New teacher shot dead in Philly

Parent Cafe
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<p>[Northeast</a> Times](<a href=“Home - Northeast Times”>http://www.northeasttimes.com/2008/0619/crimelog.html)
crime log for northeast philly for a 2 week period… This is just for a section of the city, not all of philadelphia. </p>

<p>I live very close to this bank
[Northeast</a> Times](<a href=“M&T Bank helps Smedley kick off school year - Northeast Times”>http://www.northeasttimes.com/2008/0619/bank.html)</p>

<p>Nobody died in these crimes, but they are happening every day in my neighborhood. I have had a 10 year old car stolen (buick regal) and a few years ago someone broke my car window, popped the hood and stole the ignition wires out of my 1991 civic while parked in front of my house. I park in the back now.</p>

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<p>This is such a heartbreaking story. I’ve thought a lot about it since first reading the linked article. Having grown up in the Philadelphia area, and still having friends and family living there, I hear the news frequently and have been amazed in the past few years with the crime statistics in the city. I wouldn’t have discouraged my kids from applying to a Philly college but I probably would have had some concerns, maybe even more so than I did about NYC. We’ve lived in urban areas for many years and our kids are all pretty conscious of safety, have all taken self-defence courses, but even at that, it’s impossible to guarantee that they’ll remain safe. We can put them in a bubble and protect them forever but at what cost. This was one reason for my comments on the going to Paris thread. An important part of raising kids is setting limits but an equally important part is knowing when to loosen those reins and let them explore. It’s never easy and I worry as much as any mother but, at some point, it has to be done and we have to realize that harm can come to kids regardless of what extraordinary measures we may take as parents to protect them.</p>

<p>We had a double murder here in Toronto last weekend that is similar to this one in Philadelphia, in some respects. The two victims were recent college grads from affluent families and just starting out on their careers in the city. They had watched an NBA final at a friend’s condo and shortly after leaving to drive home, realized that they’d taken a wrong set of keys so they headed back and were sitting outside the building in a car owned by one of their dads waiting for the friend to come down to exchange the keys, when the two boys in the front seats were shot and killed. The girlfriend of one of them was in the backseat and wasn’t hit. The police think that the car’s tinted rear windows hid her and thus the gunman didn’t even know she was there. No arrests have been made and the police have no idea why someone would have done this. They speculate that it could have been something as simple as someone resenting the fact that these kids were driving a Range Rover. </p>

<p>I had a long conversation with one of my Ds about this case and we discussed how when something like this happens, both here and the case in Philly, there is extensive media coverage (it was the front page story here for a week, including extensive coverage of the funerals and memorials). The sad part is that shootings like this happen, in Philly regularly, in Toronto far less regularly, but most of the time it’s a case of young black men killing other young black men. Those cases do not garner the attention, nationally or even locally, that cases like these two ‘high profile’ cases do, and that is something that really needs to be addressed if we want this type of violence to ever stop. </p>

<p>I’m not condoning peoples’ behavior due to their socio-economic status, nor excusing how kids deal with the horrible hands that they are often dealt in life. What I think is essential is that these issues need to be addressed in meaningful ways so that the kids who are committing these horrendous crimes, never reach that point. It’s being done here in Toronto, in sometimes frustratingly slow babysteps. We are not used to this type of violence here. As a comparison, those two kids killed last weekend were the 24th and 25th murder victims of the year in a city almost twice as large as Philly where Beau Zabel was the 139th, and where, at this time last year, the city had 181 murders. There is something very wrong with this picture.</p>

<p>I’ve always believed that education is the primary way of addressing these problems. It is a sad irony that Mr. Zabel was murdered while pursuing a career meant to assist individuals who were probably facing challenges in life much like his killer. Another part of my discussion with my D was about Barack Obama’s campaign for the presidency. We both were ardent Hillary supporters before switching over to him when Hillary withdrew, but wonder if perhaps having a successful black man in the White House might be of some longterm assistance to the inner city black communities across the country. Will his inspiration extend past the college aged kids who love him and reach those kids who feel that they have no future? Will he address these issues and advocate for policies to assist? I truly hope so.</p>

