Inside One of the Country's Most Dangerous Schools

[redheadbaker]

Anybody else see this on ABC World News? It looks like they're doing a series. The school they are at is less than 3 miles from my apartment. 

The story made me cry. Especially when S.O. turned to me and commented (tongue in cheek), "But it's all about choices. They just made bad choices." 

And this school isn't an anomaly in Philadelphia, and I'm sure not in the country, either. 

abcnews.go.com/US/inside-countrys-dangerous-schools-fights-threats-hope/story?id=19189073#.UafWkEA4vDY

School police officers at Strawberry Mansion High School in Philadelphia begin every morning with a prayer.

"We must save the children," one of them said, head bowed.

The officers then take their posts to watch for razor blades in tin foil, knives in backpacks and Vaseline on students' faces, which is used to prevent scratches during fights. As the students enter the building, they have to file through metal detectors, some even emptying their pockets before being cleared to go to class.

"This is a dangerous school," said 15-year-old Julissa. "A lot of fights pop off over nothing, so you got to be safe."

Strawberry Mansion High, where 94 security cameras line the halls, had 435 students at the beginning of this school year. Located in a poor neighborhood with a high crime rate, Strawberry Mansion has been on the state of Pennsylvania's "Persistently Dangerous Schools" list for the past five years.

ABC News' Diane Sawyer and ABC News producers followed the daily lives of the school's students and faculty during the 2012-2013 school year. So far this school year, there have been 49 incidents from fires to teacher attacks reported in or near the school. ABC News' cameras captured students brawling in the cafeteria and being bullied, as well as students who shared their dreams of going to college.

Last year, Strawberry Mansion was among 37 Philadelphia schools that were scheduled to close this June. The city is in the midst of fighting an education budget crisis.

The current principal is Linda Cliatt-Wayman -- the fourth the high school has had in four years. Before coming to Strawberry Mansion, she was an assistant superintendent of high schools for the Philadelphia public school system. Since she started last fall, the number of incidents has been cut in half.

"I could not find a principal who was suitable to handle this school," Cliatt-Wayman said. "Therefore, I said to myself, because I love these students dearly and I knew the community ... I would just volunteer to be the principal."

Philadelphia School District Superintendent William Hite said finding strong leadership for Strawberry Mansion has been the "primary factor" in starting the school's turnaround.

"The type of persona, if you will, who establishes a clear vision for what appropriate behavior looks like, for what rigorous instruction looks like, for expectations, that students are exposed to opportunities," Hite said. "If turnaround can happen here, at Strawberry Mansion, it can happen anywhere in the country."

In her effort to protect the student body, Cliatt-Wayman banned boots, which can be used to stomp on heads, and hoodies so students can't hide from security cameras.

"Each day, it gets scarier," Cliatt-Wayman said. "[The student] just said to me, 'I have a bullet with your name on it.' That's what it was. And I know that guns are really accessible in this neighborhood, so I don't think it's unreasonable that he can get his hand on a gun and shoot me."

But for every student that causes trouble, there are many more who just want to learn. Razzaq, a freshman at Strawberry Mansion, shows up to school even though he shoulders much of the responsibility at home.

Razzaq's favorite subjects at school are chemistry and algebra, and his pride and joy is his Junior ROTC uniform.

When it comes to protecting himself at school, he said, he tries to avoid trouble.

"I use my words," he said. "I don't try to be big. I don't try to be anything."

Another freshman, a small, quiet girl named Malaysia, is also trying hard to make it at Strawberry Mansion.

On parent-teacher conference day, her father came to talk with her algebra teacher. Of the teacher's 70 students, Malaysia's father was the only parent to show up.

"I can't see not wanting to know about your child," said her father, Roosevelt Paramour. "I can't see not wanting to know about their progress and what they are doing."

Paramour works in construction and wants his daughter to have a better life, but there are so many distractions at school. Malaysia said she is bullied a lot. This semester, she was punched in the face after school by another girl.

Judy Williams, the school nurse, treated her busted lip.

""[Strawberry Mansion students] might not have heat, they might not have food, and they're coming to school every day," Williams said. "They see so much in their short period of their lives that most people don't see in a whole lifetime."

