Philip Nobile
Encyclopedia
Philip Nobile is an American
freelance writer
, historian
, and social critic/commentator based in New York City
.
Nobile's original career was not that of a journalist, but of a seminarian; however, he left religious life to become a journalist. During his career he has written for The New York Press
, New York Magazine, The Village Voice, The New York Review of Books
, Harper's Magazine
, Spy Magazine, Esquire
, and Newsday
, among other publications.
He teaches history at the Cobble Hill School Of American Studies
, in addition to being a regular contributor to the History News Network
. The Cobble Hill School of American Studies is a public high school located in Brooklyn
, New York and managed by the New York City Department of Education.
He has also been the author or editor of eleven books, notably, Intellectual Skywriting: Literary Politics and the New York Review of Books; and Judgement at the Smithsonian, an indictment of the decision to use the atomic bomb
on Hiroshima, Japan
, framed within the context of the controversy and debate surrounding The Smithsonian
's 50th anniversary exhibition, which featured the Enola Gay
, the B-29 bomber that dropped the bomb.
Throughout a controversial career as an investigative journalist
and media analyst, Nobile has aimed scathing criticisms at a variety of public figures, including talk radio host Don Imus
, author Alex Haley
, historians Doris Kearns Goodwin
and David McCullough
, and President Harry S. Truman
.
scores at the Cobble Hill School of American Studies. The result of Nobile's "whistleblowing" was a 30 page report detailing tampering by Ms. Theresa Capra, Cobble Hill School's assistant principal of humanities, with the 2002 and 2003 Regents Examinations
scoring, and her resignation.
In 2005, Richard J. Condon, the special commissioner of investigation for New York City schools, undertook a separate investigation of the events at Cobble Hill. The result of the 23 month investigation was a report, released in 2007, that, according to the New York Times, referred to Nobile as “a subpar teacher with poor evaluations who wrongly accused Ms. Capra of engineering a cheating scheme because she had given him a negative review that could have led to his firing.” The report also blames Louis N. Scarcella, the lead investigator for the Education Department, for producing a “deeply flawed report” which was “biased and overtly influenced by Mr. Nobile.” Scarcella, who has since resigned his position, maintains that his original 2005 report was accurate, stating “All I can say is I stand by my investigation.…To this day, Mr. Nobile was correct about everything.”
In June 2007, the New York Post
reported that Philip Nobile as being under investigation for the corporal punishment of his students at the school. Nobile responded to the allegations as being without cause, and called them “retaliatory” and a “smear” due to his whistleblowing.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
freelance writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, and social critic/commentator based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Nobile's original career was not that of a journalist, but of a seminarian; however, he left religious life to become a journalist. During his career he has written for The New York Press
New York Press
New York Press was a free alternative weekly in New York City, that was published from 1988 to 2011. During its lifetime, it was the main competitor to the Village Voice...
, New York Magazine, The Village Voice, The New York Review of Books
The New York Review of Books
The New York Review of Books is a fortnightly magazine with articles on literature, culture and current affairs. Published in New York City, it takes as its point of departure that the discussion of important books is itself an indispensable literary activity...
, Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts, with a generally left-wing perspective. It is the second-oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. . The current editor is Ellen Rosenbush, who replaced Roger Hodge in January 2010...
, Spy Magazine, Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
, and Newsday
Newsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
, among other publications.
He teaches history at the Cobble Hill School Of American Studies
American studies
American studies or American civilization is an interdisciplinary field dealing with the study of the United States. It traditionally incorporates the study of history, literature, and critical theory, but also includes fields as diverse as law, art, the media, film, religious studies, urban...
, in addition to being a regular contributor to the History News Network
History News Network
History News Network is a project of the Center for History and New Media at George Mason University. Although the HNN resides on GMU's server, it operates independently of the university as a non-profit corporation registered in Washington State...
. The Cobble Hill School of American Studies is a public high school located in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York and managed by the New York City Department of Education.
He has also been the author or editor of eleven books, notably, Intellectual Skywriting: Literary Politics and the New York Review of Books; and Judgement at the Smithsonian, an indictment of the decision to use the atomic bomb
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
on Hiroshima, Japan
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
During the final stages of World War II in 1945, the United States conducted two atomic bombings against the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, the first on August 6, 1945, and the second on August 9, 1945. These two events are the only use of nuclear weapons in war to date.For six months...
, framed within the context of the controversy and debate surrounding The Smithsonian
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
's 50th anniversary exhibition, which featured the Enola Gay
Enola Gay
Enola Gay is a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber, named after Enola Gay Tibbets, mother of the pilot, then-Colonel Paul Tibbets. On August 6, 1945, during the final stages of World War II, it became the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb as a weapon of war...
, the B-29 bomber that dropped the bomb.
Throughout a controversial career as an investigative journalist
Investigative journalism
Investigative journalism is a form of journalism in which reporters deeply investigate a single topic of interest, often involving crime, political corruption, or corporate wrongdoing. An investigative journalist may spend months or years researching and preparing a report. Investigative journalism...
and media analyst, Nobile has aimed scathing criticisms at a variety of public figures, including talk radio host Don Imus
Don Imus
John Donald "Don" Imus, Jr. is an American radio host, humorist, philanthropist and writer. His nationally-syndicated talk show, Imus in the Morning, is broadcast throughout the United States by Citadel Media and relayed on television by the Fox Business Network.-Personal life:Imus was born in...
, author Alex Haley
Alex Haley
Alexander Murray Palmer Haley was an African-American writer. He is best known as the author of Roots: The Saga of an American Family and the coauthor of The Autobiography of Malcolm X.-Early life:...
, historians Doris Kearns Goodwin
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Doris Kearns Goodwin is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American biographer and historian, and an oft-seen political commentator. She is the author of biographies of several U.S...
and David McCullough
David McCullough
David Gaub McCullough is an American author, narrator, historian, and lecturer. He is a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian award....
, and President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
.
Cobble Hill School controversy
In 2004, Nobile was centrally involved in uncovering what was termed a scandal that involved cheating on test and Regents examinationsRegents Examinations
Regents High School examinations, sometimes shortened to the Regents, are mandatory in New York State through the New York State Education Department, designed and administered under the authority of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York...
scores at the Cobble Hill School of American Studies. The result of Nobile's "whistleblowing" was a 30 page report detailing tampering by Ms. Theresa Capra, Cobble Hill School's assistant principal of humanities, with the 2002 and 2003 Regents Examinations
Regents Examinations
Regents High School examinations, sometimes shortened to the Regents, are mandatory in New York State through the New York State Education Department, designed and administered under the authority of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York...
scoring, and her resignation.
In 2005, Richard J. Condon, the special commissioner of investigation for New York City schools, undertook a separate investigation of the events at Cobble Hill. The result of the 23 month investigation was a report, released in 2007, that, according to the New York Times, referred to Nobile as “a subpar teacher with poor evaluations who wrongly accused Ms. Capra of engineering a cheating scheme because she had given him a negative review that could have led to his firing.” The report also blames Louis N. Scarcella, the lead investigator for the Education Department, for producing a “deeply flawed report” which was “biased and overtly influenced by Mr. Nobile.” Scarcella, who has since resigned his position, maintains that his original 2005 report was accurate, stating “All I can say is I stand by my investigation.…To this day, Mr. Nobile was correct about everything.”
In June 2007, the New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
reported that Philip Nobile as being under investigation for the corporal punishment of his students at the school. Nobile responded to the allegations as being without cause, and called them “retaliatory” and a “smear” due to his whistleblowing.