PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Over the past year, the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations has heard from people about the issue of violence and conflict in the Philadelphia School District.  Tuesday evening, the commission held their 11th public hearing, prompted by student attacks last year at South Philadelphia High School.

The commission heard from victims of bullying:

“I don’t think people understand the devastating effects that bullying has on the victim.”

They also heard from teachers:

“I believe that the issue of violence and bullying, I see it as a community health crisis.”

Bach Tong is a former student at South Philadelphia High School:

“I think the problem at the school is that we don’t have a lot of dialogue between immigrant students and American born kids because there’s no understanding between these two groups.”

The testimony heard over the past year will be compiled and presented to the School Reform Commission, the mayor and the superintendent of schools in January. 

Reported by:  Hadas Kuznits, KYW Newsradio