Many Strawberry Mansion students struggle with their personal lives. One student, Lorraine, 17, spent two months in a youth detention center last year, for using a blade to slice a girl's face during a fight, but she is trying to get her life back on track and hopes someday to be a nurse.

Another student, Greg, 17, has been in juvenile detention on and off. He said he doesn't believe anything can be done to change the school's violent environment.

"I look at it as you are not going to change people's opinions, you're not going to change any mindset," he said. "They're going to do what they're going to do. ... I just make up my own [rules]. I know the consequences behind my decision."

But many other students said they have big aspirations for college or the armed forces. Others want to work in law enforcement to help make the neighborhood a safer place to live.

"She would point out different things for us along the way so to inspire us to really want more," Cliatt-Wayman said. "My mother said, 'Well, none of us ever been to college, but there must be some truth to it because, I believe, that people who maybe go to college is not poor.'"

Cliatt-Wayman is trying to pass on the lessons of her mother to the students at her school, even helping to pay for kids to go on college trips.

"I always want to afford my students opportunities to see things, to see the world, to let them know there's a life other than North Philadelphia," Cliatt-Wayman said. "These kids are the future, and we have to make sure that they are provided with hope and direction."

Strawberry Mansion is also a school with dedicated teachers, some who have been here for years, others who are brand new. Evan Kramp, the school's new history teacher, said he is not afraid to be at school.

"They're children ... and they're coming to school," Kramp said. "Nobody wakes up in the morning and says to themselves, 'I want to be a failure.'"

Principal Cliatt-Wayman grew up in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood. On Sundays, she said, her mother would take her and her siblings on the free bus to other neighborhoods so they could see a different way of life.

"There's a student, at the top of his class, a straight-A student, and I know he's been through hell this year. He has not had a permanent place to stay," said Terri Campbell, an English teacher. "[But] he has been accepted to college. So I feel like if he could do it, they all can do it."

In a neighborhood where 40 percent of the people live in poverty, Cliatt-Wayman said she hopes all of her students aspire to go to college so they can have a chance at a better life. Of the 92 students in the graduating senior class, 55 have been accepted to a four-year or community college, but some can't afford the deposit fees.

Despite their struggles, the school district superintendent said Strawberry Mansion will continue to push forward.

"It can never be too hard or hopeless," Hite said. "Once we lose hope then we run the risk of losing a whole bunch of children, and losing a whole bunch of lives."

At the end of the school day, Cliatt-Wayman was in her office, making an announcement to the student body over the school's intercom.

"I want you to be careful going home today, young people," she told them. "You all have to remember that education is the only way. It is your only ticket, and remember if nobody told you they loved you today, you remember I do. I look forward to seeing you in school, on time, on Monday. Have a great day when the bell sounds."

"If I had the $550 to go to Philadelphia University, I would go," said Christine, a senior.

[msmerymac]

"I want you to be careful going home today, young people," she told them. "You all have to remember that education is the only way. It is your only ticket, and remember if nobody told you they loved you today, you remember I do. I look forward to seeing you in school, on time, on Monday. Have a great day when the bell sounds."

[Velar Fricative]

May 30, 2013 18:05:52 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

"I want you to be careful going home today, young people," she told them. "You all have to remember that education is the only way. It is your only ticket, and remember if nobody told you they loved you today, you remember I do. I look forward to seeing you in school, on time, on Monday. Have a great day when the bell sounds."

Same here. 

[Deleted]

This is heartbreaking on so many levels...but at least there are teachers, administrators and officers willing to put in the work to try and reach these kids. And that's a huge silver lining.

I love that the principal left her assistant superintendent job to be there for those kids.

[IIOY]

I want to send $550 to Christine. :-(

[sunny]

May 30, 2013 18:05:52 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

"I want you to be careful going home today, young people," she told them. "You all have to remember that education is the only way. It is your only ticket, and remember if nobody told you they loved you today, you remember I do. I look forward to seeing you in school, on time, on Monday. Have a great day when the bell sounds."

totally made me cry

[ttt]

I feel like more standardized tests could solve this problem.

