly sponsors seminars and workshops for aspiring administrators. Engaging in outreach, the Club members organize study groups of educators to examine educational trends and developments within the context of the School District and the country. The fall and spring programs feature top political, government, and educational officials outlining their positions on education and then engaging in dialogue with members.
Integral to Schoolmen’s Club are the networking opportunities that have been continually afforded the membership to meet with others at all levels of the School District of Philadelphia in social settings that promote a spirit of camaraderie free from the constraints of their respective missions in the workday world. The Schoolmen’s Club has become the “Gold Standard” for educators aspiring for promotion in the School District. Today’s Schoolmen identify with the founders of the organization. According to the current President Stefan Eberhardt, “We face new challenges and crisis in public education. Like our founders, we too are called to “light the way” with honor, courage, and commitment.”
She also said, “Our mission is to promote the social and professional aspects of educational life in Philadelphia. It’s also about the betterment of educational conditions; and that’s been ongoing since 1902. We’re always looking for ways to better serve (not only students) but staff, parents, and the community to better help our children to become great people. We are probably the oldest educational organization in the city of Philadelphia. The 2022 Schoolmen’s awardees were: Dr. Robin Cooper, President of Teamsters Local 502 (CASA), Richard Gordon, a school principal, and Safiya Elliotte. A teacher at Hamilton-Disston Elementary School, and Christy Chen, another educator. Additionally, we honored 11 Presidents of eleven education organizations in the City of Philadelphia. That group included the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, the PFT, the Black Women’s Education Alliance, Asian American Educators, B’nai B’rith, CASA, CASA Retirees’ Chapter, Columbus Forum, Phi Delta Kappa, PPSREA, Schoolmen’s Club and the PA Association of Hispanic School Administrators.”
The interesting part of the Schoolmen’s story is that it was founded as an organization for only male teachers. Can you imagine they didn’t allow women educators into their Club until 1995? Stephan Eberhardt is the first African American female President of the organization, and she’s held the position of President of this body longer than anyone else in the history of the organization before her.
Dr. Robin Cooper explained why the Schoolmen’s Club of Philadelphia is still important in the 21st Century. Dr. Cooper commented, “I think we need the education groups out here to keep education honest. I think it helps us to keep education thriving and to keep education on what’s important, and that’s the children. We need groups that are going to want the best out of educators. The Schoolmen’s Club of Philadelphia helps teachers study for tests and exams. They offer work on professional development and things of that nature. They help teachers to be successful in the city of Philadelphia. I feel honored to be one of the award recipients at the Schoolmen’s Club event they held recently at the Sheet Metal Workers Union Hall. It’s an educators group that’s been around for 120 years. It’s a well-known organization within the School district of Philadelphia. I feel absolutely honored.
“I was actually in shock when I learned I was one of the award recipients from the Schoolmen’s Club of Philadelphia,” said Safiya Elliotte, a teacher at Hamilton-Disston Elementary School in the far Northeast. She added, “I’ve been a part of the Schoolmen’s Club for about six or seven years. I know the criteria to be considered and honored. I’m not saying that I’m not worthy. However, there are so many talented educators in the School District of Philadelphia who put up a lot of effort to provide a safe educational environment for our students in Philadelphia, so I was truly honored. I’ve been an educator for nine years.”
I say congratulations to all educators in Philadelphia who are doing the job of being teachers of our children, who really love teaching and are committed to making certain that our children learn while in school. It’s no easy task, and if I were a person in charge of making decisions about who should be paid a fat salary, law enforcement officials and school teachers would be at the top of my list.