Unfortunate Events

Sideshow Bob: [Bob is calling into a radio show] I am presently incarcerated, imprisoned for a crime I did not even commit. "Attempted murder," now honestly, did they ever give anyone a Nobel prize for "attempted chemistry?"

—The Simpsons, "Sideshow Bob Roberts" (10/9/94)

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By now almost everyone's heard about the latest in a series of stories involving violence in Baltimore City schools. This past Sunday, a pair of 13-year-old boys broke into Calverton Elementary/Middle School, ransacked several rooms and tried to sexually assault one of the assistant principals.

There's not a lot to say about this, really. The public response from the school, Central Office, the Union and the Mayor's Office has run anywhere between tepid and the usual hand-wringing, but in the end I doubt that much is going to happen.

Union President Marietta English has advised teachers not to put themselves in a position to leave the building after dark. Nice advice, Mari. Did you see the part of the story where this took place at 3:30 PM?

Mayor Dixon's representative was quoted in the Sun as saying that there are limitations to what the city can do: "We can't say, 'Here's the new policy.' We can't say, 'Here is the new deployment policy for police in the schools.' ... What we can do is work with the school system and offer any assistance that they are asking for." I hope that's not the same sort of assistance you're giving the Arabbers, and way to screw THEM over, by the way, Ms. Mayor.

The thing that disturbs me is that the teachers knew there was a break-in—and really, how could they not, given the state of the rooms and offices that were affected?—but until Tuesday afternoon, nobody among school staff knew that a staff member had been assaulted. Until it broke on the news, practically no parents were aware that anything had happened.

For the most part, Calverton Elementary/Middle School has been the "innocent bystander" in this neighborhood. It basically marks the line between the Bloods and the Crips, and consequently is the heart of a turf war. When the lockdowns took place there a few weeks ago, it was because of activity OUTSIDE the school that didn't necessarily involve students. Now the violence is starting to move inside.

The school called a staff meeting at the end of the day today, and people were advised to keep the rumors to a minimum. Marjorie Miles, the principal, advised people to leave the school in groups. I guess if you're in the middle of a group, you're only one of several potential targets. I'm not sure what the logic entails there. But the fact is that nobody in the building feels safe anymore, and they don't feel as though anyone really wants to help. You can still see broken glass on the floor inside the office where the students broke in, and there's still fingerprint dust all over the room, because the custodians haven't bothered to clean any of it up. This despite several requests by the person who occupies the office.

Something I don't get is the rather poor response on the part of the parents. Why aren't more of them angry? Why aren't more of them banging on the doors at North Avenue, demanding answers or, at the very least, transfers? Their children's lives are in danger! Here's a quick idea: why not get the preschool programs and the elementary-level kids OFF THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING?

And why aren't more teachers furious about the situation they've been thrust into? Their lives are hanging in the balance! Why are they taking it like sheep?

There was a time, in the days of the Roman Empire, when a citizen could walk throughout the known world without fear of being accosted simply because they carried the designation: Civis Romanus; "I am a Roman Citizen". It was universally understood that retribution would be swift and certain. Why haven't the police moved into this neighborhood like the Wrath of God Himself and rendered it untenable for these gangs? Doesn't discouraging this sort of activity do anything toward making the neighborhood a better place?

I honest to god don't get it anymore.

Comments

[Chrissy]

This is so disturbing on so many levels. School used to be a safe place. Now you are not even safe anymore. What is wrong with people........ ???????

[Merryfish]

I hear you anger - NO, I feel your anger. Where are the parents and the community? The teachers and staff are being battered from both sides - unprotected. At the PTSO meeting last Fall at an Elem school, while parents and teachers were inside in the evening, thugs were in the parking lot doing minor, but expensive, damage to cars in the staff parking lot. And tonight, news of a parent assaulting a teacher. Dr. Alonso got it right this time in a press release. The violence in the schools comes from the home and the community. We all hear it. Parents are telling children, "If he hits you, you hit him back harder." Right in school. In front of the teacher. Thanks for the rant. It's been a bad week.

[Daily Breather]

It's gonna be a dirty hot summer. Those little dynamos are going to be released into general population next month. This community needs some serious healing.

[yellojkt]

This is outrageous. And since I don't get the Sun anymore or watch the "if it bleeds, it leads" local news I missed it entirely. Thanks for the heads-up.