by KYW's vice president and general manager David Yadgaroff

The Philadelphia School District is taking the frugal step of laying off some of the teachers' aides who provide a second pair of adult eyes in a classroom and who work with children who need some extra attention.

So, it’s time to bring in more grannies.

In case you hadn’t heard, Philadelphia -- along with Montgomery, Delaware, Berks, and Camden counties -- has already had years of success with the federally funded "Foster Grandparents" program. It places low-income seniors in classrooms to help with special-needs children. The cost to the schools is minimal.

The children relate to the grannies, who have a calming influence and who provide teachers with valuable insights into a child’s attitude, family situation, and unique problems. After all, they live in the community and already know many of the kids and their parents.

In the case of grannies as classroom aides, it’s a matter of little money and more volunteers. The children benefit, the grannies gain a rewarding experience, and teachers gain a priceless helping hand.

To submit a comment or reply to this editorial, send an e-mail to yadgaroff@KYW.com.