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October 6, 2000/7 Tishri 5761, Vol. 53, No.2
Precedent existed for tension at school
BARRY COHEN
Community Editor
Racial and anti-Semitic tensions flared at Scottsdale's Coronado High School in August, including the waving of a Confederate flag by a student. These incidents were preceded last year by students' anti-Semitic taunts and physical violence toward a Jewish teen, who ultimately, during the second semester of his senior year, transfered to Tempe High School.
"I got rocks thrown at me one day after wrestling practice," said Jonathan Levenson, refering to a day last January when he was on the junior varsity wrestling team. He said he was harassed because he was Jewish.
Ellen Terry, Levenson's mother, described what her son told her about the incident.
"They cornered him after practice, knocked him against a locker and held him by his shirt," said Terry. They followed this with a barrage of anti-Semitic slurs, she added.
Terry said she tried to meet with Dr. Sue Bradley, principal of Coronado High School, but was not granted an appointment. Instead, she met with Vice Principal Brian Corte.
Terry said Corte told her he would interview each of the students involved.
According to Terry, in a later conversation, Corte said none of the students admitted to making any anti-Semitic slurs.
Bradley said at least two of the students were taken off the team and further punished with having to do community service. She added that both Coach Darren Beracy and Corte addressed the issue of proper behavior with the wrestling team.
"I think things are moving along well. Students' behavior that is out of line is swiftly dealt with," said Bradley.
Every year, usually in the spring, Coronado has a multicultural week. There are also opportunities for peer mediation and a diversity club.
"Students have to learn at school, if not anywhere else, responsibility and what is and what is not acceptable," said Judy Parker, assistant superintendent of Scottsdale Unified School District.
Parker was not aware, however, of what happened with Jonathan Levenson.
Terry said after the locker room incident with the wrestling team, Jonathan's performance in school "went straight downhill." He failed two classes and did not graduate.
"They blew it off like it was nothing," said Terry. "It's going on under their noses, and they know it."
In order to improve student relations on campus, Bradley has had contact with Paul Wieser, associate regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, as well as with Rory Gilbert, executive director of the National Conference for Community Justice.
"That's not OK for negative influences to have that power," said Gilbert, referring to the students on the junior varsity team that targeted Levenson.
She said after finding out what programs already exist at Coronado, she does not want to impose any additional programming to deal with problems.
In the past, Coronado has sent delegates to the National Conference for Community Justice's (NCCJ) Unitown and Minitown, offshoots of Camp Anytown, a one-week camp that brings together youth who usually would have no social connection. At the camps, the participants learn to break down prejudices and stereotypes.
Gilbert wants to see additional training for teachers, "to remind them of their role in (creating) the atmosphere at school."
"We want to open a dialogue at the school and see if we can help create a better climate," said Richard Kasper, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League. He said at other schools the ADL's Diversity Education Training Program has effectively fostered long-term change. Participants have included the Gilbert public schools, Phoenix Union School District No.1 and the Pendergrast school district, among others.
Levenson said his experience at Tempe High School has been a marked improvement from Coronado. "There are different kinds of people, and because of that, there is more acceptance," he said.
Concerning the anti-Semitism he experienced at Coronado, Levenson added, "If people are going to be like that, it's their problem. ... I won't let it hold me back."
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