[Deleted]

I place a lot of blame on the parents.

[ttt]

May 30, 2013 23:09:37 GMT -5 @spenjamins said:

I place a lot of blame on the parents.

Well that's helpful.

[Velar Fricative]

Actually, I get what @spenjamins is saying. What makes Roosevelt Paramour (the dad interviewed in the article) different from any other parent of a child at this school? Why was he the only one to show up for parent-teacher conferences? Yes, I'm sure many of the 69 other sets of parents who didn't show up are out busting their ass to put food on the table, etc. But that can't be everyone.

[ttt]

May 31, 2013 10:19:28 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Actually, I get what @spenjamins is saying. What makes Roosevelt Paramour (the dad interviewed in the article) different from any other parent of a child at this school? Why was he the only one to show up for parent-teacher conferences? Yes, I'm sure many of the 69 other sets of parents who didn't show up are out busting their ass to put food on the table, etc. But that can't be everyone.

That's true. But let's say all 69 of those parents are lazy, don't care about their kids' education or future, and just can't be bothered. So now what? Do we just say "sorry kids, your parents suck so I guess you're just going to be doomed to poverty forever"? OK, it's the parents' fault - how does that help solve anything? Unless you (general you) are proposing laws to force parents to care about their kids' education or sterilizing people who are going to be terrible parents, there's not much you can really do about this. So it's not particularly helpful to say "it's the parents' fault, case closed."

ETA: I agree that in many cases, the parents simply do just suck and are to blame. But it's something we have little to no control over, so it makes sense to focus on the things that we *do* have some control over, IMO.

[Velar Fricative]

May 31, 2013 10:26:46 GMT -5 @bunnybean said:

May 31, 2013 10:19:28 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Actually, I get what @spenjamins is saying. What makes Roosevelt Paramour (the dad interviewed in the article) different from any other parent of a child at this school? Why was he the only one to show up for parent-teacher conferences? Yes, I'm sure many of the 69 other sets of parents who didn't show up are out busting their ass to put food on the table, etc. But that can't be everyone.

He may be one of the only ones with a schedule that permits. Teacher conferences are often during people's workdays. If he's a custodian (I think they said?), he may work nights and makes an effort to come in on his off hours. 

I'm sure many do care, but they may have more than one job, no time off, and will get fired if they try to take time off. I know you're not saying this, velar, but it's just not that black and white for most people in these situations. Those who aren't working hard may be addicts. Or abusive. But none of that is because they just plain and simple suck as humans, but it's because they've just lived in poverty forever, and are victims of that. It's gross.

Trust me, this bleeding-heart liberal does understand the cycle of poverty. And as I mentioned, I'm sure many of those 69 sets of parents who didn't show up had legit reasons for not showing up.

I just think the whole thing is heartbreaking and I am angry on behalf of these kids trying to benefit from the education they're receiving without much support beyond teachers and administrators.

[Velar Fricative]

Also, this is why I get so angry when I hear (at least locally, but I'm sure nationally as well) about budget cuts to after-school programs, libraries, etc. because those kinds of programs and institutions can offer even more support for kids and teens who otherwise have little support at home. You know, it takes a village and all that.

[mssallyfield]

I Google Street View'ed that neighborhood... talk about soul crushing. That principal is amazing. We need more people like her out there.

[ttt]

May 31, 2013 10:36:46 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Also, this is why I get so angry when I hear (at least locally, but I'm sure nationally as well) about budget cuts to after-school programs, libraries, etc. because those kinds of programs and institutions can offer even more support for kids and teens who otherwise have little support at home. You know, it takes a village and all that.

And for electives in school too, like the arts. I read (or listened? I feel like maybe it was NPR) a whole series on what makes kids stay in school as opposed to dropping out, and one of the things that kind of surprised me (though I  really don't know why) was that a lot of teenagers may hate school, but they'll go and sit through their other classes because they love art class, or shop class, or computer class. But now so many of these "extras" are being cut and these kids are saying "why bother even showing up?"

[Deleted]

I would agree if you told me that all of those parents were involved at home and took an interest in their kid's education at all. Even half.......

