Considering Seaton, but concerned about the homeless encampment

[Anonymous]

Not a Seaton parent but I am so relieved to hear the school/community is demanding action. There was a thread asking about this several months back and the majority of responses were like “this is harmless, it’s a teachable moment.” No, a homeless camp within arms reach of an ES is not a teachable moment; It’s a recipe for disaster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Update: apparently the solution is that DCPS is moving the school fence out to the sidewalk to take away the strip of grass that they put their tents on. Pretty good solution. Now the DC Council needs to pass a law prohibiting encampments within a certain distance of schools, libraries, metros, and heavily trafficked sidewalks.

https://twitter.com/RemoraHouse_DC/status/1385647882833965060

They should simultaneously increase supports for the homeless and ban camping on public land inside DC.

The sidewalks and parks are for all to enjoy, not for people to take over for long periods with tents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a Seaton parent but I am so relieved to hear the school/community is demanding action. There was a thread asking about this several months back and the majority of responses were like “this is harmless, it’s a teachable moment.” No, a homeless camp within arms reach of an ES is not a teachable moment; It’s a recipe for disaster.

Seaton parent here. Hearing about the gun was a tipping point. I think it has a lot to do with feeling empathy for the homeless during the pandemic year and not being directly affected bc kids were not in person. More in person kids + guns -- action happened very very quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a Seaton parent but I am so relieved to hear the school/community is demanding action. There was a thread asking about this several months back and the majority of responses were like “this is harmless, it’s a teachable moment.” No, a homeless camp within arms reach of an ES is not a teachable moment; It’s a recipe for disaster.

Seaton parent here. Hearing about the gun was a tipping point. I think it has a lot to do with feeling empathy for the homeless during the pandemic year and not being directly affected bc kids were not in person. More in person kids + guns -- action happened very very quickly.

I'll also add that I feel like the Seaton community is a pretty compassionate bunch, and the IB group is extremely economically diverse... We have millionaires and we have students who are dealing with homelessness themselves. So finding the right words and actions took some thought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a Seaton parent but I am so relieved to hear the school/community is demanding action. There was a thread asking about this several months back and the majority of responses were like “this is harmless, it’s a teachable moment.” No, a homeless camp within arms reach of an ES is not a teachable moment; It’s a recipe for disaster.

Seaton parent here. Hearing about the gun was a tipping point. I think it has a lot to do with feeling empathy for the homeless during the pandemic year and not being directly affected bc kids were not in person. More in person kids + guns -- action happened very very quickly.

I'll also add that I feel like the Seaton community is a pretty compassionate bunch, and the IB group is extremely economically diverse... We have millionaires and we have students who are dealing with homelessness themselves. So finding the right words and actions took some thought.

true, but I bet that the homeless families probably had the least desire to see this as a “learning opportunity” instead of a risk.

in general, well meaning liberals are extremely naive about the nature of encampments. they are foci for criminal activities, trash, and interfere with public space. we can have empathy for the homeless and not tolerate encampments next to schools at the same time. it’s not actually a moral dilemma. it’s a *tent city.* it can be located in a less disruptive spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a Seaton parent but I am so relieved to hear the school/community is demanding action. There was a thread asking about this several months back and the majority of responses were like “this is harmless, it’s a teachable moment.” No, a homeless camp within arms reach of an ES is not a teachable moment; It’s a recipe for disaster.

Seaton parent here. Hearing about the gun was a tipping point. I think it has a lot to do with feeling empathy for the homeless during the pandemic year and not being directly affected bc kids were not in person. More in person kids + guns -- action happened very very quickly.

I'll also add that I feel like the Seaton community is a pretty compassionate bunch, and the IB group is extremely economically diverse... We have millionaires and we have students who are dealing with homelessness themselves. So finding the right words and actions took some thought.

true, but I bet that the homeless families probably had the least desire to see this as a “learning opportunity” instead of a risk.

in general, well meaning liberals are extremely naive about the nature of encampments. they are foci for criminal activities, trash, and interfere with public space. we can have empathy for the homeless and not tolerate encampments next to schools at the same time. it’s not actually a moral dilemma. it’s a *tent city.* it can be located in a less disruptive spot.