<p>I’m curious about how much these teaching fellows earn. I might have missed that in the readings I’ve done. Does anyone know? Is it really so low that a second job is required or was the job taken at Starbucks perhaps taken to get him through the summer until the school year begins in September?</p>

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<p>[Philadelphia</a> Teaching Fellows :: Being a Fellow - Salary & Benefits](<a href=“http://www.philadelphiateachingfellows.org/salary.html]Philadelphia”>http://www.philadelphiateachingfellows.org/salary.html)</p>

<p>41K to start plus other benefits including rent reductions for certain neighborhoods</p>

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<p>I don’t think he was working at Starbucks because the pay is so low, but because the teaching fellows position had not started yet and he probably needed income in the interim; I did read that he liked the job and wanted to hang on to it as a second job during the school yr. 41k is actually more than I thought they would make and is a decent salary for Philly; it would certainly allow someone to live in a nicer area – not exactly Rittenhouse but an area where safety is less of an issue.</p>

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<p>alwaysamom, when you compare Toronto to Philly, I think you raise a load of cultural and societal differences between Canada and the United States which impact on issues such as violent crime. The culture of violence and, yes guns, that we have in the US, across our country, both within and outside of cities is often in stark contrast to what is found in other countries. Couple this with our failure to address the array of social issues that play a role in promoting crime and it is hardly surprising that as a country or that in comparing cities in the US with Cities in other countries our statistics look bad compared to others.</p>

<p>SueinPhilly, I know the neighborhood of which you speak. I live 10 - 15 minutes west of there. The irony is that in what you call a “good neighborhood”, I would have a greater risk of being the victim of a crime walking at 11 or 12 at night in the shopping areas along Cottman Ave than walking around in center city Philadelphia. I would sooner have my daughter walk from the Walnut St Theatre back to her apartment at 11:00 on a Saturday night than have her walk past the Roosevelt Mall. </p>

<p>The point is that when one speaks of crime in Philadelphia and whether Philadelphia is perceived as a good place to go to school, people don’t realize that Philly is actually a pretty large county, not just center city, with a vast expanse and diversity of neighborhoods. There are places where you can enjoy all the city has to offer without a real risk of being a victim of crime and places where you will be at risk. My observation is that students who go to Temple, Penn, Drexel UArts and other schools located in or adjacent to center city Philly are able to enjoy all that the city has to offer without being at risk, as long as some common sense is used.</p>

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<p>Are you sure this wasn’t my son? :)</p>

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<p>You would then have to be about 80 years old, because these men were in their 50s and 60s and clearly had no connection to the university. If that is the case with you and your son, then it could have been him, especially if he had not shaved or showered in several days, and was about 250 pounds at the time. Those were the men who commented to the tour.</p>

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<p>^^ Whew. Not him! I support my kid’s college choice, but he has been a crime victim (theft from a room in a house just off campus) at Penn. I don’t care how careful you are or what streets you stick to, there is still a lot of crime around the Penn campus.</p>

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<p>I agree about walking around Roosevelt mall area at night not being the same as Center City. This is “middle town USA” as far as city life goes and it sucks to be afraid to walk around in your neighborhood at really any time of day or night because of some random act of violence that might occur.</p>

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<p>Michael, you’re absolutely right. There are definitely societal and cultural differences between the two countries. Having lived in both, though, I think that Toronto is as close as you can probably get to a U.S. city in many ways. What I see happening here in recent years is disheartening in that the type of violence which many have become inured to in the U.S. is on the increase here. I don’t want my city to end up like a U.S. city in that respect. I don’t want these kids to feel that they don’t have other choices in how they live their lives. I’d enjoy hearing about how the new administration in Philly has at least made a start towards lowering crime . Is it a focus on increased policing or are there grassroot projects being undertaken to get to the root of these issues? </p>

