I think people need to realize what a difference the schools can make. Highlandtown Elementary draws from the same population but the atmosphere inside is the complete opposite of Canton Middle. There is order and learning, and the behavior problems are minimal. If these transformational schools with a successful track record are being led by a completely different group of people there is no reason not to give them a chance. Especially since Canton Middle is a very large building in pretty decent shape, it would truly be a waste to not use for the children.

I found the police reaction most disturbing. The assaults are occurring consistently in the same area at the same time in broad daylight, and they won't put a squad there because it's "shift change." Here's a crazy idea, change the shifts!

Sara:

I am glad you put the race thing in your blog post - it's clearly there and everyone needs to acknowledge it. I think that the people in Canton should take a look at what Freedom has been able to do in DC and begin to work with the school, community and other government agencies to address concerns.

As a resident of another city neighborhood without a good quality school, I dream of the day when a school will move in so that families can stop worrying about having to move or having to pay tuition to private schools when their kids reach school age. Nothing stabilizes a neighborhood like a good school. The residents of Canton should realize that. And the thought that condo's are a good idea makes little sense given the current market and parking situation there.

I am sure that this will all work itself out. And I am also sure that the residents of Canton will enjoy when a high quality school is in their area.

I have a compromise. Bus these kids to and from school. If they're not walking through the neighborhoods, the likeliness of these type of attacks have to be minimized. And hopefully if this school does open back up as one of these "transformation schools" they will carefully select the type of student they are allowing to attend. Hopefully they will pick students that are willing to learn and not just going because "they have to". I live in the Canton area and I hate the fact that my wife is afraid to walk alone at night. She had her purse stolen from 3 "kids" around the age of 14-15 years old who probably attend Canton Middle School. I'm making an assumption but I've been reading news articles about 14 and 15 year old middle school students. When I was 15 I was a sophmore in HIGH SCHOOL!! I can understand Canton residents fears and reservations about another school replacing the existing one, but I also realize that the location is best used as another school.

I just bought a hosue across the street from that school, and part of my decision to buy was based on the fact that the school was closing. I have been around when the school lets out and those kids have no respect for anyone or anything in the neighborhood. And to respond to the post asking why they don't just bus the kids to school... where have you been living the last few months??? Those little gangsters can't even ride the bus without beating someone up or stabbing them. They want to open a school? Fine, just keep it north of Patterson Park and everything will be fine. We have a nice little community going and some great development plans, I'd hate to see it ruined with a bunch of 22 year-old high schoolers destroying the area and making everyone feel unsafe. If Sheila Dixon can create frivolous lawsuits against banks making loans to black people who can't manage money we should all sue the city for negligently destroying one of the only good areas of the city.

Cardwell:

As a fellow city resident I understand fear. But I am shocked by a few things you say:

1) It's not "these kids" it's our kids. Yes, ours - as city residents who do not live behind a gated community they are ours.

2) I am not sure how, even if your "assumption" was correct that it was kids who attend Canton who stole your wifes purse, you can blame the school for that. Even as disfunctional as Canton is, no school leader could hope to be held accountable for night time behavior of students.

3) Even if Canton building was turned into condo's, "these kids" would still live in the city and in and around where you and "your kids" live. How does moving their school away from where they live improve the situation?

4) How would you feel if your kids had to be bussed to a school they could walk to?

5) Transformation schools, charter schools and most other city schools do not get to "select" who goes to them. All of the schools (except Poly, City, Western and other magnet schools) get who they get. And thank god for that. Let's pretend that we could kick out all of "those kids" - where would that put them? On the streets with a guarantee that no one will be saved? Again, I live, work and spend most of my time in this city. I am SO glad that a high quality school is being created. I only wish it was across the street from where I live.

The fact that Canton residents are angry about the creation of a school in their community OUTRAGES me. The Baltimore City Public School system is doing it's best to improve schools and offer opportunities to students that have been forgotten about and left to fail. When attending City College, I lived in Edmonson Village, so my zoned school was Edmonson High School. If I had attended Edmonson High School, would my trajectory be different?

Opening a small school in Canton will give students the opportunity to attend school in an area with low crime and drugs, removing some of the opportunity (http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/learningzone/scpprinciples.htm ---especially number 8) present in other areas. How can the school system improve if schools are only placed in high crime areas? It is going to take the whole city to improve the school system. Many residents don't give city school children a chance.

The middle school/high school has not even opened and residents are already alarmed and have engaged the police department, treating students as if they are criminals. As a junior at Hopkins I encountered the same problem. I was walking in the Canterbury neighborhood, which is east of the Johns Hopkins Homewood campus, when I was approached two police units who questioned why I was in this neighborhood. I have never been in trouble, never arrested, etc, but I was in "a very healthy, clean part of the city," so it looked as if I didn't belong.

I agree completely with the School CEO, this is a problem of social justice. When thriving neighborhoods like Canton and Canterbury try to drive people away from their neighborhood because of a person's income or race, they are creating a permanent underclass.

What I am trying to say is give the students a chance, residents need to work with the school system, so that students can receive the education they need to be productive citizens of the city. Until will focus more on education instead of locking students up, Baltimore will never meet it's slogan, "The Greatest City in America."

This story is discouraging. There are so many GREAT and POSITIVE things happening at city schools in the Southeast- Wolfe St. Academy, Hampstead Hill, Crossroads Middle and Patterson Park Public Charter are doing wonderful things with students every day. Unfortunately, they get little to no media coverage. The area is in sore need of a high performing high school as there isn't one nearby. An excellent public middle/high would be a real asset to the community.

