Category Archives: kids

Some Asian students return to South Philly High

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About a week after Asian students protest violence at South Philly High, some students are starting to return to school. They have stated that they are targets of anti-Asian discrimination and violence. Yesterday, school district officials, Asian community representatives and boycotting Asian students met to discuss how to improve the current situation. Cultural tensions at the school have gone unaddressed by the school officials (See here, here, and here.) The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) also intends to file a complaint for civil rights violations with the U.S. Department of Justice against the Philadelphia School District for failing to address the rampant violence against Asian immigrant students at South Philadelphia High School (see here.)

Asian students return to South Philly High

11 year old Ethan Matsuda’s message to the President about education

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Watch 11 year old Ethan Matsuda tell President Obama about the horrific cuts to public education and how going to war in Afghanistan will drain resources away from investing in America’s children. As Ethan says, “There’s nothing left to cut, Mr. President..” He’s only in the sixth grade, but we see a future in politics for this kid. Check out the The Giving Tree book he mentions.

11 year old Ethan Matsuda’s message to the President about education

Asian students protest violence at South Philly High

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Asian students at South Philly High are breaking the stereotype of the quiet immigrant kid. Tensions between black and Asian students at the school erupted in assaults last week. Ten students were suspended and several sought medical treatment. Fearing for their safety, about 50-100 Philadelphia high school students are boycotting the school until things get fixed. Apparently, the bullying has been reported before to the school district, but it has done nothing to change the situation.

Philly school district get your act together.



Local ABC coverage of Asian student protest

Local CBS coverage of Asian student protest

Local FOX coverage of Asian student protest

Local NBC coverage of Asian student protest

Efren Penaflorida – 2009 CNN Hero of the Year

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Efren Peñaflorida, who started a “pushcart classroom” in the Philippines to bring education to poor children as an alternative to gang membership, has been named the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year. His Dynamic Teen Company‘s 10,000 members have taught basic reading and writing to 1,500 kids living in the slums. Learn more about Efren Penaflorida here.



CNN Hero Efren Penaflorida talks about his program

Efren Penaflorida – 2009 CNN Hero of the Year

Planet 51 with The Rock (Dwayne Johnson)

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The Rock (aka Dwayne Johnson) take part in another family comedy. This time it’s for the animated feature “Planet 51”. He plays Captain Charles “Chuck” Baker. Here’s a synopsis of the film:

Planet 51 is a galactic sized animated alien adventure comedy revolving around American astronaut Captain Charles “Chuck” Baker, who lands on Planet 51 thinking he’s the first person to step foot on it. To his surprise, he finds that this planet is inhabited by little green people who are happily living in a white picket fence world reminiscent of a cheerfully innocent 1950s America, and whose only fear is that it will be overrun by alien invaders…like Chuck! With the help of his robot companion “Rover” and his new friend Lem, Chuck must navigate his way through the dazzling, but bewildering, landscape of Planet 51 in order to escape becoming a permanent part of the Planet 51 Alien Invaders Space Museum.

Get tickets to Planet 51 here.

Earlier this year, The Rock was in The Race to Witch Mountain.

Planet 51 with The Rock (Dwayne Johnson)

Planet 51 trailer