<p>As I said, here, there are many who are involved in attempts to address these problems. One community project we are involved in is a bursary program which was established by the police division in the part of the city which is known for the worst crime. It started out eight years ago and has made a difference in the lives of an increasing number of students each year. The police officers raise awareness and money for the fund, and donations have increased to the extent that at this year’s presentation ceremony, 22 graduating high school seniors will receive a bursary to assist them with their college costs. I think the first year I was involved, five bursaries were distributed, so we are thrilled, and so very thankful to the police who are involved, to be able to help 22 very deserving kids this year. These kids have experienced things in their short lives that you wouldn’t wish on ANYone and have worked so very hard to overcome their challenges, their living situations, crime, temptations, etc. to be able to graduate high school, and be accepted to a college or university, in the hopes of changing their life’s path.</p>

<p>There are certainly other groups and organizations which also address similar needs in the city. Various levels of government fund projects every summer to provide summer jobs to underprivileged youth. The schools in certain areas of the city are kept open throughout the summer months to provide free community use and summer programs. The United Way usually donates approximately $1million for these programs. There are skills, mentoring, and tutoring programs in the high-risk communities. My H is a cabinet member of the city’s United Way board and each year over $100 million dollars is raised, some of which is directed to agencies which serve these communities in an attempt to prevent kids from heading down the wrong path. </p>

<p>It’s true that Canada probably has better social programs in place, obviously at an increased cost to its residents, and this is naturally going to be an issue when discussions like this come up in comparing the two countries. As when universal healthcare is discussed, the issue of Americans being willing to pay increased taxes in order to provide adequate social programs has to be explored. I think that there is definitely a societal, and perhaps cultural, difference there. As with the healthcare issue, there is no easy solution. I guess the thing that pains me, though, is that it appears that little is even being attempted, and that is very sad.</p>

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<p>“As when universal healthcare is discussed, the issue of Americans being willing to pay increased taxes in order to provide adequate social programs has to be explored. I think that there is definitely a societal, and perhaps cultural, difference there. As with the healthcare issue, there is no easy solution. I guess the thing that pains me, though, is that it appears that little is even being attempted, and that is very sad.”</p>

<p>We are already paying outrageous amounts of tax to support social programs. We can’t do anything more in the middle class.</p>

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<p>That may be so. Your comment kind of proves my point.</p>

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<p>If the private sector wants to take over, such as United Way, then that is a good idea. But until people in these areas want to change, then it won’t happen. And the drug trade has to be controlled.This also has to come from within. Or else people will just have to be accept that there is a permanent underclass that wants to perpetuate itself for generations, give these people our money and look the other way.</p>

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<p>Wow, Sueinphilly. When we lived in Philadelphia, we lived a few blocks north of the Roosevelt Mall in Rhawnhurst. I thought it was a great neighborhood then (1990-1994). Many of my neighbors were well armed cops and people would have been foolish to pull that kind of stuff in that neighborhood. I’m sorry, it’s gone downhill, I really liked living around there.</p>

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<p>Alwaysamom: Even though it’s been only a few short months, there are noticeable changes already. A lot of it involves redeployment of police resources both in terms of the structure of units and targeting identified areas. Special units are being trained to address policing issues involving particular identified groups that have a history of being disenfranchised and ti make sure that community policing is really tailored to the community in which it is occurring. In addition, funds that have been cut from social support organizations are being returned and new department heads are being appointed. It will be interesting to see where this all goes after a year but even as of now there has been a 20% drop in the murder rate as compared to last year.</p>

<p>As to universal health care, it can and will happen when our government decides that it is a priority whose time has come. We have the resources to do it if our government has the will to end or limit our involvement in Iraq and to clamp down on the rampant corruption that exists in areas of private industry’s involvement in our war machine. The cost of the war in Iraq could fund universal health care, address the costs of college education and pay for a myriad of other social issues.</p>

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<p>Threekids–that’s a good idea — having your child’s college security number available. Although, with a son, it seems likely a guy would call home if he felt ‘nervous’ walking at night. Good thought for girls, though! </p>

