In a series of viral TikTok videos, a high school student from Preparatory Charter School of Mathematics, Science, Technology and Careers in Philadelphia exposed his classmates' difficulties in reading simple sentences. The videos featured students unable to read phrases like, “She wore a silhouette of clothes that were extraordinary but somewhat gauche,” and garnered 1.7 million likes. Following the viral success, the student, known as “whatthevek,” claimed he was facing threats of expulsion and other disciplinary measures from school authorities, which he shared in an Instagram story. This incident has ignited outrage among viewers, with many criticizing both the school and parents for failing to ensure basic literacy. State test scores reveal that only 53% of students at the school are proficient in reading, while just 19% are proficient in math. The situation reflects a larger issue in Philadelphia, where 71% of fourth-graders cannot read at grade level, and over half of adults are functionally illiterate, one of the highest rates among major U.S. cities.