Dec 7, 2009 11:39 pm US/Eastern
Students Boycott S. Philly High After Attacks
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Approximately 50 students at South Philadelphia High School didn't go to class Monday following an attack on a group of Asian students.
Parents and students were upset by reports a group of Asian students were targeted by their peers last week.
According to Xu Lin, a counselor at the Chinatown Development Corporation, one Asian student was attacked after school on Wednesday. Lin said the attack continued Thursday inside the school and later outside the school.
"When Asians students were picked out, they simply turned their back and when students reported to them, they did not document the incident," Lin said.
Lin said at least 26 Asian students were victimized and many of them required medical assistance.
Students told CBS 3 Eyewitness News that they have been dealing with racially targeted attacks for years.
"They promise and promise. Last year, same problem and nothing changes," said student Euong Ly.
"This is a blip, but we take this blip very seriously," Superintendent Michael Silverman said.
A math teacher at the school told Eyewitness News that the Asian students are not exaggerating about the violence.
"There's ethnic intimidation. There's bullying in the hallways, there's bullying in the stairwells, there's bullying in the cafeteria," teacher Dean Koder said.
As a precaution, there was an increased police presence at the school Friday and Monday. Lin said the safety measures in place are not working. However, school leaders say it is a work in progress.
"We've suspended ten students, those students are all going to be all sent for disciplinary transfers," Silverman said.
School officials say they are working closely with police and added that the number of students suspended could rise and some of the students could face criminal charges.
"What we're trying to really focus on right now is to bring everybody back to school, to make the school safe," Silverman said.
Silverman and the roughly 50 Asian students met face to face on Monday in an attempt to reach a resolution.
The students said their plan is to stay away from the school for about a week, so their message is heard.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Hottest Celebrity Redheads
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