Yes, thank you. Naive. The encampments are foci for criminal activity and trash.
We can do better: we should be offering shelter and services to the homeless.
At the same time, we should be banning public-property tent living in cities.
Offer people housing, close the tents in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a Seaton parent but I am so relieved to hear the school/community is demanding action. There was a thread asking about this several months back and the majority of responses were like “this is harmless, it’s a teachable moment.” No, a homeless camp within arms reach of an ES is not a teachable moment; It’s a recipe for disaster.

Seaton parent here. Hearing about the gun was a tipping point. I think it has a lot to do with feeling empathy for the homeless during the pandemic year and not being directly affected bc kids were not in person. More in person kids + guns -- action happened very very quickly.

I'll also add that I feel like the Seaton community is a pretty compassionate bunch, and the IB group is extremely economically diverse... We have millionaires and we have students who are dealing with homelessness themselves. So finding the right words and actions took some thought.

true, but I bet that the homeless families probably had the least desire to see this as a “learning opportunity” instead of a risk.

in general, well meaning liberals are extremely naive about the nature of encampments. they are foci for criminal activities, trash, and interfere with public space. we can have empathy for the homeless and not tolerate encampments next to schools at the same time. it’s not actually a moral dilemma. it’s a *tent city.* it can be located in a less disruptive spot.

Right. that is why we did take action, and actually the school and PTO board have been discussing it for quite a while. But we were very careful that all official viewpoints took a compassionate tone. (some of the individual parents and neighbors were more inflamed.) and to be honest, the parent community actually was not affected by this -- there were no incidents, it was all percieved risk. The immediate neighbors were impacted and they have been really active for months, understandably.

careful doesn't always mean naive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seaton parents have started bringing this to the press to hopefully put some pressure on the city to take action.

The encampment has disturbed many of us this year, and I think the recent arrest and news of the gun was a tipping point that is pushing people to act. so that is something. As the email said, everyone kind of accepted it as the status quo. At the last ANC 6E meeting, the commissioners brought it up as a "maybe let's remove this before the fall? " kind of issue. But many kids are attending Seaton in person now (including my child).

The Mayor needs to get her head out of ass and do something. If she doesn't act, there will surely be people who decide to take matters into their own hands and then you'll end up with a shameful national story that makes everyone look bad. I don't get how this is remotely allowable within a stones throw of a public elementary school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a Seaton parent but I am so relieved to hear the school/community is demanding action. There was a thread asking about this several months back and the majority of responses were like “this is harmless, it’s a teachable moment.” No, a homeless camp within arms reach of an ES is not a teachable moment; It’s a recipe for disaster.

Seaton parent here. Hearing about the gun was a tipping point. I think it has a lot to do with feeling empathy for the homeless during the pandemic year and not being directly affected bc kids were not in person. More in person kids + guns -- action happened very very quickly.

Right. These kind of encampments could easily be a gathering point for out of town nutjobs ala January 6. Also, where does these people relieve themselves, bathe, access water and electricity? I hope they aren't sneaking into the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a Seaton parent but I am so relieved to hear the school/community is demanding action. There was a thread asking about this several months back and the majority of responses were like “this is harmless, it’s a teachable moment.” No, a homeless camp within arms reach of an ES is not a teachable moment; It’s a recipe for disaster.

Seaton parent here. Hearing about the gun was a tipping point. I think it has a lot to do with feeling empathy for the homeless during the pandemic year and not being directly affected bc kids were not in person. More in person kids + guns -- action happened very very quickly.

Right. These kind of encampments could easily be a gathering point for out of town nutjobs ala January 6. Also, where does these people relieve themselves, bathe, access water and electricity? I hope they aren't sneaking into the school.

Seaton parent here they use the alleys as restrooms though at one point there was hope a port a John could help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a Seaton parent but I am so relieved to hear the school/community is demanding action. There was a thread asking about this several months back and the majority of responses were like “this is harmless, it’s a teachable moment.” No, a homeless camp within arms reach of an ES is not a teachable moment; It’s a recipe for disaster.

Seaton parent here. Hearing about the gun was a tipping point. I think it has a lot to do with feeling empathy for the homeless during the pandemic year and not being directly affected bc kids were not in person. More in person kids + guns -- action happened very very quickly.

Right. These kind of encampments could easily be a gathering point for out of town nutjobs ala January 6. Also, where does these people relieve themselves, bathe, access water and electricity? I hope they aren't sneaking into the school.

