New video shows SRC’s Sylvia Simms telling student protestors 'Ya’ll probably in failing schools'

New video released Wednesday shows School Reform Commission member Sylvia Simms telling student protestors, "Ya'll probably in failing schools" during a confrontation last month.

The video was released by the Philadelphia Student Union, which organized the Oct. 15 sit-in during the showing of "Won't Back Down" at the district's headquarters. It captures Simms' words as she stood in the face of students who were seated on the floor chanting "Philly is a union town." An adult in the audience then stands and yells "Lock them up."

The video is the first clear evidence to support students' claims. On a video posted on social media the day after the incident, Simms' words were drowned out by the students chanting.

Simms, a parent organizer and mayoral appointee to the SRC, previously denied making the comments.

"I've noticed we have a lot of failing schools," Simms told the Inquirer, noting she did not remember her exact words. "It's my job to try to fix as many schools as I can."

She could not be immediately reached for comment yesterday.

Beth Patel, youth media organizer with PSU, said the video was shot by two independent filmmakers on behalf of the organization. The footage was shortened and edited to include student interviews.

"This was just posted today because we had a lot of footage from the event and we had to go through and find the one that had the audio mostly, and then we had to create the video and do the interviews with students," Patel said.

Community members criticized Simms at a raucous SRC meeting last month, with some calling for her to step down as others demanded an apology. SRC Chairman Bill Green defended Simms, calling her one of the most powerful voices for students in Philadelphia. Simms did not address the crowd.

PSU yesterday accused Simms of lying to the public and the media about her remarks.

"If Simms can violently scream at young people for 'failing' while at the same time be hailed as a 'supporter of students,' then we can only imagine what the other SRC members are saying behind closed doors," the group said in a statement.