A Black high school senior at Preparatory Charter High School, a college-prep school in South Philadelphia, is facing potential expulsion after posting a TikTok asking classmates to read a sentence aloud.
In a TikTok video posted on April 28 by user “whatthevek,” the high school senior approaches students with an index card in hand, asking them to read the following sentence aloud: "She wore a silhouette of clothes that were extraordinary but somewhat gauche."
Many of them struggled to read the sentence properly. The first two students appeared unable to read the word “silhouette.” Another student who was approached for the video openly admitted that she doesn’t “even know how to read,” and said she was unable to explain its meaning.
The student posted a second video the next day with the same setup, but a different sentence: “The colonel asked the choir to accommodate the governor's schedule."
While many of the students could read the sentence better, some still could not explain its meaning when asked.
“This is actually isn’t funny at all,” one of the comments in the first video reads.
Although the video does not promote any violence or contain inappropriate imagery, the school is reportedly considering expelling the student who filmed the video.
According to a Facebook post from No Gun Zone Incorporated for Philadelphia, an anti-gun violence advocacy organization, on Sunday (May 1), Preparatory Charter High School is pursuing expulsion of the student over the video.
“I am writing to express concern regarding the school’s decision to pursue expulsion of a senior student over the creation of a TikTok account that involved interviewing fellow students on their ability to spell words,” the post, which included g a screenshot of a DM the group said it sent to school officials. “From what has been shared, the content appears harmless in nature and does not promote violence, bullying, or any form of serious misconduct.”
The post also included a screenshot of a TikTok story the student shared after posting the second video.
“I would post a part three, but the school board is trying to expel me, stop me from going to prom, and stop me from walking at graduation. I don’t know chat,” the post read.
According to No Gun Zone Incorporated, the student has a high GPA, and the school’s attempts to expel him over the video “raises questions about fairness and proportionality in disciplinary action.”
Pastor Reverend Jordan Wells amplified the video and No Gun Zone’s post on X Saturday (May 2).
“The Philadelphia high school student who went viral for showing his classmates struggling to read simple words like 'silhouette' and 'extraordinary' is now being threatened with expulsion, banned from prom, and blocked from graduating — just for exposing his school’s embarrassing literacy crisis,” he wrote. “As a teacher myself, this is the reality in far too many classrooms across the country. Yet the left wants our students more focused on protesting than actually learning to read.”
Preparatory Charter High School issued a statement on Sunday, denying claims that it is seeking the student's expulsion, calling the accusations “an inaccurate portrayal of our school’s mission.”
The school also said the video lacks important context, resulting in a portrayal of the student body that “is misleading and unfair.”
“The video titled 'Can You Read?' does not represent the character, effort, or abilities of our students as a whole,” the statement reads. “Our priority remains ensuring that every student feels valued and that our school continues to reflect the standards of academic growth, integrity, and digital responsibility that define Prep Charter.”
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