Asian students and allies speak to SRC | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Asian students and allies speak to SRC | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:

"Just a few highlights from two hours of testimony today by Asian students at South Philadelphia and supporting organizations:

Xu Lin, community organizer of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, who has been working with the Asian students from South Philadelphia:"

"We were glad to see the former principal removed for her inability to perform her duty. South Philadelphia High School's new principal was brought to a community meeting by the regional superintendent. She agreed to meet with Asian community organizations on a monthly basis due to our concerns about school violence. The first meeting was scheduled for September 29, 2009... We waited for over 40 minutes before we were able to have a brief meeting with her. The principal promised to meet with us again in the near future, but this has yet to happen."

Ellen Somekawa, executive director of Asian Americans United, noting that many of the victims of anti-Asian violence have not yet been interviewed by the District:

"If a student is beaten at the school and taken to the hospital, you would think that the District would call up the family and find out how the student is."

"The students are very disappointed with the pace and the seriousness of the investigation."

(In response to concerns about the investigation, Superintendent Ackerman noted that there would be an outside investigator hired, who will start interviewing students and staff next week.)