More Chaos at ACHS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Apparently, students are out of control at Minnie Howard. Just running through the halls. This city and its school are in a state of chaos.



Mandatory SRO/security meeting being called. Do people really feel that their kids are safe at these schools are safe?

Personally, I am shocked by the number of kids my son knows at GWMS who are using or selling drugs and alcohol on school grounds. These are upper middle class kids, not kids from disadvantaged backgrounds. I don't know what on earth is going on there.

Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Apparently, students are out of control at Minnie Howard. Just running through the halls. This city and its school are in a state of chaos.



Mandatory SRO/security meeting being called. Do people really feel that their kids are safe at these schools are safe?

Personally, I am shocked by the number of kids my son knows at GWMS who are using or selling drugs and alcohol on school grounds. These are upper middle class kids, not kids from disadvantaged backgrounds. I don't know what on earth is going on there.

Wow.

Why would you be shocked? Drugs are all about the market - the high level gang operatives want to access as many kids as possible; therefore, you want dealers to gone from all walks of life. Drugs know no class, race, or ethnicity and it is why adults who have conceded to legalization of drugs and the opioid culture have failed kids. The fact drug possession at school and open drug use don’t automatically meet with arrest is shocking. There is no disincentive. So schools - especially in Alexandria- are now the number one marketplace for drug gangs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why this is a problem. ACPS and administrators have allowed kids to skip class for years without punishment...so long as they were protesting. Maybe these kids are just protesting. Cant' expect kids to see their peers walk out or not go to class and be praised and expect to be treated differently for doing the same thing.

Oh, you’re dumb. Got it.

The kids were refusing to go into classrooms. From elementary on up, kids are encouraged by the administration and teachers to do walk outs. They aren't punished (which makes their protests meaningless ) so why shouldn't other kids follow suit and walk out anytime they want. Why should different rules apply to different kids? Isn't that discrimination?

[Anonymous]

They need to build another highschool that is NOT within walking distance from each other. Like clear across the city. There are way too many teens in one place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They need to build another highschool that is NOT within walking distance from each other. Like clear across the city. There are way too many teens in one place.

Hammond or GW should reopen as high schools—the city used to have three—but I think the city blocked it. Some say it’s to preserve the civil rights legacy, but cost may also be a factor. One large high school is more efficient in terms of dollars and cents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They need to build another highschool that is NOT within walking distance from each other. Like clear across the city. There are way too many teens in one place.

Hammond or GW should reopen as high schools—the city used to have three—but I think the city blocked it. Some say it’s to preserve the civil rights legacy, but cost may also be a factor. One large high school is more efficient in terms of dollars and cents.

And murder investigations too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They need to build another highschool that is NOT within walking distance from each other. Like clear across the city. There are way too many teens in one place.

Hammond or GW should reopen as high schools—the city used to have three—but I think the city blocked it. Some say it’s to preserve the civil rights legacy, but cost may also be a factor. One large high school is more efficient in terms of dollars and cents.

You are right. The next two rebuilds - George Mason and Cora Kelly - need to be big enough to be PK-8th. That's the plan being discussed for George Mason but needs to be the same at Cora Kelly. GW can go back to being a high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Apparently, students are out of control at Minnie Howard. Just running through the halls. This city and its school are in a state of chaos.



Mandatory SRO/security meeting being called. Do people really feel that their kids are safe at these schools are safe?

Personally, I am shocked by the number of kids my son knows at GWMS who are using or selling drugs and alcohol on school grounds. These are upper middle class kids, not kids from disadvantaged backgrounds. I don't know what on earth is going on there.

Serious question, I thought most, if not all, upper middle class kids in Alexandria went to private? My kids are only in elementary but every year they lose more and more UMC classmates to private or parochial, which was obviously exacerbated by the pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Apparently, students are out of control at Minnie Howard. Just running through the halls. This city and its school are in a state of chaos.



Mandatory SRO/security meeting being called. Do people really feel that their kids are safe at these schools are safe?

