Associated Press is running an article, “Philly school rekindles same-sex education debate” which describes Boy Latin, one of four single-sex schools in the Philadelphia School District.
Because it’s a single-sex public school – one of four in the city– Boys’ Latin faced huge opposition and almost didn’t exist.
Critics contend it’s unfair for taxpayers to fund a prep school curriculum for boys only. Supporters say Boys’ Latin is desperately needed in a city where 45 percent of students drop out and male academic achievement badly lags that of females.
“Obviously something had to be done differently to engage these young men and prepare them for graduation, and for success beyond high school graduation,” said David Hardy, Boys’ Latin co-founder and acting principal.
We cite the article here because Hardy practiced the fine art of standup comedy before founding Boys Latin. Performing under the name of David P. Hardy, he was, throughout most of the ’80s and part of the ’90s, familiar to Philly (and east coast) audiences as a witty, soft-spoken and immensely likable comedian by night and was a teacher and family man by day.
Check out Boys’ Latin’s website here.
Hardy is pictured below (with the Female Half of the Staff) at the November ’06 Paul F. Tompkins Philly Comics Reunion.
