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Monday, December 3, 2012

Looking back on racial violence at South Philly High | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Looking back on racial violence at South Philly High | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:


Looking back on racial violence at South Philly High

by Duong Nghe Ly

Today marks the three-year anniversary of the day that changed my life.
On Dec. 3, 2009, I was at South Philadelphia High School when Asian immigrant students were targets of racially charged attacks that lasted from 8:30 a.m. in the morning to 4 p.m. after school. My friends and I received little to no help from the school, even though many of us had asked for protection or permission to leave early. At the end of the day, 30 Asian immigrant students had been physically attacked, 13 of whom went to the hospital to seek treatment. I could not help feeling frightened and angry at the indifference and irresponsibility of the school’s officials.
Image: 
Image Caption: 
Students protesting outside an SRC meeting in December 2009. This photo appears at "We Cannot Keep Silent," a current exhibit at the Philadelphia Folklore Project.
Photo Credits: 
Harvey Finkle
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Ready or not, the Keystones are coming

By Connie Langland
Ready or not (and let’s put the emphasis on not), districts, including Philadelphia, are gearing up to implement a new set of standardized tests called the Keystones, which are replacing the 11th grade PSSAs.
Some districts will administer the tests beginning next week, while Philadelphia and other districts will do their testing in mid-January.
And no one, apparently, has confidence in making a strong showing this first go-around.
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