Lisa Mesi, the former principal of Philadelphia High School for Girls, has filed a discrimination suit against the Philadelphia School District following a controversy at the school's 2023 graduation ceremony that led to her demotion. (photo via Philadelphia School District)
At what point do traditional practices that have been around for generations need to metamorphosize to evolve with the time? Or can thet persist as they have for more than a century?
Those questions are going to be answered if a lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court gets to trial.
Lisa Mesi, the former principal of the Philadelphia High School for Girls, colloquially known as Girls' High, filed a lawsuit against the Philadelphia School District on Wednesday claiming that she was demoted from her position after a controversy at the 2023 graduation ceremonies for the school, because, among other reasons, she was white and the school is made up of predominantly Black students.
Such a claim is sure to bring more fuel to the fire over what happened two summers ago as the kerfuffle that went viral in the Spring of 2023 is sure to re-enter the spotlight as the case moves forward.
To recap what happened, In June 2023, Girls' High held its graduation ceremony, a traditionally formal event emphasizing decorum.
In other words, it's processional. It's reverent. Students are supposed to walk across the stage to receive their diplomas in an orderly fashion and follow an unwritten standard of uniformity.
In addition, attendees at the event are supposed to to respect the ceremony by not emitting outward signs of emotion and celebration for individual graduates, saving their applause and cheers until all students have received their diplomas.
Mesi, who is white, enforced these standards just as countless principals had before her, by temporarily withholding diplomas from three graduates whose celebratory actions during the ceremony deviated from these established norms.
Those actions?
One student danced across the stage, another made a gesture prompting audience noise, and a third was personally following the traditional protocol but had family members who didn't, choosing instead to cheer exuberantly.
These students were denied their diplomas on stage, however they did receive them after the ceremony.
Critics argued that Mesi's actions were culturally insensitive, particularly toward Black students, as the three affected graduates were Black. They contended that the enforcement of such strict decorum suppressed expressions of joy common during such celebratory events.
And it's fair to argue that taking the fun of graduation to maintain some reverential practice that dates back to the 19th century is utterly absurd, even if it was deemed acceptable as recently as four years prior.
But, is it also fair to punish the person who upheld those antiquated standards by removing them from their job when others who did the same had no punitive action taken against them?
Aye, there's the rub.
The Philadelphia School District responded to overwhelming public pressure once the videos of this went viral and the phone calls and emails calling for Mesi's firing were relentless.
Here's an excerpt from the Philadelphia Inquirer highlighting the School District's response in the month that followed the ceremony:
School system officials, responding to a June 14 Inquirer request for comment on the Girls’ High diploma situation, said that “the district does not condone the withholding of earned diplomas based on family members cheering for their graduates. We apologize to all the families and graduates who were impacted and are further looking into this matter to avoid it happening in the future.”
School board President Reginald Streater later also castigated Mesi’s withholding of diplomas, saying it allowed “nonmaterial antiquated norms [to] preclude moments of inclusive joy that often follow moments of achievement/recognition.”
Ted Domers, the assistant superintendent who supervised Mesi at the time, told Mesi in an email that “your actions demonstrated a lack of respect to the students and their families. I understand that the decision to withhold the diploma from students at graduation is based on the Girls’ High tradition. However, it is my belief that this practice is, at best, outdated, and, at worst, a practice that lacks an awareness of culturally responsive norms.”
A month later, the District demoted Mesi from the position she held since 2019, reassigning her elsewhere, and replaced her with a Black woman as principal,
But, as in most cases, there are two sides to every story, and Mesi is certainly not without her supporters.
After all, supporters say, Mesi was not only upholding the traditional standards, but clearly made everyone aware of the tradition - including attendees - prior to the start of the ceremony.
In addition, they stand by the fact that previous principals, some of who were Black, also enforced this traditional policy.
The Alumnae Association of the Philadelphia High School for Girls also defended Mesi.
In a statement issues during all the hubbub, the Association said, “The current media tempest regarding the temporary withholding of a diploma to a few students during the June 9, 2023, graduation ceremony is headline grabbing and click bait. It does not reflect in any way the overall tone and tenor of the day. At the onset — and previously shared with all students, families, and other attendees — Principal Mesi clearly communicated the guidelines and regulations for the ceremony with an added dose of warmth and humor.”
On Wednesday, 18 months after the incident, Mesi filed a federal lawsuit against the Philadelphia School District, alleging racial discrimination and retaliation.
The Gold Law Firm, P.C. is proud to stand with Lisa Mesi in her fight for justice. Our firm is representing Mesi in her lawsuit alleging she was demoted from her role as Girls' High principal due to racial discrimination.
Read more: https://t.co/oaqSlxEP9h#TheGoldLawFirm pic.twitter.com/M8xjLuKQf1
The Gold Law firm is representing Mesi. The suit was filed by Brian Farrell but Sidney Gold and Robert Davitch are also listed as part of her legal team.
Mesi claimed that her demotion was due to her race and her refusal to issue a public apology as requested by district officials. She argued that she was disciplined for enforcing rules consistent with the school's traditions and that her reassignment involved "demeaning 'special assignment'" tasks not befitting her experience, going so far as to allege being passed over for positions for which she was well-qualified to hire Black applicants with far less experience.
The Philadelphia School District has declined to comment on the pending litigation.
This case will surely be fascinating because not only will it highlight the complex interplay between tradition, cultural sensitivity, and administrative decision-making within educational institutions, but it's seemingly going to bring into question hiring practices by the school district and what are the driving forces behind those decisions.
