Entire School Fails Class

[wolf]

There had been some interpersonal difficulties at a school near Baltimore, Maryland, so they brought in a bunch of social workers and psychologists to give the student body a class in anger management.

They failed.

[99 44/100% pure]

Man, I told HB he should get this on FARK, as one of you eagle eyes was sure to pick it up soon! BTW, Woodlawn High has been plagued with violent eruptions for years, so this may have been the best they could have hoped to expect at a school-wide assembly.

Of course, in Baltimore, it's standard practice for parents to beat up other people's kids.

[ladysycamore]

Dang, I feel so bad for my old HS. They actually made national news (I first saw the story on CNN's website).

*basically wanting to cry after reading the Sun article*

I mean, my God, has the school gone down the tubes THAT badly in the last 17 years (since my graduation)?? I'm so angry about that now.

When I went to WHS in the 80's, I was proud to go to that school. Fighting was not that big of a deal, just some small ones here and there (but, Woodlawn has always had a rep for being a "fighting school"). There were so many other things about WHS that was good, and that we won awards for.

"As students on stage acted out peaceful ways to resolve conflict, one student's mother confronted a group of girls who had been bothering her child, authorities said."

See there? The school probably did nothing to help her daughter out, and so the mother took it upon herself to do something. Of course, not saying that it was "right", but I certainly understand. Hell, I probably would have done the same thing (except I would have threatened everyone with police action and lawsuits. I certainly would have found out who the parents of the girls were, so that I could have addressed them one-on-one). If worse came to worse, I would just have to do what Els is thinking about doing: remove my child from the school.

Jesus, I'm so beside myself now!!! I hate hearing bad things about my HS, because I had such a great time during my 4 years there and I still have faith in the public school system (because not everyone can afford private school).

*upset now...*

[ladysycamore]

Originally posted by 99 44/100% pure
Man, I told HB he should get this on FARK, as one of you eagle eyes was sure to pick it up soon! BTW, Woodlawn High has been plagued with violent eruptions for years, so this may have been the best they could have hoped to expect at a school-wide assembly.

Of course, in Baltimore, it's standard practice for parents to beat up other people's kids.

*cringes*

I've been in Philly for almost 4 years now, and it happens a lot here too.

Well, I wouldn't feel too bad, Lady S. You know how the media tends to blow everything out of proportion. High school kids have had ways of blowing off steam from the beginning of time (or the beginning of high schools, anyhow). I attended high school in a town in the Rocky Mountains region. My school had the finest college prep program in the city and it now offers a baclaureate program which is a model for other schools in the area. It also has a reputation for being one of the scrappiest schools you can attend. When I was there I was a member of the pep band which meant that I attended every sports event my school participated in. More often then not, huge fights would break out after the game and the pep band (we wore school uniforms) was the obvious target for everyone's wrath. I quickly made friends with a tall black kid who played the tuba. I still have fond memories of making a run to the safety of the school bus, following close upon Henry's heels as he fended off attackers with his tuba. It would have made for great press, but the papers here took such incidents for granted and never reported them as news.

[Kitsune]

You know how the media tends to blow everything out of proportion.

No, no -- school was much worse in the 1950s. There is even a movie that details it all.

Personally, I think schools have always had issues like this. The difference, these days, is that the media covers it nationally for some reason.

[ladysycamore]

Originally posted by marichiko
Well, I wouldn't feel too bad, Lady S. You know how the media tends to blow everything out of proportion.

Yeah, I know, but this only brings Baltimore down in the eyes of the nation, yet again. It seems that all my life, I've been defending my city, even with it's bad rep ("city that breeds", etc.).

Conversations have often gone like this:

Person: "So, where are you from?"
ME: "Baltimore."
Person: *outwardly cringing* "Oooh, I've heard some things..."

*sighs* Ah well. What can ya do? *shruging*

[wolf]

For the record, except for their ridiculous stance on firearms (and a friend being mugged there, in his hotel room), I happen to think that Baltimore is one of the more wonderful cities on the East Coast.

Of course, my experience is limited to the Inner Harbor, and a walk back to my hotel/conference site in the badlands, including admonishments by hotel staff NOT to go outside of sight of the front doors after dark.

