Philadelphia school violence is unacceptably high, state report says
May 14, 2008 12:05 PM
Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak says violence in
Philadelphia schools is unacceptably high, and the school district needs
to take immediate aggressive steps to stem the rising tide. Zahorchak has
issued a report that says the number of criminal offenders--more than 5,207
fifth through 12th graders last school year--and the nature of the violence
raise "real concerns about whether all schools provide the kind of environment
necessary to ensure safety and promote student achievement." The report was
written in response to a document prepared by state safe-schools advocate Jack
Stollsteimer.
Click here to read
The Philadelphia Inquirer article.
A report by the safe-schools advocate in the Philadelphia district
says the city's public schools are unsafe places where students who commit
violent crimes are rarely punished and rehabilitated and with a disciplinary
system that is "dysfunctional and unjust." School crime, the report says, has
been historically underreported, victims do not receive proper rights, and the
increasing violence against teachers and employees is not taken seriously.
Click here to read
The Philadelphia Inquirer article.
