What did you call me?

[Anonymous]

My principal said it was not racist language but inappropriate language. You know that made me want to respond with are you in "freaking la-la land." The adults will brimace when they hear the word bitch or motherf*cker. But will almost want to declare a state of emergency when they hear the word n*gger. I have witnessed it with my own eyes and ears. Where two female students called each other black bitches and the adults in the vicinity just looked and rolled their eyes. Yet, when one boy said n*gger give my ball back, they were [both] immediate reprimanded to the front office.

To throw away and to clean-up should all be relative in issues of preparing our students. This throwing the baby out the system with the bath water is not the solution. But let's not be foolish thinking that we are neat and that will suffice for being clean.

At times, it is enough to make me wanna curse out loud in frustration.

[Anonymous]

I'm just surprised I live 2 blocks from Eastern and have never heard any of this. Kids are contantly walking past my house. Not one word. I've lived here for 8.5 years. So before the closing and after.

[Anonymous]

Wow, I feel like I just turned the channel and landed in the 50s. Welcome to Dodge City people. DC just isn't Mayberry, and whether you go to Sidwell or Eastern my guess is that you'll hear plenty of nasty talk. I can see a problem with someone accosting your personally with vulgarity, but a bunch of kids talking foul to each other is par for the course in any city and any social or economic "class". The real vulgarity is the "feel sorry for" comments about kids and their families that don't look like you. They have mom's who work hard and struggle to raise kids just as you do and imagine if some a** started saying that they felt sorry for your kid b/c the home they were being brought up in? Not pretty.

[Anonymous]

What people are lamenting is that most teenagers do indeed curse and act ridiculous (as do lots of adults), but most social norms demand straightening up and toning it down when, say, standing in an elevator with a frail old lady. A child who is not taught this, or does not know this, or who knows it but does not choose to do it (and is given a pass) may have a 'fun' time in the moment, but is at a disadvantage in being prepared for the future. This child is also a real nuisance, and , I think society should push back and both teach and expect pretty basic manners (like don't repeatedly shout "MF" to your friend in a crowded elevator over said old lady's head). Obviously families can prepare children; schools, whether Sidwell or Wilson can communicate societal norms with character education. The kids may roll their eyes, but sheer adult persistence pays off in modifying behavior to a socially acceptable degree.

[Anonymous]

Observing the Wilson students as they were let out of school in the afternoons is one of the reasons I sent my kids to private. And I'm black. Call me elitist if you will, but no way was I sending my kid to a school where that behavior is common.

[Anonymous]

Amen. We all have the right and the obligation to pay attention and make choices based on the norms we see upheld in any institution we will involve our kids in. I would not put up with a school where the adults speak rudely to the students and I will not put my kids in an insititution with large numbers of kids who choose to ignore societal norms of decent behavior.

[Anonymous]

I bet they were black and ghetto, there I said it, that is what is on every one s mind. This behavior is what happens when you barely legal moms have kids without education in poverty

[Anonymous]

I think this is what happens when negative peer pressure wins the day. These kids know what to do for the most part; they are choosing not to and why not? No one is saying 'boo' to them, much less telling them they expect better and laying a values-based pathway to success.

[Anonymous]

12:29, unless your house is across the street from the metro, then consider your minimal 8 years, heaven sent. If you have truly read this thread, it is when they assemble in public places such as the Metro. Your validation is quaint though!

[Anonymous]

The cursing around metro and certain storefronts is what this thread is about. Occasional fights as well. I have no problem with teens congregating. It's the abusive behavior that's the problem.
Also, perhaps these teens need more teen venues to go to. Where are the entrepreneurs who could be opening 'hangouts' for the 16 to 18 year old crowd? Pool tables and the like? recreation centers?

[Anonymous]

I agree that after school programs are needed. It just seems it is all talk in certain cases. Hangout spots have been the item since bobbie socks and poddle skirts. Really times haven't change just the race of students.

[Anonymous]

I am at stadium-armory metro. If I only knew how to upload this outlandish scene of ruckus. These are not just Eastern students as I am quite familiar with the uniforms. These kids are acting like Fred Flinstone getting off work from the quary but instead of saying yabba dabba do, it is much worse.

[Anonymous]

metro + teens + after-hours seems to equal disaster in DC. There have been some horrible platform beatings as well. I am worried about when my teen needs to take metro late for school things. Don't want my kid caught in the mayhem. I wish metro police were more visible. They know perfectly well where the 'hotspots' are. And the whole jurisdiction/handover from metro police to regular DC police just seems so flawed.

[Anonymous]

I've been riding the Metro with Gonzaga boys for years. I have never heard one of them curse. In fact, they always let me go first when I was struggling with a stroller.

Metro and teens don't equal problems across the board.

Not all teen in DC are thugs in training.

That said, the McKinley Tech kids are as close to feral as you can be. Funny what a difference a few stops on the red line make...

[Anonymous]

I think their schools motto is, "be a man for others". If a school and parent community push an ethos, it should cross the school threshold into other walks of life.