Philadelphia needs to do something like the harbor area. Open plazas, good shopping, decent police presence, couple nice family tourist attractions, open later than 6pm. I've been saying this for a long time, but don't ever expect to see it happen.

I have noticed recently that the Baltimore PD are not as effective at chasing the homeless beggars away from the tourists as they were say, about 10 years ago.

[ladysycamore]

Originally posted by wolf
For the record, except for their ridiculous stance on firearms (and a friend being mugged there, in his hotel room), I happen to think that Baltimore is one of the more wonderful cities on the East Coast.

*blurry monitor moment* Thanks. I think so too.

Of course, my experience is limited to the Inner Harbor, and a walk back to my hotel/conference site in the badlands, including admonishments by hotel staff NOT to go outside of sight of the front doors after dark.

LOL, that seems to be the way to go. I hear out-of-towers say that all of the time (which is a smart move if you don't know the city). However, some areas outside of The Harbor which are nice include Fells Point. It sortakinda reminds me of South Street a bit: cool bars, places to eat, hip crowd, etc. Little Italy is pratically next door to The Harbor. Velleggia's is a great place to eat.

Philadelphia needs to do something like the harbor area. Open plazas, good shopping, decent police presence, couple nice family tourist attractions, open later than 6pm. I've been saying this for a long time, but don't ever expect to see it happen.

I totally agree. It would raise the respect of the city so much, IMO.

[BrianR]

was about 1995.

I was there for a contest (I was NOT a participant).

I walked down Charles Street to a late night pizza and sandwich shop to eat. I also walked back again. Safely. Hardly a soul about. I remember it as being a bit dirty, W I D E street, and plenty dark.

The Inner Harbor I visited in the daylight. Stayed at the Omni. No muggings, confrontations or even a blip on my radar.

All in all, a satisfactory visit.

[Elspode]

Originally posted by ladysycamore
Dang, I feel so bad for my old HS.

I completely understand this feeling. I attended the same school my beleaguered stepson attends the first year it was open, 1969. My, my...things have changed.

[wolf]

I've done some of the "outside the Harbor" bits of Baltimore ... one of our dinners during the conference is always in Little Italy (I love DaMimmos and feel that enjoying the Sinatra impersonator in the piano bar is an important part of my fine dining experience. Jokes aside, the food is fantastic). I also loved going to Haussner's, the German restaurant in Greektown. Bruce, this is a place you would have loved ... major doodadage! I'm distressed, however, to read that it has closed, and the artwork and other stuff, including a giant ball of string was auctioned off.

[kerosene]

Originally posted by marichiko
Well, I wouldn't feel too bad, Lady S. You know how the media tends to blow everything out of proportion. High school kids have had ways of blowing off steam from the beginning of time (or the beginning of high schools, anyhow). I attended high school in a town in the Rocky Mountains region. My school had the finest college prep program in the city and it now offers a baclaureate program which is a model for other schools in the area. It also has a reputation for being one of the scrappiest schools you can attend. When I was there I was a member of the pep band which meant that I attended every sports event my school participated in. More often then not, huge fights would break out after the game and the pep band (we wore school uniforms) was the obvious target for everyone's wrath. I quickly made friends with a tall black kid who played the tuba. I still have fond memories of making a run to the safety of the school bus, following close upon Henry's heels as he fended off attackers with his tuba. It would have made for great press, but the papers here took such incidents for granted and never reported them as news.

It sounds a lot like you went to Poudre...was that the case?

I was also part of pep/marching band in high school and recieved plenty of harassings as such.

Originally posted by case


It sounds a lot like you went to Poudre...was that the case?

I was also part of pep/marching band in high school and recieved plenty of harassings as such.

I went to Palmer in Colorado Springs. Sometimes we'd play places like Trinidad - real hellions. And of course there were the games with our big cross town rival, Wasson. Henry and his tuba were respected throughout southern Colorado.

[ladysycamore]

Originally posted by BrianR
was about 1995.

I was there for a contest (I was NOT a participant).

I walked down Charles Street to a late night pizza and sandwich shop to eat. I also walked back again. Safely. Hardly a soul about. I remember it as being a bit dirty, W I D E street, and plenty dark.

Argh! *smacks head* How could I have forgotten Charles Street? Great shopping, great places to eat...*sighs*.

{getting homesick...hehe!}