‘We don’t want you in our jails’ Police Deputy Commissioner tells 400 students at Shallcross Academy anti-violence summit
(Philadelphia – December 23, 2010)
Philadelphia Police Department Deputy Commissioner Charlotte Councils was blunt with the 400 students from grades 5-12 at Shallcross Academy’s 7th Annual Anti-Violence Program: “We don’t want you in our jails. Think about the consequences of your actions.”
Today’s program, held in the school’s gym, brought together police officers, FBI agents, and ex-offenders to impress the students at one of the City’s top alternative schools with the importance of avoiding violence and making the correct life decisions.
“Stop, think and chose,” is the strategy that Bill Cobb, a motivational speaker who spent six and a half years in a Pennsylvania prison, shared with the students. “Someone on the street is going to push you, but you can stop, think and chose not to push back.”
The students at Shallcross, located on Woodhaven Rd in the Northeast, have all had disciplinary problems at School District of Philadelphia schools. Previously the District just shuffled these disruptive students off to another school. Now, the District has partnered with Camelot Schools to provide an alternative program, At Shallcross, one of Camelot’s two alternative schools in Philadelphia, students encounter a unique blend of disciplinary methods that restore their self-respect and personal attention from teachers. After three to six months, although some stay longer, they can return to their original school primed to succeed.
“This school program is real good. It helps kids with their problems,” said Terrell Mason, 16, who came to Shallcross from George Washington High School in the Northeast and plans to study engineering in college.
Mason pointed to the Town Hall part of the program, which opens each day with students meeting in groups with an adult leader to share their concerns. “You can sit down and express yourself,” Mason said. “The teachers really listen.”
“When you put these kids in an environment where everyone expects them to behave well, you don’t even have to offer them a reward,” explains Corey Thames, Shallcross Executive Director, “because if they misbehave, everyone else says, �what’s the matter with you?'”
Shallcross does reward good behavior with privileges and increased responsibility.
The Anti-Violence Program is another way that the school reinforces its message to the students.
“You are our future,” Council told the students. “It is time for you to take charge of that future.”
Other speakers on the program included: Iran “I-Jay” Jackson of the Philadelphia Anti-drug/Anti-violence Network, Natosha Warner of the FBI’s Step Up/Speak Up program, and Ray Jones of Philadelphia Safety Net.
The Camelot Schools are privately managed. They work in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia to provide an expertise that augments the traditional curriculum offered by the public schools.
