Teachers' Perspectives on Students
"I enjoy teaching at Furness. For the most part, kids are respectful, kind, innocent and happy. They come to school with a strong base of courtesy and respect for teachers and their fellow peers. Teaching in Philadelphia has its challenges: aging buildings, high student mobility, violence and a bloated bureaucracy. The faculty at Furness has changed since I first arrived...but the closeness and support one receives from their fellows are genuine. A majority of Furness student come from Asia (China, Nepal, Burma and Vietnam). Approximately 40% of our kids are native born. I believe a majority of our kids feel safe and enjoy their high school experience. A few kids view school as "passing time" or "not challenging enough" because of the various academic levels in the classrooms."
"Furness is probably the most diverse high school in Philadelphia. We have students from all over the world who speak a variety of languages (many students are bilingual, with a good portion being tri/multilingual). For many of out students, school can be an escape from difficulties at home or a place to receive help or advice. For other students, school is a source of frustration due to academic struggles."
"Furness is probably the most diverse high school in Philadelphia. We have students from all over the world who speak a variety of languages (many students are bilingual, with a good portion being tri/multilingual). For many of out students, school can be an escape from difficulties at home or a place to receive help or advice. For other students, school is a source of frustration due to academic struggles."
The administration
"The administration of the school had varied each year I've been at Furness. While Dan Peou has always been Principal, we've had different Assistant Principals or Principals on Special Assignment. Most of the staff have known the Principal for many years, as he was previously an Assistant Principal and have a good relationship with him. The students all know the Principal and I've not witnessed any students who were fearful of interacting with him."
"Last year's administrators were Mr. Peou and Mrs. Okoye-Johnson. Peou returns, Mrs. Johnson does not. The kids liked and respected Mr Peou, I can not say the same for Ms. Okoye-Johnson. Mr. Peou is out and about in the halls. He is firm and fair. The teachers like Mr. Peou and work with him to make the school run as smoothly as possible. We view him as a person we can trust and speak with when there are problems or decisions to be made. I can not speak to the relationship between the administrators and downtown."
"Last year's administrators were Mr. Peou and Mrs. Okoye-Johnson. Peou returns, Mrs. Johnson does not. The kids liked and respected Mr Peou, I can not say the same for Ms. Okoye-Johnson. Mr. Peou is out and about in the halls. He is firm and fair. The teachers like Mr. Peou and work with him to make the school run as smoothly as possible. We view him as a person we can trust and speak with when there are problems or decisions to be made. I can not speak to the relationship between the administrators and downtown."