7. One Year of Teaching at Public High Schools in West Philly:

Aug 16

The area’s public high schools could very well resemble what you’re imagining when you hear: “West Philly Public High Schools”

Of which I’m primarily referring to Sayre High School, but also to time well spent at West Philly, Overbrook, School of the Future, Workshop School, and Roxborough

Students and staff are indeed greeted each morning by metal detectors (and also by a friendly climate staff). There are an excessive number of hallway wanderers and the phone birds are always chirping. You can count on some beef coming to fisticuffs once a week or so. It’s more frequent in the spring/summer. There will be unruly and disrespectful students who make teaching and keeping the class in order seemingly impossible. And at least once a semester you can count on getting cursed absolutely the fuck out by a student.

So in this regard, the only major difference between these inner city high schools and the comfortable suburban high school I attended would be the metal detectors.

In other ways, things are very different.

Classes being 50% or less full for one. I also don’t remember first period being a total wash in the second semester. Plus, never in my wildest dreams would only three guys show up for basketball practice the day before the biggest game we ever played.

Despite the unnerving security precautions, the school generally felt safe. No overly serious incidents occurred in my time there. Even the several “lockdowns” we endured were brief and dismissed quickly as non-threatening events.

A few big scuffles occurred with more than one person on each side. Honestly, the worst incident might’ve been a 9th grader ripping a water fountain off the wall in full temper-tantrum mode.

Still, there’s no question it’s a district that needs improving from top to bottom.

No one would argue that.

If there’s a part 2 of this, it’s that.

The overarching issue

Across the board there’s little to no accountability, both in and out of the classroom.

The students don’t understand the value of an education. Its most vital asset being the development of habits that will help them achieve whatever it is they’d like to do in life.

You may not have to use Algebra in your future endeavors but showing up on time, completing the (very minimal) work required to be successful, living a healthy life, and developing a value in their self worth is what’s important.

I taught algebra.

It was my least favorite subject in school by far. I have not used it anywhere in the world besides a high school and college classroom. If you have, you’re lying.

But learning and understanding a foreign concept is of incredible value in the real world. To get a good grade as the semester keeps rumbling along, attentiveness, patience, and a reasonable work ethic are required. Doing so in a learning environment littered with distractions is also hard.

You can say the same of every subject and high school as a whole.

By no means does not succeeding in high school mean you won’t do so in life, but it will help these young adults carve a path to becoming their best selves and provide them great opportunities quickly.

THAT’S NOT TO SAY THAT THERE AREN’T PLENTY OF EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS…

THERE’S A WHOLE BUNCH OF THEM

They do their work, show up on time, go above and beyond to learn new things. Some are probably inspired to do so because they see so many of their classmates doing the opposite. These students have big goals, participate in extracurriculars, and often know what they want to do in life (at least at this young age they do).

Over time you come to realize there are a handful of students who you’ll never be able to wrangle, but over time they’ll typically show a proper respect and continue to skip your class.

*The resources truly don’t make the difference. It’s the discipline needed from the students, the staff, and the parents.*

THE COMMON CLAIMS

One of the things I didn’t see was a lazy group of teachers.

During education debates its common to hear that better teachers are needed in inner city schools.

I saw a group of teachers who gave a damn at every single high school. That, above all else, is most important. And you can’t blame the teacher for 50/50 attendance.

Part of Mayor Parker’s 100 day plan involves school facility improvement, which, of course, is commendable. But it’s not the facilities holding students back. The new West Philadelphia High School hasn’t turned the Speedboys and girls into a prep school. School of the Future in many ways lives up to its name, but not in academics.

*School of the Future - West Philadelphia*

Potential

It’s sad to see a bright kid who picks up Algebra II with ease only attend a handful of classes each semester. To show up with total disregard to anything that opposes their immediate free will — be it mindless social media scrolling to smoking in the bathroom to starting shit for no reason besides boredom and skipping class just to walk the halls.

Teachers need to continue engaging these students that are attending and make the experience worth them pocketing their phone. The administration needs to prioritize improving the overall quality of education provided at their school above all else.

Not inflated metrics like suspensions… or lack there of… versus what there should be.

If we can keep the kids engaged in school, the resources and the teachers are there to make this a high quality public school education.

The School District of Philadelphia is but a culture shift away from being good.

So please, Philadelphia, make education for the young ones a priority.

Encourage the younger generation around you.

Mom & Dad, older siblings, extended family, and friends, hold them accountable.