TESTIMONIALS: A FRANCIS LEWIS HS CASE STUDY

Lewis in the News: The Early Years: 1958

A view of FLHS in 1964^[1]

“The $6.1 million dollar structure will be three stories, contain 39 regular classrooms, five special classrooms, a 1,000-seat auditorium, library, cafeteria, three gymnasiums, and separate departments for science, art, homemaking, commercial studies, music, and shopwork.”^[2]

“[NE Queens High] is one of eight high school projects under construction or completed in Queens since World War II in a $32 million program.”^[3]

Lewis in the News: International Baccalaureate: 1979

“The flags of UN nations will be on permanent display at the school as a hallmark of Francis Lewis’ international flavor. The school is one of only 24 in North America to qualify for the rugged academic standards adopted from the programs that enabled children of United Nations employees to qualify for colleges here and in their home country.” “‘Getting back to the International Baccalaureate Courses,‘ [Principal Melvin Serisky] says, ‘Did you know we get calls from foreign governments when new fellows are coming over for UN duty? They want to enroll their children with us.’”^[4]

Lewis in the News: Racial Tensions: 1979

Almost 30 years after these racial tensions, FLHS celebrates its diversity by profiling these "Faces of Francis Lewis" at its 2008 Commencement Ceremony^[5]

“Tuesday’s melee started outside the school, when white students assaulted a black student in revenge for what they said was his attack on a younger boy. It escalated when black students ran through the halls hitting whites. About 15 to 20 whites then retaliated by stoning a busload of black students heading back to their homes in southeastern Queens. Principal Melvin Serisky said that many of the injuries needed medical attention but that none were considered serious.”^[6]

Sgt. James Caruna of Youth Gang Task Force: “[This] was the first day there were injuries, but they’ve had trouble here before. The school security people took a few sticks and clubs from some students today. They were given summonses or arrested. Basically it’s a white and black thing. There are rabblerousers on both sides.”^[7]

1979 Senior Class President JoAnne Tracey: “[Sometimes] it just gets out of proportion. Last year, it happened, three years ago it happened. A lot of whites try to make the blacks feel they’re stupid, and even the teachers have this attitude.”^[8]

Bob Barbetta, 17, senior: “There’s always racial tension in this school. Once a year it breaks out into something like this.”^[9]

Unidentified Black youth: “White boys jumped a brother and we took it upon ourselves to hunt them down and punch them out.” He fractured his hand when he “smacked a white in the face.”^[10]

Lewis in the News: A New York Post Profile: 2008

Crowded hallway during transition between periods^[11]

“Many students said they also relish the school's diversity - which is nearly 50 percent Asian with a mix of white, black and Hispanic kids.”^[12]

Sophomore Marc McDonald, 15: “I have friends of almost every ethnicity." ("[He] listed Egyptian, Irish, Chinese and Korean students among them.”)^[13]

Sophomore Ayman Ghanim, 16: "With so many people, you make so many friends. There's really nothing bad about it."^[14]

Senior Trinel Torian, 18: "There's something for everyone - which I think makes everyone more positive.”^[15]

Lewis in the News: A New Principal: 2008

Principal Musa Ali Shama^[16]

“PTA co-president Leslie O’Grady, following sudden retirement of Jeffrey Scherr and appointment of [outsider] Musa Ali Shama.”: “Right now we’re really excited that he has the same vision as our past principal, to keep the school the best school in Queens, to have an open-door policy and to be very supportive. That’s what you want in a principal. He stops, looks and listens. What I think is great is he looks to the old principal as a mentor. Mr. Scherr had a wonderful love for the school and did not want to give up his position.”^[17]

Principal Musa Ali Shama Introduces the Topic of Immigration Today

Musa Ali Shama, Principal: “Immigration and diversity has a very positive effect on the educational environment of Francis Lewis High School. Few schools in the country have the diversity that is found at Francis Lewis High School. With over 66 different home languages spoken and 90 nationalities represented our students learn in a microcosm of the world.”

Social Effects at Francis Lewis

Anonymous English teacher: “Sometimes the students that are not native to this country also have trouble ‘fitting in.’ They wear different styles of clothing and have different priorities and morals from other students which sometimes causes them to be outcasts.”

Afrodity Voyiatzoglou, AP Statistics and Mathematics teacher: “Socially speaking I think it's a wonderful thing for everyone in the school. I feel our students have had so much experience without ever having to leave Queens. We are all so much more tolerant than the rest of the country.”

Thomas Li, Class of 2008: “[Lewis’ diversity] allows each individual to experience other parts of the world, gaining more knowledge instead of being stuck to one thing.”

Stephanie Savarese, current senior, Class of 2009: “Students have a greater respect for other cultures and learn to get along with various groups of people besides people from only their own culture. In class, students interact with one another by either accumulative talk or group projects and learn to make friends outside their comfort zone and nationality.”

Negative Academic Effects

Students walk down the main hallway at FLHS, known as "The Strip"^[18]

Anonymous English Teacher: “I see that a lot of students that have immigrated from other countries have trouble in several areas. Some of them have trouble adjusting to the language. They are used to the format of their native written language and when they write in English, there are problems with the mechanics.”

