Are city schools really THAT bad? (Pittsburgh, Liberty: house, transfer, buy)

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by west seattle gal

Sad, but you're right, there seems there is a lot of info on the net about this. I wonder what can be done? Seems that kids in some neighborhoods are scared to walk down their own street or even attend school. Wow, our country is really forgetting about the kids & exposing them to a lot of trauma.

It's tough to say what can be done. It's been proven that there's not much teachers/administrators/security guards can do at this point, the problem lies with the students and most likely their family background. One thing is for sure, in inner city schools you learn to grow up real quick and you'll be quite educated on "street smarts" especially if you're male.

But if you have a kid who's tough, has a good home life, and a head that's screwed on correctly they can make it through no problem. It's up to the parent on whether or not they want to put them through 4 years of the darker side of American life.

[fleetiebelle]

It's up to the parent on whether or not they want to put them through 4 years of the darker side of American life.

Four years? Are you just referring to city high schools being tough, or are the elementary schools bad, too? A lot of the kids on my street go to Beechwood Elementary, and they're nice kids from nice families. Who knew that the halls are filled with burgeoning thugs?

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

Four years? Are you just referring to city high schools being tough, or are the elementary schools bad, too? A lot of the kids on my street go to Beechwood Elementary, and they're nice kids from nice families. Who knew that the halls are filled with burgeoning thugs?

I should have clarified, it's the high schools that are hell. I had a great experience in Elementary school (granted, this was in the 90's) and another great experience in middle school at West Liberty (a magnet school which I don't think is around anymore). Then my first day in high school my shop teacher tells us, "If you get into a fight in my class I'm not going to break it up. Last time I did I got my ribs broken".

Talk about a sharp contrast.

[fleetiebelle]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

I should have clarified, it's the high schools that are hell. I had a great experience in Elementary school (granted, this was in the 90's) and another great experience in middle school at West Liberty (a magnet school which I don't think is around anymore). Then my first day in high school my shop teacher tells us, "If you get into a fight in my class I'm not going to break it up. Last time I did I got my ribs broken".

Talk about a sharp contrast.

Thanks. That's what I'd understood from other folks, as well. But based on the kids I've seen who are in the system, I don't think I'd have any problem sending my hypothetical future children to elementary school in the city. High School is where it gets tricky.

[Lobick]

Two thoughts come to mind:

1- High Schools are always more difficult because you're dealing less with children and more with hormone driven young-adults.

2- I think everybody is underestimating the amount that these same problems occur within suburban public high schools. Again, most people only know their schools and their districts. Fights and drugs are present in many "good" school systems including the suburban NYC one where I was raised.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by Lobick

2- I think everybody is underestimating the amount that these same problems occur within suburban public high schools. Again, most people only know their schools and their districts. Fights and drugs are present in many "good" school systems including the suburban NYC one where I was raised.

Of course they some similar issues in that respect, as they say "kids will be kids". But there is a distinct difference between "The Breakfast Club" and "Dangerous Minds", know what I mean?

[Jrn14]

Maybe I'm just naive, but I went to the same HS as Aqua Teen Carl and I'm pretty sure I was only a grade above him. Maybe because I was kinda a nerd and just chilled with my close group of friends... I was in PSP classes but had some mainstream in 9th and 11th grade. I ate in the cafeteria with the general population and took gym and electives. I never felt unsafe, I never saw a gun, I nevers saw drugs other than pot, I probably saw 10-15 fights over the four years going there. (Isn't that normal about 3-4 good ones a year lol) From what I have heard it has gotten much worse, but I think some people over exaggerate how "dangerous" it was. Honestly I had a tougher time at Bishop Leonard which was a private Catholic school for my three years of middle school than I did in HS. However, I did feel the teachers at Bishop Leonard were more invested in their students. I honestly don't even remember being bullyed or anything in HS... Again I'm sure a lot of the suburban schools have much more to offer, but I didn't feel like I was in "Dangerous Minds" or "The Substitute" or anything.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by Jrn14

Maybe I'm just naive, but I went to the same HS as Aqua Teen Carl and I'm pretty sure I was only a grade above him. Maybe because I was kinda a nerd and just chilled with my close group of friends... I was in PSP classes but had some mainstream in 9th and 11th grade. I ate in the cafeteria with the general population and took gym and electives. I never felt unsafe, I never saw a gun, I nevers saw drugs other than pot, I probably saw 10-15 fights over the four years going there. (Isn't that normal about 3-4 good ones a year lol) From what I have heard it has gotten much worse, but I think some people over exaggerate how "dangerous" it was. Honestly I had a tougher time at Bishop Leonard which was a private Catholic school for my three years of middle school than I did in HS. However, I did feel the teachers at Bishop Leonard were more invested in their students. I honestly don't even remember being bullyed or anything in HS... Again I'm sure a lot of the suburban schools have much more to offer, but I didn't feel like I was in "Dangerous Minds" or "The Substitute" or anything.

It's about perspective I guess. I got into a few fights because I fought back when I got picked on. I remember seeing far more than 10-15 fights and some of them were all out brawls (one of them went on for 10 minutes before it was broken up, it was like the fight scene from They Live).

I was harassed by outside of school by some dude who was expelled too, and he later got hit with a manslaughter charge. I never saw a gun in school either but remember many gun "scares" (were you there when the SWAT team showed up?) and guys who had them in there cars (one particular instance that comes to mind was a kid bragging that he was packing under his seat when Mr. O yelled at him for cutting class).

One of the kids in the mainstream class got jumped and beaten very badly too by kids from school. Pot was everywhere but there were some white dudes who messed with ecstasy and LSD as well. At the time you just "deal with" the crap that's thrown at you. Now that I'm an adult entrenched in the corporate life I now view my high school days as a complete 180 of day to day life now. It was nothing like the high school portrayed in movies and film.

I guess it got worse after Mr. K left too as that student was killed with an AK-47 outside of school.

[steindle]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

another great experience in middle school at West Liberty (a magnet school which I don't think is around anymore).

Hmmmmmm, I went to West Liberty too. I was there for 7th and 8th grade, the first two years they opened -- I guess 1995-97?

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by steindle

Hmmmmmm, I went to West Liberty too. I was there for 7th and 8th grade, the first two years they opened -- I guess 1995-97?

I was too! I probably know you.