West students walk out
by thenotebook on Feb 11 2011 Posted in Latest news
D'atwan Nelson (far right) and other West Philadelphia students talk to the press after Friday's walkout.
by Celeste Lavin and Raquel Ronzone
[Updated, 8:30 p.m.] As many as 100 students at West Philadelphia High School walked out of their classrooms at about 1 p.m. Friday. Borrowing a tactic from the long history of student activism, students say they organized a walkout as a statement to the District about their disappointment and concern with the ongoing reforms at the school.
Junior D'atwan Nelson, an organizer of the event, said students' voices were being ignored at the school.
Students chanted, "No education, no life."
Students and staff have both expressed frustration at the constant changes at their school and their perceived inability to speak out without facing negative consequences.
The walkout comes after months of tension between the school community and the District. The District is moving forward with plans to convert West into a "Traditional" Promise Academy. Students said that with West's history of high staff turnover, the Promise Academy model's requirement that no more than 50 percent of teachers can be rehired would once again throw the school into upheaval.
But the constant churn of faculty was not the only problem students took issue with. Their list of demands distributed to the media said that no student should get arrested for "minor infractions" and that staff should respect the students' property.
Students who walked out complained that they are required to take off their coats in school, even when the building's heat is off, that their cell phones are taken away without any guarantee that they will be returned, and that they have gender-segregated lunches.
"I'm not in jail. I come here to learn," said student Muhamed Tall.
At the start of the protest, about 40 students walked out onto the Walnut Street side of the school and others walked out onto the 48th Street side. School security came out of the building, and some students ran back inside. That made some of the students remaining outside frustrated at their classmates.
"If you don't stand up for something, you gonna fall for anything," said senior Courtney Comer.
One parent joined the students in solidarity. "She called me, she's like, 'Mom, we're having a walkout,'" said Consuela Harper, mother of Cinquire Dalton, a senior at West who was transferred from Mastery Charter this year.
"Every day she comes home, and it's always something about the school, so I can pretty much understand" why they walked out, she said. "I think it's great, actually."
The protesters spoke to one another and the press about what they described as prison-like conditions at their school, and pointed to police cars arriving at the scene to prove their point. They walked across the street from the school when the police came.
Students emphasized that their action was a peaceful one, and Nelson referenced Mahatma Gandhi's concept of Satyagraha, the philosophy of nonviolent resistance.
A student teacher leaving the building said that the administration knew the walkout was happening and "went on the loudspeaker and said, 'We expect you to stay in school.'"
Nelson was confident that the students would eventually be heard.
"The next [walkout] may be tomorrow, or Monday, or maybe three months from now. But one day, it's gonna happen again. And next time, the whole school is gonna be out."
Here is a list of demands distributed by the students:
We students at West Philadelphia High School want an EDUCATION NOT INCARCERATION. We’re tired of sitting around and watching teachers get fired and students being arrested. We have three demands:
NO STUDENTS GET ARRESTED FOR MINOR INFRACTIONS. This week a student got arrested for wearing a sweater. That’s one of many arrests, suspensions and expulsions over minor rule violations. That takes away from their education and it’s not helping anyone go to college and have careers.
NO MORE TEACHERS FIRINGS. 40% of the teachers changed from last year to this year. With the Renaissance initiative, 50% will be changed between now and last year. That’s a lot of change over two years. We want stability and want to build relationships with our teachers. We saw the chaos from the beginning of the year with staff changes. Why would we do that again?
RESPECT OUR PROPERTY. We trust staff with our personal property. We give them very valuable property we need. But the lack of attention and respect disrupts our day and takes away from our learning experience.
We want the following things to happen:
- We want teen court back and a better process of handling minor rule violations, like uniform, truancy and electronics violations.
- We want to have the teachers we have now to be our teachers next year.
- We want a better process around protecting property and a guarantee that items we give to staff are returned to us.
Comments (37)
Submitted by Ron Whitehorne on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 17:36.
Right On to these young people who refuse to be passive victims of these "reforms". We need to support their protest and follow their example.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/14/2011 - 17:55.
There's a reason why I like you Ron. I don't agree with you all of the time but you hit the nail on the head on this one. It's good to see young men and women take a stand. Speaking of that, I pray and hope Jerry Jordan and the PFT do the same thing because it looks ugly ahead.
Submitted by Teacher (K.R. Luebbert) (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 17:53.
Good for the West students. They are putting democratic principals into action!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 17:56.
INCREDIBLE! :)
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 18:11.
This is an excellent example of what needs to happen! Stand up for your education, students! If your voice can't be heard, your actions surely will be!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 18:33.
What is this business of staff not returning students' personal belongings? I haven't heard about this. Are they talking about cell phones?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 19:33.
Yes
Submitted by Ms. Chips (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 19:51.
How can we support this brave community?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 23:31.
You can help by first partnering with the students and parents who want their voices to be heard. Then, you can tell other concerned community members the demands. Finally, you can join the SAC.
~Peace&Hotep
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 14:57.
I am worried that these students (especially the ones who spoke to the press) are going to be targeted for retribution by Chapman and Ackerman. I hope that adults of good conscience at West and at 440 will stand with these students and do their best to make sure these kids aren't unfairly targeted for suspensions, expulsions, arrests or harassment. These kids spoke up for their human rights, the rights of students, and even on behalf of their teachers jobs. West teachers and staff need to step up and be allies to these students-- don't hang them out to dry.
Submitted by Ms. Chips (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 15:11.
Exactly. Chapman has not shown any mercy with discipline in the past. And last year's faculty certainly tried to advocate for the kids, the school & themselves, with a notable lack of success. I keep thinking how the South Philadelphia students were treated when they stood up to demand their rights.
