Germantown High School Attack - A Sign of The Violent Times
What a shame. A teacher is attacked at Germantown High School. But for every incident that doesn’t make headlines, there are scores more of threats and attacks that make many area schools scary places to be.
The attack on veteran teacher Frank Burd at Germantown High was all to reminicsent of incidents over the years. including the shooting death of a teacher at the Leeds school in the early seventies.
In this week’s case, the teacher suffered two broken bones in his neck because he dared to take away an electronic device from a student. That student and another, ages 15 and 17, waited until the class was over to viciously attack the teacher.
Are you surprised by this? You shouldn’t be. This episode happened in a school located in a city where the top leadership has still not prioritized the war against crime. Lawlessness has taken a dramatic turn in the last several years, not only in Philadelphia, but across the nation. Crime is now a fabric of everyday life in schools in the city, and the suburbs.
I have never been able to figure out how teachers put up with this problem, and why they do not demand the respect and protection they deserve they deserve.
It is such an irony. In Iraq we are trying to end so much strife that prevents children from even going to school. Here in America, some of our children who are free to come and go, view school as a playground for crime.
Our wishes and prayers are offered to the teacher and his family.
Our hope is that severe penalties, under the law, may deter other students from invalidating their education by engaging in the worst forms of human conduct.
Larry,
Unless the School District & the city decide to appoint more discipline schools at all levels and grades, incidents like this are going to continue. I submit that if it were not for the severity of this dedicated teachers’ injury we would not even be aware of this incident. I imagine that these type of incidents are an every day occurrence in the Public School System here in our city. The only time the press is involved is when the injury is too severe for even the experienced school district to cover up. Regardless of what Mr. Vallas and other district spokespersons tell us, cover-up they do. What principal wants their school publicly humiliated if they can avoid it? Common sense tells us that a student wanting to succeed will have a better chance in a school with an academic atmosphere and not a tense powder keg. The fact that Mr. Vallas was quoted as saying that the district was in the process of expelling these two individuals prior to Friday’s incident is telling in and of itself. If the law must be changed then let’s change it. It is grossly unfair to the student body of our public schools that they are forced to be in an enviroment geared toward anger and violence. Additional discipline schools would help the student who is attending a standard public school wanting to learn. Hopefully, the disruptive dicipline problems won’t be in the same school with them. They will be elsewhere. My sense is that other “educators” have come to this same conclusion but due to political correctness and union issues they will never admit it. The public school system in our city is a flat out disgrace. Don’t just take my word for it. See where the children of the members of the school board and the children of the PFT board members attend school. Look at where our city council members (past and present)send their school age children to school. How about our mayors? I can tell you these VIP’s are not sending their children to Germantown High or Olney High or any other typical standard city public school. I’m not talking about Central or Girls High but the every day standard schools (ie. Southern, Northeast, Lincoln, Simon Gratz, Fels) that we expect all of our citizens to send their children to. I find it curious that no one in the media ever inquire about that. Then again, where do the members of the media send their children to school. My guess it is not to a school in the Philadelphia public school system.
Pete: The fact is that two generations of children in Phila. have been left behind by a neglected (until recently) school district. It irritates that no one gives a darn expect unsung hero teachers like the one who took the hit at Germantown.
Larry
Larry,
Very well written - I applaud you! I heartily agree with you on all points.
I especially liked your comparison to the children in Iraq. I have always felt strongly that our country should take care of our poor children before taking care of others. So many children are homeless, starving, without medical care, etc. I believe that parents are spoiling their kids and letting them get away with way too much. I see it all around me. Children need boundaries and strong, supportive parenting. Wake up, parents! I am sure most parents will not like what I just said. Phila School District is still not up to speed in many aspects. Mayor Street should get his act together and make this happen. I hope and pray that Phila schools will improve. I grew up in Philly and still work there. I pass school children going to my job in NE Philly - there are 3 schools located by my work area. They actually frighten me when I am waiting for the bus. They are very intimidating. Sigh…….
The only thing that troubles me about your column is the use of the term “war against crime”. It smacks too much of the “war on terror”. We fight wars regrettably, reluctantly (hopefully), only when we are threatened (hopefully) by a military foe. I wish we would stop turning every struggle into a “war”, thus inviting militaristic language and tactics. Why not “efforts” against crime, solution to crime, resistance to crime, work to reduce and eventually eliminate crime, focus on crime…..
Ann: Good point about word usage, but when things like this happen in our public institutions, it is a terror battle. Terror has many different looks and when a respected teacher has to work in fear of his life — that is terror.
Ann, Thanks for writing.
Larry.
Reply to Linda:
The situation in the Philadelphia public schools over the last 40 years is shameful. With charter schools and under Vallas’ changes, there are some bright spots. But crime is a terrible crisis in Philadelphia. There so so much that is so good about our area, but crime is like an ink blot that erases all the hope.
We need a “surge” in police manpower and we need it now.
Thanks for taking the time.
Larry
I definately agree that something needs to be done to handle the violence in Philadelphia. I read a report yesterday stating that in comparison to last year, the death toll is 20% higher! BUT (and it is a big but)we have to look at the homes that the children who are committing the violent crimes are coming from. Propose the city comes up with a great plan to handle the violence in schools, unless the plan covers all aspects of these kids’ social environments, I feel that it may be sadly useless.
I was speaking with a chief of police recently about this issue, and there is word that they are thinking of implementing a new plan. This plan will “break the cycle” that yougn children are getting into by clearing their records after a certain amount of time. This may be the “surge” we need Larry…
i wonder what the home life of these children is like.without the proper guidence at home these children and others like them will be lost.parents need to be held responsible along with the youth for this type of behavior.perhaps DHS should be evaluating the home life of these people and doing something about it.as a child i went to catholic school,if i did something wrong i got my butt kicked,and when i went home and told my parents they kicked my butt,and then my grandmother would come over and do the same thing.kids need direction from responsible adults i personaly do not use coporal punishment on my children but they were brought up properly,and have respect for people.if you ask me there is alot of problems with the public school system in this city,not because of lack of funds but because of the fear of offending irresponsible parents.
I honestly agree with everyone that has commented on your site; however, I believe that each and every one of us should be held accountable. Yes, that is a hard pill to swallow, but if it really does take a village to raise a child the world would be a totally different place. Yes, some of these children come from neglectful homes, but what about those who’s parents have just lost control of their children to the streets. These children are seeking a certain sense of respect that some do not or may never understand. To grow up in the inner city is difficult, it’s a place where crime and a street mentality rule. Sadly, it is not easy to over come without strong positive role models that they can relate to. How many can stand up to say they helped instead of standing up to point fingers.
Good points, all of them, but in the meantime we need to protect teachers and students.
Thank You