[msmerymac]

As an aside, there's a high school about 2 miles or so from this particular neighborhood in a much nicer neighborhood (but still accessible to the kids here by bus), which is considered one of the best, if not the best, public school in the entire state.

And it's really fucking hard to get into. You can argue that the parents don't care enough to try to get their kids into another school (there are good public high schools in Philly that draw city-wide), but Masterman has kids who went to expensive private schools for 8+ years, had parents who have bought them private tutoring and 8 different summer camps every year, and the parents STILL want their kids to go to Masterman, while 100% able to afford the $40k tuition at Germantown Friends, because it's a really good school. And how can you compete with that kind of thing when you work 2-3 jobs and live with your 3 kids in a 1 bedroom apartment, where it's hard for you kid to have the privacy to do homework, and he needs to work after school anyway to have money for groceries and clothes, or takes care of his siblings after school because you can't afford other care?

I have no doubt that in neighborhoods with this kind of crime and poverty, plenty of people don't care, and plenty of people don't have great expectations for their child, and if he even graduates, well, that's an accomplishment. But I'm sure there are plenty of other parents who wish to God they could afford to hop over the river into Bala Cynwyd so their kid could go to Lower Merion by virtue of just living in the district, or who could have afforded everything necessary to get them into Masterman or Central High or Girls High. Or who wish their circumstances were different so their kids COULD go to those schools, but feel it would be pointless anyway, because they wouldn't be able to afford science team meets, or AP exam fees, or college.


There are a lot of things that you don't consider when you come from middle class educational privilege.

[Deleted]

Of course the system needs to be looked at. Absolving parents of blame is easy but wrong.

[redheadbaker]

May 31, 2013 10:43:28 GMT -5 ttt said:

May 31, 2013 10:36:46 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Also, this is why I get so angry when I hear (at least locally, but I'm sure nationally as well) about budget cuts to after-school programs, libraries, etc. because those kinds of programs and institutions can offer even more support for kids and teens who otherwise have little support at home. You know, it takes a village and all that.

And for electives in school too, like the arts. I read (or listened? I feel like maybe it was NPR) a whole series on what makes kids stay in school as opposed to dropping out, and one of the things that kind of surprised me (though I  really don't know why) was that a lot of teenagers may hate school, but they'll go and sit through their other classes because they love art class, or shop class, or computer class. But now so many of these "extras" are being cut and these kids are saying "why bother even showing up?"

I haven't read an article on it yet to see what it fully entails, but the Philly School District just passed a "doomsday" budget. In news reports before the vote, they were saying EVERYTHING extracurricular was being cut -- music, art, performing arts, sports.

Sent from my DROID3 using proboards

[Velar Fricative]

May 31, 2013 11:18:07 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

May 31, 2013 10:43:28 GMT -5 ttt said:

And for electives in school too, like the arts. I read (or listened? I feel like maybe it was NPR) a whole series on what makes kids stay in school as opposed to dropping out, and one of the things that kind of surprised me (though I  really don't know why) was that a lot of teenagers may hate school, but they'll go and sit through their other classes because they love art class, or shop class, or computer class. But now so many of these "extras" are being cut and these kids are saying "why bother even showing up?"

I haven't read an article on it yet to see what it fully entails, but the Philly School District just passed a "doomsday" budget. In news reports before the vote, they were saying EVERYTHING extracurricular was being cut -- music, art, performing arts, sports.

Sent from my DROID3 using proboards

Well that's just swell. Like the pp said, I'm sure nothing but standardized testing will help these kids out immensely.

[ttt]

May 31, 2013 11:10:33 GMT -5 @spenjamins said:

Of course the system needs to be looked at. Absolving parents of blame is easy but wrong.

So what, specifically, do you propose to do about the parents?

[smile715]

May 31, 2013 11:24:38 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

May 31, 2013 11:18:07 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

I haven't read an article on it yet to see what it fully entails, but the Philly School District just passed a "doomsday" budget. In news reports before the vote, they were saying EVERYTHING extracurricular was being cut -- music, art, performing arts, sports.

Sent from my DROID3 using proboards

Well that's just swell. Like the pp said, I'm sure nothing but standardized testing will help these kids out immensely.

