Foul language is a problem at our Silver Spring middle school, inside the school (not just outside). Girls are regularly referred to as "bitch" as if it is their name. Lots of other foul and racist language too.

I find it amusing and saddening that the principal doesn't seem to care about the foul language at all, but insists on enforcing a dress code (mostly on girls) that shorts should not be too short and no tank tops (because it might show a bra strap). Her theory is that being "appropriately dressed" at school is teaching the kids to "dress professionally" in their future work places. I think the kids would be better prepared for the work place if they could complete a sentence without the f-bomb, and if they weren't in danger of actually referring to their future female boss as "bitch".

IMO, the expectations at this school are so low because it has a high minority and FARMS rate. The general impression I've gotten from the principal is because many of them have "tough lives" they can't be expected to meet any expectations. I agree with a PP who said that authority figures allow this because they view these kids as throwaway kids.

Anonymous wrote:"I also think it's inappropriate to throw this on the school. DCPS has a hard enough time fulfilling its core mission - educating our children. Expecting it to police middle schoolers' manners, after school hours and off school property, seems a bit much."

I completely disagree. A public school's mission is to develop good citizens. That was one of the main reasons our country adopted universal public education. Making sure kids know how to behave outside of school - whether it is voting, managing their finances decently, being productive members of society, or treating others with respect - that is all part of it.

Teaching kids how to behave is fine. Expecting the school to become some sort of overlay manners police, monitoring how students behave off of school property, not durign school time, is something else entirely.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What bothers me is the school's assumption that these are throw away kids. If the coach and principal got out and energetically patrolled the street corner for a bit, callling the kids on this nonsense, with the help of the parents, cops and Mary Cheh, most would fall into line. Most kids want adults to have expectations for them. Those that didn't would quickly get the message to find another venue for the vulgar environment they seek to create.

Yeah, good luck with that. If the parents were involved at all, or even just gave a crap, the kids wouldn't be behaving like this in the first place. .

I disgree. The high school I attended was and still is one of the top 10 in the nation -- you couldn't find more concerned parents anywhere, including my own, and I cursed like a sailor throughout my high school days. I didn't do it in front of adults who would call me on it -- my parents nor any of the teachers I had would have brooked any of that kind of behavior, but at the bus stop/outside school? When I recall the language I used, my ears would be burning today, and I would be the one telling me to have some respect for myself .

Some of the kids may have parents who curse on a regular basis, but many may not -- sometimes kids know better, and it's just rebellion...

"I also think it's inappropriate to throw this on the school. DCPS has a hard enough time fulfilling its core mission - educating our children. Expecting it to police middle schoolers' manners, after school hours and off school property, seems a bit much."

I completely disagree. A public school's mission is to develop good citizens. That was one of the main reasons our country adopted universal public education. Making sure kids know how to behave outside of school - whether it is voting, managing their finances decently, being productive members of society, or treating others with respect - that is all part of it.

I don't know how that will curtail the antics of the students as many are saying what they observe during dismissal. Does this not happen in the morning during arrival? I have intervened when I encountered my students using bad language. The immediate response is "I am sorry Sir" and we are off to our destinations.

If you are truly wondering about curse-laden dialogue, I would say listen to the inspiring athletic coaches dialogue to our student athletes. It amazes me that many who are in decision-power positions overlook that issue and when challenged what does the coach do but apologizes with "I am sorry, I was just caught up in the moment."


Some would say, that is just a bunch of bull-sugar!!!

Anonymous wrote:What bothers me is the school's assumption that these are throw away kids. If the coach and principal got out and energetically patrolled the street corner for a bit, callling the kids on this nonsense, with the help of the parents, cops and Mary Cheh, most would fall into line. Most kids want adults to have expectations for them. Those that didn't would quickly get the message to find another venue for the vulgar environment they seek to create.

Yeah, good luck with that. If the parents were involved at all, or even just gave a crap, the kids wouldn't be behaving like this in the first place.

I also think it's inappropriate to throw this on the school. DCPS has a hard enough time fulfilling its core mission - educating our children. Expecting it to police middle schoolers' manners, after school hours and off school property, seems a bit much.

Anonymous wrote:What bothers me is the school's assumption that these are throw away kids. If the coach and principal got out and energetically patrolled the street corner for a bit, callling the kids on this nonsense, with the help of the parents, cops and Mary Cheh, most would fall into line. Most kids want adults to have expectations for them. Those that didn't would quickly get the message to find another venue for the vulgar environment they seek to create.