I believe the city installed a porta potty 😔 I’ve seen them near other tent cities. Just because I don’t want a homeless tent city near an elementary school doesn’t mean I lack compassion. These are separate issues. Issue: #1 a homeless encampment shouldn’t be adjacent to an ES. Issue #2: DC has a serious homeless problem and it needs to be addressed. Some of the people living in the tents are harmless but some are NOT. I’ve seen it first hand - public is of drugs and alcohol (and smoking). These activities shouldn’t be happening near little kids (remember there are 3 and 4 year olds in these building). The liberal liberal shaming of people who have common sense needs to stop. It’s all harmless until something happens (and it will). If you are ok putting your kids at risk that’s your choice but I’m not.

[Anonymous]

Everyone still riled up -- this is getting solved. Most tents have been removed and homeless relocated. They are pushing the gate out and that piece of grass will no longer be accessible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a Seaton parent but I am so relieved to hear the school/community is demanding action. There was a thread asking about this several months back and the majority of responses were like “this is harmless, it’s a teachable moment.” No, a homeless camp within arms reach of an ES is not a teachable moment; It’s a recipe for disaster.

Seaton parent here. Hearing about the gun was a tipping point. I think it has a lot to do with feeling empathy for the homeless during the pandemic year and not being directly affected bc kids were not in person. More in person kids + guns -- action happened very very quickly.

I'll also add that I feel like the Seaton community is a pretty compassionate bunch, and the IB group is extremely economically diverse... We have millionaires and we have students who are dealing with homelessness themselves. So finding the right words and actions took some thought.

true, but I bet that the homeless families probably had the least desire to see this as a “learning opportunity” instead of a risk.

in general, well meaning liberals are extremely naive about the nature of encampments. they are foci for criminal activities, trash, and interfere with public space. we can have empathy for the homeless and not tolerate encampments next to schools at the same time. it’s not actually a moral dilemma. it’s a *tent city.* it can be located in a less disruptive spot.

Right. that is why we did take action, and actually the school and PTO board have been discussing it for quite a while. But we were very careful that all official viewpoints took a compassionate tone. (some of the individual parents and neighbors were more inflamed.) and to be honest, the parent community actually was not affected by this -- there were no incidents, it was all percieved risk. The immediate neighbors were impacted and they have been really active for months, understandably.

careful doesn't always mean naive.

who do you mean by “we” when you say “we did take action”? It’s always struck me as very arrogant that the parents in positions of authority/influence see themselves as the sum total of the “school community.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone still riled up -- this is getting solved. Most tents have been removed and homeless relocated. They are pushing the gate out and that piece of grass will no longer be accessible.

it’s getting solved for now ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a Seaton parent but I am so relieved to hear the school/community is demanding action. There was a thread asking about this several months back and the majority of responses were like “this is harmless, it’s a teachable moment.” No, a homeless camp within arms reach of an ES is not a teachable moment; It’s a recipe for disaster.

Seaton parent here. Hearing about the gun was a tipping point. I think it has a lot to do with feeling empathy for the homeless during the pandemic year and not being directly affected bc kids were not in person. More in person kids + guns -- action happened very very quickly.

I'll also add that I feel like the Seaton community is a pretty compassionate bunch, and the IB group is extremely economically diverse... We have millionaires and we have students who are dealing with homelessness themselves. So finding the right words and actions took some thought.

true, but I bet that the homeless families probably had the least desire to see this as a “learning opportunity” instead of a risk.

in general, well meaning liberals are extremely naive about the nature of encampments. they are foci for criminal activities, trash, and interfere with public space. we can have empathy for the homeless and not tolerate encampments next to schools at the same time. it’s not actually a moral dilemma. it’s a *tent city.* it can be located in a less disruptive spot.

Right. that is why we did take action, and actually the school and PTO board have been discussing it for quite a while. But we were very careful that all official viewpoints took a compassionate tone. (some of the individual parents and neighbors were more inflamed.) and to be honest, the parent community actually was not affected by this -- there were no incidents, it was all percieved risk. The immediate neighbors were impacted and they have been really active for months, understandably.

careful doesn't always mean naive.

who do you mean by “we” when you say “we did take action”? It’s always struck me as very arrogant that the parents in positions of authority/influence see themselves as the sum total of the “school community.”

I guess I was specifically talking about the email from the PTO Board, speaking on behalf of that body.