I work for the district. The "doomsday" budget is only enough money for 1 principal and teachers with the max number of students in each class.

There will be no secretaries, classroom assistants, prep teachers (gym, music, art, computers), 1 nurse for every 1,500 students, no guidance councilors, no sports, nobody to watch the kids at lunch or recess. They also are cutting copy machines, textbooks, paper and my favorite...water fountains.

It's going to be HELL in September :-(

[ttt]

May 31, 2013 11:49:06 GMT -5 smile715 said:

May 31, 2013 11:24:38 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Well that's just swell. Like the pp said, I'm sure nothing but standardized testing will help these kids out immensely.

I work for the district. The "doomsday" budget is only enough money for 1 principal and teachers with the max number of students in each class.

There will be no secretaries, classroom assistants, prep teachers (gym, music, art, computers), 1 nurse for every 1,500 students, no guidance councilors, no sports, nobody to watch the kids at lunch or recess. They also are cutting copy machines, textbooks, paper and my favorite...water fountains.

It's going to be HELL in September

W.T.F.

[Velar Fricative]

May 31, 2013 11:49:06 GMT -5 smile715 said:

May 31, 2013 11:24:38 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Well that's just swell. Like the pp said, I'm sure nothing but standardized testing will help these kids out immensely.

I work for the district. The "doomsday" budget is only enough money for 1 principal and teachers with the max number of students in each class.

There will be no secretaries, classroom assistants, prep teachers (gym, music, art, computers), 1 nurse for every 1,500 students, no guidance councilors, no sports, nobody to watch the kids at lunch or recess. They also are cutting copy machines, textbooks, paper and my favorite...water fountains.

It's going to be HELL in September

Oh my word.

Nothing to see here folks, just cuts that will affect the future of the USA.

[smile715]

May 31, 2013 11:54:39 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

May 31, 2013 11:49:06 GMT -5 smile715 said:

I work for the district. The "doomsday" budget is only enough money for 1 principal and teachers with the max number of students in each class.

There will be no secretaries, classroom assistants, prep teachers (gym, music, art, computers), 1 nurse for every 1,500 students, no guidance councilors, no sports, nobody to watch the kids at lunch or recess. They also are cutting copy machines, textbooks, paper and my favorite...water fountains.

It's going to be HELL in September

Oh my word.

Nothing to see here folks, just cuts that will affect the future of the USA.

It was heartbreaking to watch students give speeches before the School Reform Commission (we are state run) yesterday. So many kids will have nothing to do after school if they cut sports and extras. Their sports, music and dance keep them at school and off the streets. 

[pepperpeople]

ABC news posted a link To donate to a scholarship fund and help these kids:

abcnews.go.com/US/strawberry-mansion-high-school/story?id=19287928

[Deleted]

May 31, 2013 11:26:19 GMT -5 ttt said:

May 31, 2013 11:10:33 GMT -5 @spenjamins said:

Of course the system needs to be looked at. Absolving parents of blame is easy but wrong.

So what, specifically, do you propose to do about the parents?

We could start by placing blame where it belongs instead of being so paternalistic.

[ttt]

May 31, 2013 17:30:27 GMT -5 @spenjamins said:

May 31, 2013 11:26:19 GMT -5 ttt said:

So what, specifically, do you propose to do about the parents?

We could start by placing blame where it belongs instead of being so paternalistic.

So, blame parents and, poof, your job is done?

Well that sounds convenient!

[summer]

May 31, 2013 17:30:27 GMT -5 @spenjamins said:

May 31, 2013 11:26:19 GMT -5 ttt said:

So what, specifically, do you propose to do about the parents?

We could start by placing blame where it belongs instead of being so paternalistic.

Yup, if parents would pull up their bootstraps, the cycle of poverty would be gone with the wind.

Society has had nothing to do with urban poverty so best let the lazies and their children fend for themselves. Roll up your windows, lock your doors, and be glad it's not us! *shrug*

[summer]

Spenjamins, I actually don't disagree that parents have some responsibility but the problems of urban poverty in minority communities aren't even close to being that simple. They didn't spring up outta nowhere.