+1000

What bothers me is the school's assumption that these are throw away kids. If the coach and principal got out and energetically patrolled the street corner for a bit, callling the kids on this nonsense, with the help of the parents, cops and Mary Cheh, most would fall into line. Most kids want adults to have expectations for them. Those that didn't would quickly get the message to find another venue for the vulgar environment they seek to create.

This is EVERYWHERE. A sin and a shame for the poor babies growing up in these mean, loud, abusive homes. But we're all supposed to say "Oh, but they dont know any better" and "dont' JUDGE." I judge. Hell yes, I judge.

Wilson observer here (I posted previously)--the profanity whizzes after school by metro, chipotle and McD to a public nuisance degree. It is really annoying to walk by with little kids or elderly parents. Basically, the whole neighborhood (and the reputation of the school) is held in thrall by a small flock of teens on a power trip from 3 to 4 pm. I think their principals need to be out there, with the police and Ward 3 rep Mary Cheh saying you're welcome to kick back after school but without screaming MF at the top of your lungs and without blocking access to entries or passage down sidewalks.

I chuckle because I remember when I heard a teacher curse for the first time. She told the honor-society class assembly to shut-our-damn-mouths or get-the-hell-out.
To compare it today issues, that was like quoting something from the bible.

Anonymous wrote:I have seen mothers curse and scream at their toddlers (yes, on public transportation) so many times. The little children just look dazed, confused, or numb. Just a little while ago outside my house I saw a young woman walking alongside a toddler holding his hand, this was an unsteady new walker, definitely under two. She said, loudly, "boy, you so SLOW!!", and not with endearment either.

A lot of kids hear mostly profanity and barked orders in the home.

I was walking to the Metro behind a group of late teens - early 20s girls who were talking about their kids using really vulgar language. One of the girls complained that her little boy had started saying "f*** you, Mommy." I wanted to scream. How else do you expect your kid to talk when he hears nothing but curse words coming out of your mouth? Idiots. So sad for those kids.

It's extremely sad too as those same children will someday soon need to operate in the larger world. They will lack the requisite communication skills to be taken seriously because they've spent much of their formative years honing their ability to be as foul as possible in their every day speech. I tell my children all the time that it's just lazy.

Look, it's not as though I don't periodically pepper my speech with a profane word (especially in traffic!), but we have to help our children to speak in the King's English if we want them to have any sort of opportunity beyond their neighborhood.

Anonymous wrote:Glad you brought this up. Wilson seems like a great school, but the crowd that gathers at dismissal as a group acts insane. The police sit by as they shout the most creative profanities at the top of their lungs in front of metro, Panera, Chipotle and McDs. This as the elderly and disabled try to navigate through the throng into metro entrance. I don't get it. Can't you ticket for ridiculously vulgar language? Can't the principal come stand on the corner and let these schoolchidlren know that whatever code of conduct applies inside Wilson also applies while congregating on the neighborhood doorstep? Are these kids 'strangers' once they leave the school?
It's kind of appalling, and I am all in for teens having fun. There's nothing fun though about shouting MF in someone's face or shouting that "payback's a **" and throwing down back and forth. I quote (as these youths continuously pushed the elevator button to stop their friends (and lots of random passengers) from descending into metro "Hey, the police just sitting there and they ain't doin' nuttin". Am I missing the fun part?

Neighborhood parent with kids at Deal--I really don't want police to intervene too much--they can get heavy handed very quickly. I agree that the language and raucous behavior is out of hand.--I hate that my kid is walking through this gauntlet on his way to Deal as he walks behind Whole foods. They need to have a cadre of Parent Guardians who wear some kind of official vests or something to enforce some kind of etiquette. Principals of Deal and Wilson: Are you listening? You want more high achieving students from good homes? Get parents involved. Train them and deputize them. Support the home--school connection. We want input here. How about putting some cameras back there?? Let everyone know that they are there, but observe to make sure things stay civil?

I was not at the metro but I was at a sporting event of two local high-school baseball teams. I just happened to stand by some students (school uniforms) and the language was vulgar. I went to the coaches of both teams and informed them that student spectators were being very disrespectful. Unfortunately, that was like talking to a brickwall and not one responsible adult from either school addressed the situation. Matter of fact when I returned to my viewing area, one of the student was on the phone and I quote... Ma, there's this white b*tch here complaining on how we're talking to our friends. Then she proceeded to snap my picture with her camera phone. If I am to believe an earlier poster, this should have been accepted as just teenage behaviour.


The metro stop near Roosevelt is a war zone too. We all know what we will encounter at the metro near Anacostia. This is not all a DCPS issue, as the worst for me is the metro stop across the street from Friendship Academy High School on MIinnesota Ave.