A graphic account of South Philly violence
by Paul Socolar on Feb 24 2010 Posted in Latest news
A retired federal judge's report, released on Tuesday, provides a lurid and troubling, almost blow-by-blow account of the violent attacks on Asian students at South Philadelphia High school on December 3.
The outside investigation by James T. Giles, now of the law firm Pepper Hamilton, was commissioned by the District. His report focuses on a series of violent incidents in and outside the school last December 2 and December 3, but did not attempt to examine the troubled history of Asian and immigrant students at the school prior to these incidents. Nor does it draw a conclusion about which of several versions of the events of December 2 is accurate.
The 37-page report (Click here to download the report in smaller sections.), which concludes with 15 recommendations for the school, was formally presented on Tuesday by Giles, joined by Superintendent Arlene Ackerman, who called on all parties to "move forward."
Some highlights from the report:
- The preface listed 10 opinions drawn from the investigation. Some opinions are:
- The events on Dec. 3 were "probably triggered" by events on Dec. 2.
- "Race and/or ethnicity were contributing factors to some degree...There is, however, insufficient evidence to conclude that Asian students were attacked based solely on their immigrant status."
- "Further investigation is needed...to try to discover the real motivations for actions that set off the incidents on Dec. 3"
- The report went into detail on events from Dec. 2 and Dec 3.
- On Dec. 2 there were altercations during school hours and after school dismissal.
- On Dec. 3 the events during school were broken down into the
- morning,
- Principal Brown's efforts to secure the school,
- a "rush" onto the 2nd floor,
- attacks in the lunchroom,
- no evidence that cafeteria workers cheered on the attacks,
- confusion about early dismissal and dismissal strategy.
- The events after school on Dec. 3 were also detailed.
Here is the entire PDF broken into smaller sections: Preface, events of Dec. 2, events of Dec. 3, balance of the report, and recommendations.
More on reactions to the report to come. Readers' reactions are welcome.
Comments (4)
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 02/24/2010 - 17:36.
I want to know how much this non-report cost us? Did my tax dollars actually go to pay for this? Are the staff and students at SPHS satisfied with this report and its conclusions? And after 3 months, why is one of the recommendations "further investigation to find real motivations"...what was the judge doing for the last 3 months?!?
Submitted by enraged staffer (not verified) on Wed, 02/24/2010 - 21:49.
This is a typical response by the queen- the total misdirection every time black students are implicated at south philly or the principal is implicated at south philly. We want to look forward because you have totally bungled things.
the report the staffers got was comical in the fact that the principals culpability was eradicated from the rreport like a CIA redacted report.
We will not stop pushing on this until justice has been served.
Submitted by Southern_Teacher (not verified) on Fri, 02/26/2010 - 20:00.
This report contains several falsehoods about the choices Lagreta Brown made that day, and Arlene Ackerman is either a fool for believing it or complicit in the coverup. The staff at South Philadelphia High School wants to know why Lagreta Brown has not been fired yet. The entire staff can't stand having her in the building. No one respects her and we're all waiting for the district to do the right thing, which is to fire her so that more students can't be hurt. Everything that was said about her in Atlantic City is true. There is something seriously wrong with the way she behaves around people and the way she treats people. The students have seen the articles about her history and want to know why she's allowed to be their principal.We all deserve better.
Submitted by Annonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/27/2010 - 10:27.
Thank you for your post. I'm not at South Philly High but I read the report. It reads "too convenient" to vindicate all of the adults and especially the principal. In this account, the principal is "the hero." It is as if Ackerman ensured that only those who would collaborate with the "official line" were interviewed. Hopefully, the law suit will reveal more truths.
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