The Inquirer has a story on school violence in Philly public schools, other than South Philly:

Trouble was brewing at Fels High School last school year: Asian students were jumped and beaten. Disabled students were assaulted.

"It was scary," Eileen Coutts, then an assistant principal, said of the climate at Fels.

Worried that the unrest might escalate, Coutts invited members of community groups to the school. Administrators, parents, students, and activists came up with a list of interventions - class discussions, peer mediation, mentors, an "international welcome squad," cultural sensitivity training for staff, a buddy system for new students.

The school, despite lots of problems, has made progress. In the fall, overall crime, including assaults, was down 40 percent from the same period a year earlier.

I'd encourage everyone to read the whole article. While I am sure that the schools featured in the article- Fels, Furness and Bartram- are far from perfect (and Furness and Fels are, in fact, still on the persistently dangerous list), there is a lot to be learned from the contrast of the principals in those schools, versus the actions of the principal of South Philly.

While academics still aren't where McAlister wants them to be, Bartram's climate is much calmer. This year, an African student, Makula Fofana, is senior class president.

"That never would have happened before," said McAlister, who handles racially or ethnically sensitive matters herself.

"As hard as it is and as hurtful as it can be sometimes," she said, "we as an administrative staff and as a school community refuse to ignore these problems."

The schools are far from perfect, and still are unacceptably violent. But they are improving. The point is an obvious one: When confronted with violence, especially violence along racial or ethnic lines, you work with students, you bring in experts to help, and you confront it head on.

Check out the article here.