Personally, I am shocked by the number of kids my son knows at GWMS who are using or selling drugs and alcohol on school grounds. These are upper middle class kids, not kids from disadvantaged backgrounds. I don't know what on earth is going on there.

Serious question, I thought most, if not all, upper middle class kids in Alexandria went to private? My kids are only in elementary but every year they lose more and more UMC classmates to private or parochial, which was obviously exacerbated by the pandemic.

No, Yale or jail as it’s always been.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Apparently, students are out of control at Minnie Howard. Just running through the halls. This city and its school are in a state of chaos.



Mandatory SRO/security meeting being called. Do people really feel that their kids are safe at these schools are safe?

Personally, I am shocked by the number of kids my son knows at GWMS who are using or selling drugs and alcohol on school grounds. These are upper middle class kids, not kids from disadvantaged backgrounds. I don't know what on earth is going on there.

Serious question, I thought most, if not all, upper middle class kids in Alexandria went to private? My kids are only in elementary but every year they lose more and more UMC classmates to private or parochial, which was obviously exacerbated by the pandemic.

One of the PP’s explained that in the recent past a large cohort of upper middle students would go on to the middle schools and TC /ACHS. That has likely changed to some degree post pandemic. You’re probably seeing that with your neighbors who are going private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Apparently, students are out of control at Minnie Howard. Just running through the halls. This city and its school are in a state of chaos.



Mandatory SRO/security meeting being called. Do people really feel that their kids are safe at these schools are safe?

Personally, I am shocked by the number of kids my son knows at GWMS who are using or selling drugs and alcohol on school grounds. These are upper middle class kids, not kids from disadvantaged backgrounds. I don't know what on earth is going on there.

Serious question, I thought most, if not all, upper middle class kids in Alexandria went to private? My kids are only in elementary but every year they lose more and more UMC classmates to private or parochial, which was obviously exacerbated by the pandemic.

What do you consider UMC? Our kids friends families are filled with dual GS 14/15 families, so they are clearing about 350k a year and none of them send their kids to private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They need to build another highschool that is NOT within walking distance from each other. Like clear across the city. There are way too many teens in one place.

They really missed a big opportunity for a second high school with Landmark Mall redevelopment. Would have been a perfect location and could have added some really nice sports facilities too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They need to build another highschool that is NOT within walking distance from each other. Like clear across the city. There are way too many teens in one place.

They really missed a big opportunity for a second high school with Landmark Mall redevelopment. Would have been a perfect location and could have added some really nice sports facilities too.

The city could have negotiated with the developer to provide land and money for a new school. Oh well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They need to build another highschool that is NOT within walking distance from each other. Like clear across the city. There are way too many teens in one place.

They really missed a big opportunity for a second high school with Landmark Mall redevelopment. Would have been a perfect location and could have added some really nice sports facilities too.

The city could have negotiated with the developer to provide land and money for a new school. Oh well.

Exactly. Very short-sighted and huge missed opportunity.

They could also have negotiated with INOVA to build a school off Seminary once the old hospital is torn down but I hear they’re putting in townhouses. What a failure to prioritize space for education in Alexandria. I support housing too but what about more schools to go along with it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They need to build another highschool that is NOT within walking distance from each other. Like clear across the city. There are way too many teens in one place.

They really missed a big opportunity for a second high school with Landmark Mall redevelopment. Would have been a perfect location and could have added some really nice sports facilities too.

The city could have negotiated with the developer to provide land and money for a new school. Oh well.

Exactly. Very short-sighted and huge missed opportunity.

They could also have negotiated with INOVA to build a school off Seminary once the old hospital is torn down but I hear they’re putting in townhouses. What a failure to prioritize space for education in Alexandria. I support housing too but what about more schools to go along with it?

For years, school board members and city council members have said that new housing doesn't bring more kids to the schools. They cited "the consultants". Former School Board member Bill Campbell said this a lot during the last ACPS redistricting. He's a very nice man but I was relieved when he wasn't elected to city council in the last election.

Alexandria is getting what it voted for. Next election results will be the same. Common sense does not have a home in Alexandria.