Man accuses city schools of racism

A man is accusing the Philadelphia Public Schools of racism and covering up child rape.

The man, John Killen from near Linwood, appeared before the Philadelphia Mayor and Board of Aldermen last Tuesday night, alleging racism and accusing law enforcement of a coverup.

Killen took to social media after the meeting with a rant on race and accusing the high school principal, a black woman, of forcing white teachers to perform “mock lynchings,” as part of training.

Killen has since restricted the Facebook post’s privacy settings, and it is now unavailable to the public. The Democrat has a screenshot of the post. The post was embedded in a website story Tuesday evening. However, because of the Facebook privacy settings change Killen made, the story is no longer available on the Democrat’s website.

Killen, whose wife has taught in the Philadelphia school system, addressed the aldermen, calling for the removal of Philadelphia School Board members.

Killen accused the mayor and aldermen of failing to hold the School Board accountable for ethics violations. He alleged that the Police Department covered up crime within the school.

School and law enforcement officials have denied the allegations.

Killen claimed that crimes involving child abuse were occurring within the Philadelphia Public School District and that officers stationed at the school had failed to report them.

City Attorney Robert Lee Thomas told Killen that the city board could only remove a School Board member if they were convicted of a crime, declared incompetent by a court, or moved out of the school district.

“My professional opinion after looking at these issues pertaining to y’all’s relationship with the School Board is that this board doesn’t have the authority over the school district or the School Board after the appointment is made,” Thomas told the mayor and aldermen.

He added, “There have been opinions after opinions written on it, and these statutes are clear. This [city] board is legislative, and the School Board is executive—you get into the separation of powers doctrine with the Constitution.”

Killen accused aldermen of suppressing information about issues in the community as well.

“Laws are being broken,” he said. “You have people reporting rapes and everything else that’s going on in this school—your police department hasn’t done anything. Everybody hides behind ‘I don’t know, or I haven’t checked my emails.’”

Mayor James A. Young advised Killen to seek legal counsel, saying that his concerns were not matters that could be prosecuted in a city board meeting.

Killen responded by suggesting that before contacting attorneys, he and others could protest in front of City Hall and the school to make the community aware of what was happening.

He accused the School Board of causing emotional distress to teachers who sought help at Weems Community Mental Health. He claimed teachers had been told they had access to counseling but were denied the necessary documentation from the board to receive medical assistance.

“You are responsible for that,” Killen said. “That’s what’s happening in your community—that people you appointed are doing.”

Ward 4 Alderman Shaun Seales told Killen his time was up, saying that the board had not permitted him to speak because he wasn’t on the agenda.

“Y’all have got the right to allow appearances and not allow appearances,” Thomas said. “This gets into issues that are for the School Board and the Department of Education. If there is an ethics violation that has occurred, the Ethics Commission can certainly go to the School Board and do whatever is necessary.”

Philadelphia teacher Mary Kate Hollingsworth, who was on the agenda for the meeting, warned that the issue could eventually become a financial burden for the city.

“This is going to become an alderman and city issue when the school is so far in debt from lawsuits that it’s going to come back to the city,” Hollingsworth said. “The board that you appoint to sit on the School Board, you should be holding them accountable.”

Killen continued to accuse the Police Department of covering up incidents of students being “choked out” and sexually assaulted. Young advised Killen and Hollingsworth to take their concerns to the state Ethics Commission.

“I’ve told you I’ve already went there,” Killen said. “Their attorneys sent me here—It’s a city problem that goes to the board that then goes to the people that you allow over there. They can’t do anything more than you allow them to do. Your police officers are in that district allowing this to happen—that is law violations.

“It’s the way your police officers act in this public and in these school districts,” he added. “Kids are being sexually assaulted, and you don’t even want people coming to this board.”

Thomas advised Killen to present any evidence to the police chief. Killen then stormed out of the meeting, saying, “This place is a joke, and y’all want to get re-elected. It’s amazing how all of that crap happened with ‘Mississippi Burning’ because of cowards like you.”

Young, responded after Killen left, saying, “You have no idea what ‘Mississippi Burning’ is—you have to be my color, and then you can speak—otherwise, you better leave it alone because you have no experience being racially profiled or racially put back because your skin is black.

“Don’t try to give me a lesson on civil rights. That isn’t going to fly,” said Young, who is black. “I’ve been there and done that and got the scars to prove it. I’m not going to hear that kind of rhetoric.”

Hollingsworth was given an appointment to meet with the mayor early Wednesday morning to let the city know about the issues at the school.

Ward 2 Alderman Jim Fulton also asked to speak with her after her meeting with the mayor concluded.

"When is the last time you guys were in the school and looked to see what the school needed before you appointed someone to sit in a school board seat," Hollingsworth asked at the public meeting last Tuesday.

Seales said he has visited the school, while Ward 1 Alderman Justin Clearman said he had inherited his school board appointee. The other aldermen remained silent.

Once Police Chief Eric Lyons was called to address his agenda items, he said, “The police department is not involved in any covering up of anything — we have charges filed on several individuals at the school already. They’ve been indicted already — we are waiting on the court.”

Shortly after the meeting, Killen took to Facebook, accusing Philadelphia High School Principal Sherell Drake of targeting white teachers and forcing them to perform a “mock lynching” during Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings.

Killen claimed there was an audio recording of Drake describing the emotional toll it took on her after seeing a photo of “where her son did this” in which she said there was “no defending this.”

Killen alleged that despite teachers expressing discomfort, Drake insisted they proceed, telling them to “make the belt tighter.”

Killen further alleged that after the School Board reviewed the situation, they defended Drake and allowed her to keep her job. He also claimed there was an audio recording of Superintendent Dr. Shannon Whitehead explaining why no action would be taken, although he did not produce the recording.

According to Killen, two teachers have already resigned due to stress-related medical issues caused by a hostile work environment, and others are planning to leave once they find new jobs.

Killen said of his statement as he left the building, “It had nothing to do with race, even though some in council directed it that way. I was pointing out corrupt cowards cause it. The mayor, police chief, and city council looking the other way did.”

School Board President Harold Coburn responded to a request by the Democrat after the meeting for comment in an email.

“Our priority as a school district is always the well-being and success of our students, staff, and community,” he wrote. “While I can’t comment on specific details due to legal considerations, please know that we take all concerns seriously and are handling the situation in accordance with our policies and legal obligations.”