My mom lived in this neighborhood when she was growing up- and then after I got out of the Peace Corps I taught here in this school for a year. Many things have so much greatly changed from the time my Grandparents moved into the neighborhood to when I taught there.
I will always remember our nice principal telling a room full of mostly women teachers who were also brand new to the school that- "at 4 pm no matter what you will drive home and go home." All the women looked at him - like 'why' so I 'gentle and' carefully say- it is for safety- gang related safety not to be out at night in this neighborhood. They were not street smart and just didn't know. The neighborhood changed.
As a school though- it is wonderful- 5,000+ kids and they take care of the little ones and are helpful and respectful so much more of the time than other schools I have visited.
They have coordinated school plays and open up some to the community.
The teacher aids are the best- almost all of them are local and know the kids and what they are going though in their lives.
A school is a community! read more