Gangs in area schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She drives by Blair every day on her way from her home in College Park to her job in Bethesda. Sometimes she sees Blair kids outside the school with her "adult eyes."

Two posters have cited good authorities saying there are gangs in every MoCo school. So ignore this buffoon.

The question for those of us with school-age kids (house hunters or not) is whether this should deter us from publics in MoCo. I think we can ignore the scary hypotheticals about play dates and such, because posters with kids at MoCo schools have said this isn't the experience. Two teachers have posted to say the gangs are actually low key at school.

Nice hallucinatory picture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"My experience is through the eyes of dn adult not children who attend the school"

-- What does this even mean? Obviously you don't have kids there. Do you think reading the papers or DCUM counts as "experience"?

It means I have direct exposure to crime in that area - not driving through. I can't spell or use grammar properly so you can imagine that I can't read the paper either.

I think it's a moot point because all I am saying is yes there are gangs - you say yes there are gangs - but they are quiet. So we agree. I am not sure what we are disagreeing on.

Either people in MoCo can remain aware of their surrounding or just be blind to it. I am not afraid of Blair - I am just aware - as well as many other areas of MoCo.

[Anonymous]

[i][b]I think it's a moot point because all I am saying is yes there are gangs - you say yes there are gangs - but they are quiet. So we agree. I am not sure what we are disagreeing on. [/b][/i]


I agree with PP on this point. I also would like to hear from people who are familar with Blair (parents, students, teachers, staff, alum, etc.) about what it really means that there are gang members at Blair but no gang activity. Does this mean students who are gang members are not considered dangerous at school? If so, why? May be I don't have a good understanding of the what gangs or being a gang member are/means, since several people I've talked to at Blair say they do feel safe. However, there is still a big part of me that is scared that DC will attend Blair.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][i][b]I think it's a moot point because all I am saying is yes there are gangs - you say yes there are gangs - but they are quiet. So we agree. I am not sure what we are disagreeing on. [/b][/i]


I agree with PP on this point. I also would like to hear from people who are familar with Blair (parents, students, teachers, staff, alum, etc.) about what it really means that there are gang members at Blair but no gang activity. Does this mean students who are gang members are not considered dangerous at school? If so, why? May be I don't have a good understanding of the what gangs or being a gang member are/means, since several people I've talked to at Blair say they do feel safe. However, there is still a big part of me that is scared that DC will attend Blair.[/quote]

Oh good Lord, just put us out of our misery and send your kid someplace else for HS. If he or she ends up at Blair, you will be wringing your hands and driving your kid crazy with your fears for 4 years.

[Anonymous]

I posted earllier about this issue.

Kids in gangs are quiet b/c they don't want recognition. Why can't people understand that? Certainly they have recognizable markings on their bodies, and they tag to mark territory. But if you think that kids who are "gang-free" are being tormented in hallways and classrooms, you're delusional.

They recruit from their own territory. So unless you're living in certain parts of SS that border DC or parts of PG, you're not living among the crew.

They don't care about "outsiders." They look for vulnerable elementary and middle school kids hungry to belong, seeking out protection - b/c, as mentioned earlier, gangs are territorial. So if one gang doesn't recruit, the rival will.

They do their dealing at school (drugs, that is). So to be loud means they're drawing attention to themselves -risking being kicked out. So unless your sons and daughters are completely mesmerized by drugs, I doubt they'll be scoring some weed by contacting an MS 13 or mara salvatrucha member.

Our security guards are always on high alert, and if there's new tagging, we are asked to keep them posted of any new markings. They tag as a means of communication, not as a way to recruit. So although I may see gang markings, I am not going to instantly think a fight will occur, as much of their interactions occur off school premises.

[quote=Anonymous][i][b]I think it's a moot point because all I am saying is yes there are gangs - you say yes there are gangs - but they are quiet. So we agree. I am not sure what we are disagreeing on. [/b][/i]


I agree with PP on this point. I also would like to hear from people who are familar with Blair (parents, students, teachers, staff, alum, etc.) about what it really means that there are gang members at Blair but no gang activity. Does this mean students who are gang members are not considered dangerous at school? If so, why? May be I don't have a good understanding of the what gangs or being a gang member are/means, since several people I've talked to at Blair say they do feel safe. However, there is still a big part of me that is scared that DC will attend Blair.[/quote]

[Anonymous]

I posted earlier to say that my DC goes to Blair and over a few years, so far, has had no contact with gang members. DC doesn't even know who the gang members might be, although DC realizes there are gang members there. Really, though, the presence of gang members hasn't impacted DC at all.

[Anonymous]

Whatvdoes bump mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whatvdoes bump mean?

"bump" means you are responding for the sole purpose of moving the thread to the top of the list in an effort to solicit further comments on the subject at hand.