TheLoop21.com

By: Annie Gldzhyan (follow this member)
Tue, 12/15/2009 - 13:54

A South Philadelphia High School is the latest target of media attention due to the indifferences and violence between Asian-American and African-American students. How far does school violence need to go before security is strengthened?

More than 30 Asian-American students have been boycotting classes after being attacked on December 3 by African-American students. According to ABC News, it has been revealed that the attack took place a day after an Asian-American student attacked a disabled African-American student.

Students from different backgrounds are known to have differences, but this does not give them the right to discriminate against one another. Philadelphia Schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman met with the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations about the alleged violence on Monday, ABC reports. The school district has suspended six African-American and four Asian-American students and has intentions of expelling them.

Security has been strengthened in the school with the addition of security cameras. Lately, it seems schools only add security after major incidents occur. For example, Richmond High School only added security after the gang rape of a 15-year-old student grabbed national attention.

All high schools need to have stable security in order for students to know they are on safe grounds. Unfortunately, it's only after incidents like the ones at Richmond High and South Philadelphia High that schools decide to make decent security systems a priority.

Annie Gldzhyan is a student at Caifornia State University, Northridge and the editorial assistant at TheLoop21.com.