Melissa Prusak, current senior, Class of 2009: “Let’s start off with how I am a white American living in Queens, New York and I am a minority in my own high school. Over half of Francis Lewis High School is Asian...First, there are a few teachers that can barely speak English, making it hard for students to pass their class, let alone understand what they are saying--it’s great that immigrants come to America to get a better life and job, but they should at least get a job they can work well in. Then I have another issue: the fact that we need to take like at least Spanish/French in middle school, and continue a language in high school. I know this has been going on for years, but seriously, you guys are coming to America, learn freaking English, why should we learn your language when we’re the ones living here? Lastly, I feel there is reverse discrimination when it comes to college. Like why should I be punished because I’m white, and have less of a chance of getting in somewhere because of it. Why should a Spanish kid with an 85 average get into somewhere that I cant when I’m white with a 94 average? It doesn’t make any sense. That’s basically saying they can slack off and have a good future because of their nationality, which is bullshit.”

Positive Academic Effects

Students enter FLHS Prom, June 2008.^[19]

Afrodity Voyiatzoglou: “I think immigration has really helped Francis Lewis, but remember I’m a math teacher. I'm always very impressed when I meet students [who have gone through] our public schools and came out so intelligent. Unfortunately it doesn't happen too often. The math team wouldn't be where it is without our immigrants.”

Thomas Li: “At Francis Lewis High School, diversity is something you cannot ignore. Education at Francis Lewis in a sense depends on this. Whether it is the teachers coming from many different backgrounds, providing us with many different perspectives of where they came from and how they were brought up. Also, with all these different races and religions running around in one building, it shows that diversity among 4,400 kids works and each of them receiving a proper education is possible.”

Students play handball in gym class^[20]

Vanessa Lau, current senior, Class of 2009, editor of Galaxy Yearbook: “Individual students are able to bring more into class discussions as their remarks and opinions often times reflect their cultural upbringing and values. Because there are so many students of various ethnic and religious backgrounds in [my College Now! Sociology] class, our discussions are enriched—we are able to study sociology and analyze different societies and cultures on a deeper level, beyond the textbook and class notes provided by the instructor.”

Stephanie Savarese: “Different cultures may think differently or have different opinions about certain topics, which causes students to think in a variety of ways instead of sticking to a solid opinion of their own.”

Principal Musa Ali Shama: “A true melting pot, Francis Lewis affords teachers many teachable moments in highlighting the diversity of the school to make those connections to the world our students live in.”

How the School Responds

Francis Lewis JROTC cadets march in Veteran's Day Parade^[21]

Vanessa Lau: “ELL [English Language Learners] classes have increased, and various subjects are beginning to be taught in different languages, such as biology in Chinese and chemistry in Korean.”

Principal Musa Ali Shama: “However, there are challenges in regards to the influx of immigrants. The high number of English Language Learners puts an added burden on teachers and school budgets in order to effectively meet the needs of this target population. Unable to have multiple classes in all languages spoken, teachers and students do the best job under the varied circumstances. With all the ‘Professional Development’ we invest in to further enhance teacher training, the uniqueness of this environment means that we continually have to modify and adjust instructional practices.”

References

1. ↑ "FRESH MEADOWS." QUEENSPIX.COM. 12 Apr. 2009 <http://www.queenspix.com/fresindex.html>.
2. ↑ "NE Queens High Really Here: They'll Break Ground Monday." Long Island Star-Journal 19 Apr. 1958: 6.
3. ↑ "NE Queens High Really Here: They'll Break Ground Monday." Long Island Star-Journal 19 Apr. 1958: 6.
4. ↑ Hurley, Ed. "At Francis Lewis High." New York Daily News 18 Feb. 1979.
5. ↑ Daniel Bacharach
6. ↑ Brown, Peggy. "Tension High at Francis Lewis After a Racial Uproar; 13 Hurt." Newsday [New York City] 18 Oct. 1979.
7. ↑ Brown, Peggy. "Tension High at Francis Lewis After a Racial Uproar; 13 Hurt." Newsday [New York City] 18 Oct. 1979.
8. ↑ Brown, Peggy. "Tension High at Francis Lewis After a Racial Uproar; 13 Hurt." Newsday [New York City] 18 Oct. 1979.
9. ↑ Leahy, Jack. "A Racial Truce at Francis Lewis." New York Daily News 18 Oct. 1979.
10. ↑ Leahy, Jack. "A Racial Truce at Francis Lewis." New York Daily News 18 Oct. 1979.
11. ↑ Gonen, Yoav. "SO WHY IS THIS PRINCIPAL SMILING?" New York Post 10 Mar. 2008. 1 Apr. 2009 <http://www.nypost.com/seven/03102008/news/regionalnews/so_why_is_this_principal_smiling__101273.htm>.
12. ↑ Gonen, Yoav. "SO WHY IS THIS PRINCIPAL SMILING?" New York Post 10 Mar. 2008.
13. ↑ Gonen, Yoav. "SO WHY IS THIS PRINCIPAL SMILING?" New York Post 10 Mar. 2008.
14. ↑ Gonen, Yoav. "SO WHY IS THIS PRINCIPAL SMILING?" New York Post 10 Mar. 2008.
15. ↑ Gonen, Yoav. "SO WHY IS THIS PRINCIPAL SMILING?" New York Post 10 Mar. 2008.
16. ↑ "Facebook - Musa Ali Shama." 24 Apr. 2009 <http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/photo.php?pid=32069&id=1577752833>.
17. ↑ Mastrosimone, Peter C. "New Principal Takes Over Francis Lewis H.S." Queens Chronicle 30 Oct. 2008.
18. ↑ Daniel Bacharach
19. ↑ Daniel Bacharach
20. ↑ Daniel Bacharach
21. ↑ "Nation's Parade, Veteran's Day Parade, 5th Avenue, Manhattan, New York, NYC, November 2005." 24 Apr. 2009 <http://www.urban75.org/photos/newyork/veterans-day-2.html>.