Posts by Peak Johnson:
Camelot Schools Making a Difference
“One thing about the teachers here is that they will never give up on you,” says Klarice Reed.
The 11th-grader begins each day at Shallcross Academy attending Townhouse, a social gathering in which students from different grades come together to discuss their issues and brainstorm on how to make the day successful.
Like most of her schoolmates, Reed, 18, was sent to Shallcross because she was acting out at her previous school, Woodrow Wilson. By the time the tumultuous teen hit the 10th grade, she was infamous for disrespecting her teachers, fighting and throwing paper balls in class. Reed says her friends constantly urged her to misbehave. And she gladly obliged.
“I felt as though I was the class clown,” she says. “The class used to laugh with me, but I soon realized that they were just laughing at me.”
When it became clear that Reed couldn’t make it in a traditional school setting, she was removed from Wilson and enrolled at Shallcross Academy, one of the city’s four Camelot schools. For more than 30 years, the Camelot Schools of Philadelphia have built a reputation making positive contributions to the lives of students who would otherwise fall through the cracks. Camelot’s outcome-oriented residential treatment centers, therapeutic day schools and alternative-education programs seek to help children dealing with autism and mental-health and behavioral problems. The Camelot schools also work with kids who are in danger of dropping out of school, and those like Reed, who can’t or won’t achieve academically because of disciplinary or learning challenges.
Reed says it was hard adjusting to the structure and discipline affiliated with Camelot schools, but it was just what the rowdy teen needed.
From G to Gent
Jamal Nasir was 15 the first time he sold drugs. It was an easy choice for the gullible teenager: As a Baltimore high school student in the late ’80s, he watched many of his peers arrive at school sporting flashy clothes, showcasing new cars and brandishing huge wads of cash. “It was eye-catching,” says Nasir, [...]
The White Cat
I actually got my books signed by Mrs. Black this past Saturday, lucky me. Presently I am reading “The Hobbit” and a few graphic novels on the side, so I have not had the chance to read this one. This semester at CCP just ended for me so I’m getting back into the swing of [...]
Peace Not Guns…
On Thursday, December 10, 2009 at South Philadelphia High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA State Representative Kenyatta Johnson will be presenting the Peace Not Guns Town Hall Meeting. Sponsored by Power 99 FM, the panel will be moderated by Dr. Marc Lamont Hill of Columbia University. Panelists include the first African-American District Attorney of Philadelphia, [...]
PhillyCam
One of my english professors sent this to me early Sunday morning, not sure why exactly, but it reminds me of last year and being the behind the scenes person when involved with the teen show, Gen.Is.Us Revitalized Teen Talk. Sadly the studio that we filmed the show at was suddenly shut down, and I [...]
An Update…
Following the anti-violence rally that took place Friday September 25, 2009, two arrests have been made, two lots have been cleared where criminals were reportedly hiding guns, graffiti has been removed from walls displaying “tags” of two feuding groups. Two houses are being sealed up where criminals have been hiding drugs and guns, plans are [...]
My friend
This weekend, yesterday to be exact, I lost my best friend to cancer; she was my dog, but my friend nonetheless. My dog’s name was Ikea and she was only ten years old… I cannot write and say that I didn’t notice something was a little off with my companion. She was getting tired very [...]
The week that was
After leaving the Philadelphia Public School Notebook (post coming soon, I promise) I began interning at the Philadelphia Weekly. Last Friday, I had the chance of covering a anti-violence rally for the Philadelphia Weekly to post on their website. I had just left the weekly an hour or so before, had heard about the rally the [...]
The Notebook Fall Guide
Yikes!, school is back in session already, where have I been these past few months? I would like to say that a lot was done this summer, working with a group of loverly third graders, sleeping in later, working at a loverly cafe’ with loverly co-workers, and having the chance to help out [...]
Alex’s Lemonade
One of the things that make the summer season worthwhile for me, is having the chance to sell Alex’s Lemonade. A few years back I had the chance of meeting Alex’s father, Jay Scott, when dropping of a donation to the organization. He was so thankful that he gave me and those who had accompanied [...]