<p>Has anyone thought of encouraging their son/daughter to take a self-defense course? My son used to take tang soo do, in which they taught some self-defense, but it’s been years and I think a strong, street-fighting + awareness course would be helpful before college. I’m going to check into that in the area (we’re near Philly, too).</p>

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<p>Having spent many years involved in martial arts, including full contact fighting, I would be very cautious about seeking a class to teach “street fighting”. The reality is that most students don’t have the mindset, strength and technique to deal with an attacker on his on terms, especially when weapons are involved, and a short self defense class is not going to suddenly turn a student into a “street fighter”. (Kind of reminds me of an incident several years ago when a bunch of big, tough Harvard football players went into what was then Boston’s adult entertainment district, called the “Combat Zone”. One of them got into an argument with a pimp, and despite the student’s size and strength he ended up stabbed to death.)</p>

<p>A good self defense course will focus on awareness and common sense rules so as to avoid a situation, how to recognize a situation is developing and take evasive action and, as a last resort, when and how to create an opportunity to escape and run if all else fails (which must be practiced over and over under conditions that simulate the emotional turmoil and physicality of the real thing).</p>

<p>I have stressed with my daughter rules of awareness and common sense avoidance. I have also stressed the importance when walking at night of defining a zone of space around her into which strangers are not permitted to intrude and what actions she can and should take to maintain that space. </p>

<p>In this regard, you can get at marine supply houses miniature air horns that boaters use as a back up which conveniently can fit into a coat pocket or handbag. They emit multiple earsplitting blasts which at close range will greatly startle a person who persists in crossing the boundary of “personal space” and will certainly attract the attention of others nearby. Can be used to create an opportunity for evasive action and to dissuade would be muggers who usually don’t want attention brought to themselves. Mace can also be a tool of last resort if it becomes clear that physical intervention is necessary to create an opportunity to escape. Both of these items are good because they can be deployed before a situation has evolved to the point that “personal space” has been compromised and a student finds him or her self in a very unequal close contact situation.</p>

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<p>Interesting point, MichaelNKat. I guess I was thinking of something along the lines of more defensive martial arts (vs. the complicated ‘forms’ that are sometimes taught in karate class). For e.g., how to get out of a choke hold, etc. </p>

<p>Great tip about the horn. I think I’ll get one for myself. Somehow, though, can’t see son at age 19 taking that around when he goes out socializing. Would be great to get reinforcement of evasive actions, awareness of environment, etc.</p>

<p>Actually, when I pointed out to son some threads on CC about college students who have died accidently or when drunk or (possibly) via mal intent–he was interested (& hopefully it upped his receptivity to a safety course).</p>

<p>Thanks for the info.</p>

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<p>Jolynne, even “defensive martial arts” - like how to get out of a choke hold - need to be approached with a recognition that it takes a substantial commitment of time and practice to master techniques so that you can apply them in a real life situation. These are things that must be practiced regularly even after a class is over. Remember, you are seeking not only to learn technique but to also re-pattern reactions to sudden and intense physical and emotional stress at levels which are incapacitating. And it is important that a class not simply simulate a situation but that it actually put the students in a situation where they experience what it is like to be attacked. Few students are going to have the time and inclination to commit themselves to that. That’s why what I think should be focused on is avoidance, evasion and escape, in that order. The last thing that I would want is for my daughter to have a false sense of her physical prowess, thereby creating a false sense of security that causes her to de-emphasize the primacy that should attach to avoidance and evasion.</p>

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<p>Interesting, MichaelNKat; especially re: the not getting a ‘false sense of physical prowess.’ While I can see emphasizing “avoidance, evasion and escape,” absolutely, I still think it couldn’t hurt to have a few physical tricks up your sleeve (even, as a guy, when horsing around w/other guys to feel like you are not at a disadvantage, esp. when other guys are bigger).</p>

<p>Useful points to keep in mind!</p>