Submitted by Former West teacher (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 19:54.
Well done West students!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 21:03.
The Inquirer reported that only 30 walked out. "Hi, it's Arlene. Please report that 30 students walked out, not the larger number previously reported by a real news operation. Oh, and thanks for leaving the city council meeting when we told you to."
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 00:14.
riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. where did you get your tin foil hat?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 21:45.
all the kids at all the schools need to do a walkout
Submitted by Veteran of WPHS "Renaissance" (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 01:57.
Despite accepting students onto the School Advisory Committee last year, Ackerman later denied them a voice on the SAC -- arguing that they were too young to participate and needed to heed the adults who are wiser. Well, clearly the adults are NOT wiser. And we are certainly not more courageous. I've said this before when West students spoke to the SRC about the situation at West in the fall, and I'll say it again, I am in awe of these students.
Submitted by Ron Whitehorne on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 08:49.
How about the comment of the School District spokesperson who was quoted on KYW as saying: "These people are just students...They don't have all the data we have." Yeah, no data. They just have to go to school every day.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 11:18.
The Inquirer reports that the Principal will meet with the students and remind them that their "education" (as if that is what scripted curricula are) is more important than their frustration. Principal Chapman, the same "educator" that reportedly called a vocal student a "domestic terrorist".
It is amazing that the Ackerman's, Nunnery's, Kemp's, Nixon's and Silverman's have such utter contempt for the students, families and communities. They lie, spread misinformation, all out of fear of Ackerman, and maybe a desire from some small degree of power.
Is there a way that concerned educators, students and citizens can organize and march on 440? Is the Notebook able to be the central organizer, suggesting a school day and a time that would afford maximum attendance?
Our paid public officials need to be called out and the real story needs to emerge, particularly since the establishment media only reports what Ackerman tells them.
Submitted by Philly HS Teacher (not verified) on Sun, 02/13/2011 - 09:44.
Students in South Philly and now West Philly have had the courage to stand up to Ackerman and the SRC. I hope on Monday when the West students are forced to meet with Chapman (principal with no principles), a cadre of parents and other community members are there to support them. (I'm not suggesting teachers because knowing Champman's and Ackerman's petty wrath, they will be treated like dirt, lied about and driven from their jobs.)
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 09:40.
I am very proud of these kids! Keep it up, and keep it peaceful!! You deserve to be heard!!!
Submitted by A Chomentowski (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 10:56.
walkout students probably do not want to have any rules about anything. come late leave early. ANARCHISTS.
Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 11:02.
How about reading the article before you make an ignorant comment if you want to know what the walkout students want.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 11:08.
West has a long history of strong students who stand up for their human rights dating back to the walkouts and the black student union of the 70s. These students are standing on the shoulders of their ancestors!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 11:41.
I believe it dates back even before that, when the school was a primarily immigrant and Jewish high school and the students made a stand in the 1930's to remove a teacher who had attended a Nazi meeting.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 11:53.
Nice!!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 14:51.
I am proud of these students for acting on their convictions. Their list of demands is something that we should all support. This demand especially stood out to me:
"NO STUDENTS GET ARRESTED FOR MINOR INFRACTIONS. This week a student got arrested for wearing a sweater."
Students getting arrested for wearing sweaters? Students who can't wear their coats even when the heat is off? What kind of a society treats their children this way!
Submitted by Meg (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 15:33.
better question - Why are the students in a building with the heat off? It is winter !
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 16:49.
Lack of heat is common in many of the bigger, older buildings. I know of a young teacher who was written up by a now-high-ranking district official for allowing kids to wear coats in a heatless building. Why? Violation of the uniform policy. Jonathan Kozol called this Savage Inequalities.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 18:50.
I worked in a building where either it was freezing in the winter or it was sweltering, we couldn't control the heat and the windows wouldn't open. How can teaching and learning take place in those conditions?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 22:14.
How can the district continue to justify it's actions when the students are saying enough is enough? This constant upheaval is a true crime. SDP please quit using these students, teachers, and administrators as tools to further your agenda. To the students who marched, Keep Going! I pray that your voices are heard.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 22:33.
Wake up Philadelphia!!! Support the students at West!! Be there next week with them. Cruz and the teachers spent the last two years building up a stable and strong high school. This year all that work has gone down the drain. Whose to blame??? Who transfered Cruz out when things were so good???
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/13/2011 - 19:06.
This school is a complete mess and these students want that to change. Bravo to them, I can only hope it does an ounce of good.
Submitted by 1nine (not verified) on Tue, 02/15/2011 - 10:36.
I think it is good that students at West care enough about their school to risk disciplinary action for speaking their opinions. However, I think it would be more effective if their list of demands distinguished between the things they are entitled to based upon a foundational standard for a U.S. high school and the demands that are above and beyond (or creative new concepts) that may be good ideas, but are not necessarily requirements for an education at all places. For example, teacher turnover would be a problem anywhere. However, are the disciplinary actions for the minor infractions confirmed to be above and beyond that which is done at other schools in the city or in the state? Is teen court a common thing in high schools these days? Anything above and beyond the norm doesn't need to be removed, but rather it should include additional clarification as to why these things are necessary specifically for the West context. Mixing the two kinds of demands will confuse the state/city public which seems to be the audience the students are seeking to address.
Submitted by 1nine (not verified) on Tue, 02/15/2011 - 10:51.
My brother went to a suburban school and got suspended for accidentally making a certain design out of paper clips. I also remember some students in my suburban school receiving detention (maybe also suspension) for certain kinds of T shirts that they wore. I think the issues surrounding clothing (and now cell phones/etc.) is not a new one and mentioning it with the more legitimate problems at West only waters down the case that is trying to be made.
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