Editorial: Another failing grade

The missteps continue to mount at South Philadelphia High School, where another leadership snafu has made a bad situation worse.

The abrupt resignation last week of embattled principal LaGreta Brown sparked further upheaval for students and raised more questions about the district's oversight. Turns out she wasn't certified to be a principal.

Brown's departure came the same week it was disclosed that the school district has spent nearly $700,000 on more security cameras in the wake of attacks on Asian students last December. The large expense won't get to the root of the school's violence.

Brown stepped down after Inquirer reporters raised questions as to whether she had the required state certificate to work as a high school principal. Jerry Jordan, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, asked the million-dollar question: "How did this happen?"

State officials say Brown was not certified to work as a high school principal in Pennsylvania. In 2000, she was issued a certificate to work as an elementary school principal. But that certificate became inactive in 2005 after she failed to complete continuing-education requirements.

Brown was supposed to get emergency certification, but never did. That the Philadelphia district didn't keep up with Brown's paperwork reflects very poorly on its superintendent.

Superintendent Arlene Ackerman first said she hired Brown, but then said she "didn't really hire" her because the principal was selected through the school's hiring process.

Either way, there were other warning signs that Brown was not the best person for the job - let alone qualified. She had a rocky tenure as a principal in Atlantic City, where she resigned, apparently to avoid being fired.

At South Philadelphia High, Asian students contended that Brown was unresponsive to their concerns about constant harassment and violence. A federal civil rights complaint alleged that she had a discriminatory attitude toward them.

After the attacks, Ackerman defended Brown. The challenge for her now is to restore order and confidence at the school, so students can focus on learning.

While Asian advocates demanded beefed-up security, adding 126 more surveillance cameras can't take the place of the human interaction between staff and students that is needed to prevent violence before it occurs.

The cameras now cover every part of the five-story building except the bathrooms and the classrooms. Students may well wonder if they are in school or prison.

The cameras may capture the next fight on tape, but that is not going to solve the tensions at the school. The administration, teachers, and staff need to bridge the divide and make clear that violence will not be tolerated.