What is responsible for Houston's worsening crime problem? (gated, assault)

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by jerbear30

If you zoom out a bit and look at the state of the economy, it is undeniable that the rich are getting richer while the poor and working class have become more and more contingent—stagnant wages while profits for the rich go up, and fewer and fewer solid 40hr / week jobs. It’s harder to get hold of healthcare and mental healthcare is not even a social priority. Think about it. How would crime not go up?

Absolutely. Crime everywhere is getting worse. Not to mention the social injustice Movement and the movements to not submit to cops.

[oceangaia]

Originally Posted by crone

How many jails do you want to pay for? What was the crime rate during the depression? Economically disadvantage does not equal criminal.

It's cheaper to pay for the jails than to pay for the crime.

[crone]

Originally Posted by oceangaia

It's cheaper to pay for the jails than to pay for the crime.

Homeowners insurance pays for a lot theft. we all pay, it's just which pocket does the funding come from.

IMO, trained teachers in good schools who could teach people to read is also another way to cut the cost of jail.
Many in jail cannot read. Ten grand a year to educate, 35K a year to jail.

[oceangaia]

Originally Posted by crone

Homeowners insurance pays for a lot theft. we all pay, it's just which pocket does the funding come from.

IMO, trained teachers in good schools who could teach people to read is also another way to cut the cost of jail.
Many in jail cannot read. Ten grand a year to educate, 35K a year to jail.

Jail is cheaper than rampant crime, and you're right; education is cheaper than jail. But what I'm seeing in the schools is we are headed in the exact wrong direction. Kids are schooled without discipline and taught to disrespect if not despise authority.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by oceangaia

Jail is cheaper than rampant crime, and you're right; education is cheaper than jail. But what I'm seeing in the schools is we are headed in the exact wrong direction. Kids are schooled without discipline and taught to disrespect if not despise authority.

Do you have kids in school? If not, then you have no idea what schools are teaching.

[oceangaia]

Originally Posted by WRM20

Do you have kids in school? If not, then you have no idea what schools are teaching.

Aside from the fact that my kids just graduated, a close family member is a 7th grade teacher, and another close friend is a 5th grade teacher. But go ahead and tell us your story. And the point wasn't about the teaching part but the discipline part.

[Oskar_Z28]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

This is 100% false. You must’ve never been to a ghetto in any American city. While they do go where the calls are made, this isn’t the same as patrolling an area.

So we agree, they go where the calls are, but not patrolling a specific area. Like I said, I don't see any patrols in my area. Neighborhood HOAs pay constables in my area because HPD is non existent.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by oceangaia

Aside from the fact that my kids just graduated, a close family member is a 7th grade teacher, and another close friend is a 5th grade teacher. But go ahead and tell us your story. And the point wasn't about the teaching part but the discipline part.

This is my kid's 12th year in HISD. There is discipline, a lot of it. Kids get suspended for stuff that would have been a paddling when I was in school, or we would have had to sweep the parking lot or paint the rocks around the flagpole. HISD cuts students very little slack on discipline. If other districts have issues, that's on them.

[Redlionjr]

Originally Posted by WRM20

We're talking Houston here, not some other city. HPD seldom patrols anywhere, and most of the cars are not in upscale neighborhoods, they are in the higher crime areas. HPD doesn't do a lot of patrolling due to manpower limitations.

Originally Posted by oceangaia

Jail is cheaper than rampant crime, and you're right; education is cheaper than jail. But what I'm seeing in the schools is we are headed in the exact wrong direction. Kids are schooled without discipline and taught to disrespect if not despise authority.

What? No school is teaching kids to disrespect or despise authority. And when you say schools are without discipline, well what exactly is your definition of discipline?

First, not all schools or their districts are created equal. I have family and friends who actually work at the schools all over the metro. Discipline comes in the form of write ups, detentions, meeting with the parents, suspension or a simple 1 on 1 conversation between Teacher and Student.

The problem is and what has always been is a lack of resources put into specific schools. It doesn't take a genius to realize what schools generally produce the lowest test scores, the worst attendance rates and all the other negative attributes that come with a bad school. Those particular schools are usually in lower-income communities. Over crowded classrooms so teachers can't teach properly, outdated school books, lack of STEM programs or productive activities. Teachers and the remainder of the staff if doing the best they can with what they have. The State and the city have left these schools behind. And usually when you have schools like that it can open the door to some shady people within the school district and on the school board.

[crone]

Originally Posted by Redlionjr

What? No school is teaching kids to disrespect or despise authority. And when you say schools are without discipline, well what exactly is your definition of discipline?

First, not all schools or their districts are created equal. I have family and friends who actually work at the schools all over the metro. Discipline comes in the form of write ups, detentions, meeting with the parents, suspension or a simple 1 on 1 conversation between Teacher and Student.

The problem is and what has always been is a lack of resources put into specific schools. It doesn't take a genius to realize what schools generally produce the lowest test scores, the worst attendance rates and all the other negative attributes that come with a bad school. Those particular schools are usually in lower-income communities. Over crowded classrooms so teachers can't teach properly, outdated school books, lack of STEM programs or productive activities. Teachers and the remainder of the staff if doing the best they can with what they have. The State and the city have left these schools behind. And usually when you have schools like that it can open the door to some shady people within the school district and on the school board.

People forget that promotion policies in Texas ISDs permit teachers first choice at openings. That leaves the lowest performing schools with the least experienced staff. My relatives who teach inform me that it took them 3 years to get truly comfortable with the job.