Letters: Principal's errors weren't due to her lack of trying

Tony Auth's "Nap Time" cartoon Tuesday not only unjustly maligns Principal La Greta Brown, but is also an injustice to the entire student body at South Philadelphia High School. Furthermore, the cartoon is a disservice to all principals and school leaders who lose countless hours of sleep as they work to provide children with the best education possible under the most difficult of circumstances.

If you read the investigative report about the violence at South Philadelphia High, you would know of Brown's commitment to protecting her students and her actions to control a chaotic and constantly changing situation on Dec. 3. You may disagree with the action taken, but to suggest she was doing nothing was untrue and grossly unfair.

Since the beginning of this school year, more than a dozen social-service programs have been in operation at the school to improve its climate, including City Year, Bridging Cultures, Diversified Community Services, and the Philadelphia Anti-Violence Network. In the aftermath of the attacks, these efforts have been enhanced by the Mainline Chinese Cultural Center, the Justice Department SPIRIT program, Pastors Council of South Philadelphia, social workers from the University of Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia Cares.

Caring adults such as U.S. Rep. Bob Brady (D., Pa.), Councilman Jim Kenney, and former basketball star Sonny Hill have created a multiethnic club that breaks down stereotypes and racial animosity among students. On a daily basis, the school is also working closely with the Philadelphia Police Department through a specially appointed police liaison.

While mistakes in judgment may have been made on Dec. 3, it wasn't for lack of trying on the part of the principal. To depict her as inattentive to the needs of students is inconsistent with the facts. This image also undermines the respect of an important authority figure when we clearly need to send our children a message about respecting the rules and obeying the adults who must impose those rules. The cartoon is counterproductive to the climate of safety we are trying to achieve, not just in South Philadelphia but in all of our schools.

John Frangipani

Chief of school operations

Philadelphia School District