Scharper blasted at parents’ meeting

Support for PS 24 Principal Philip Scharper was hard to find at a parents meeting held last night across the street from the school in the Whitehall apartment building.

The meeting began contentiously, with some parents questioning the methods used by the schools parents' association to bring Mr. Scharper’s alleged failings to light. But, as the night wore on, a majority of the parents at the well-attended gathering united behind the idea that Mr. Scharper should either step aside, or be removed from his post.

Complaints varied from failures to deal with a school nurse who was said to have failed to properly treat a child with a concussion, to allegations that Mr. Scharper humiliated students as a means of dealing with bullying and the use of corporal punishment by certain school aids.

By the end, parents seemed to agree that they had no confidence in Mr. Scharper’s ability to lead the school, or to change his ways. Parent Association leaders repeatedly pointed to meetings they've held with Mr. Scharper and other Department of Education officials, which they say have not changed his approach.