Has this story been confirmed by anyone? Do we know for sure that it is not some inflammatory "urban myth"? The telling of tall tales predates the internet but one thing they all had/still have in common was the first-person aspect. Yes, I've worked in the Highlandtown/Canton area on and off for several years and middle school sized kids can be a real problem, but I think this is one story that needs it's sources checked.

This problem has a very simple solution.

If you live in Canton, you can send your children to Canton Middle. If you don't live in Canton, you send your children to the school closest to your house.

Problem solved.

When I say bus the students, I mean they should use dedicated buses just for the students. I'm not referring to having the students use MTA buses. That is obviously not the best solution. Canton Resident, I understand that you're upset about recent attacks (so am I)but you come across as very racist in your post.
I live north of Patterson Park, am white, and live on a nice block, just north of St. Elizabeth's Charter School. I realize this is an elementary school, but I don't have any complaints about having this school in my neighborhood. I see responsible parents walking their children to school every day, any they're mainly black and Latino. The problem isn't the Canton Middle school's location, it's the students causing trouble as they're walking home. I don't think the answer is to get rid of an entire school because some of these students are causing trouble in a mainly white neighborhood. I think the solution starts in these kids' homes. Their parents need to take a more active role in their children's development, teach them to respect their neighborhood and their neighbors, and teach them to be accountable for their actions.
Interesting Observation:

1. I don't have kids, so I apologize if I don't take ownership for all of the children of our community. But I do see the value of having quality educational facilities in our neighborhoods. I would love to think that the children who attend these schools could act in a civilized manner whether they were in school or not. I do, however, have a problem with some of these students forming mini-gangs and attacking innocent people with sticks.
2. I'm not blaming the school. I am stating I can identify with those concerned about violence by "our children" on area adults. My wife was attacked by 3 middle school aged children by our home in the Patterson Park area. I'm not blaming the school, I'm blaming the 3 punks that stole my wife's purse.
3. I never said to turn the school into condos. My last statement is in favor of using the location as another school.
4. If I were in school, I wouldn't mind being bussed there. The alternative would be to walk in snow, rain, or extremely hot Baltimore afternoons. I think most of "our children" would prefer to be bussed as opposed to walking. And from what I hear, tardiness is a major issue in city schools so if "our children" miss the bus, they would have the opportunity to walk to school.
5. If only magnet schools get to select who attends, then maybe that would be a better compromise. Make it a magnet school to give "our kids" who truly want to better themselves the opportunity to do so.
Ed, that's fine in theory but I think you could probably have a K-12 school for all of the children that live in Canton and there would probably only be 200 students, tops.

We only call the students criminals becuase those of us who live near Canton Middle have seen that some of these students are, in fact criminals. Whether it is skipping school to smoke pot behind neighborhood houses, stealing flowers, verbally threatening people who live near the school or physically assaulting such people, the students of Canton Middle (who, mind you, will be given first dibs to attend the new school) have earned the title. This is not about race or any other "social justice" issue. It is about kids who have no respect for anyone or anything who terrorize one of the few decent neighborhoods in the city. While I'm sure that there are plenty of success stories in City schools, I do not foresee such a story coming out of this new school when the same kids that are there now will be given preference when it comes to attending the school.

As a non-parent who works long hours, I unfortunately do not have the time nor the inclination to make this school a great school. I rely on the City (with the help of the ridiculously high property taxes that it receives) to do this job. I am beginning to regret ever having moved into the City. Call me a yuppie or whatever you want, but all I want is to feel safe in and to enjoy my neighborhood. What's so wrong with that?

I am saddend that the media (okay, the Sun) chose to focus on 20% of a press conference, and not the 80% that is positive. At the press conference yesterday where the 5 "transformation" schools were introduced there was much to celebrate. The Friendship/Canton issue, which is real to be sure, but only involves a few people and 1/5 of the transformation schools seems to have grabbed ALL of the headlines. What a shame and shame on the Sun.

The students attending Canton Middle are our neighbors- middle school placement for Baltimore City Schools is determined by address. As such, it is our responsibility to help them obtain the best possible education (which will improve the community in the long run). As to the notion that these kids are inherently unteachable criminals, well, have you ever spoken with any of them? Canton Middle is a horror of mismanagement, and should absolutely be shut down; the students of Baltimore's Southeast side deserve something better. How would you behave if you had to spend all day in a trash and rodent infested building listening to teachers and students cuss at each other? How would you behave if day after day you were fed nothing but thin, greasy pizza for lunch? What if your fellow classmates were constantly throwing their textbooks out of the windows and starting fires, but not facing any consequences for those actions? What if your neighbors, through a hopelessly biased newspaper article, expressed the belief that you and all of your friends were "unteachable"? Hopefully you'd be like most of the Canton Middle students I know who speak and write about their frustrations with the school. They are furious at the state of the school to which they have been sent, and even angrier that after tolerating these hardships for several years and still successfully completing the eighth grade they will be given no graduation celebration or ceremony. But they are not violent. They do not assault their neighbors, nor their neighbors dogs, nor are they purse-snatchers or abusers of property. They are regular teens and pre-teens who wish that the new school would have been around for them to attend. Some of their classmates respond in a (much) more negative way, with hard consequences for the community. Instead of bussing these young hellions out of our "gentrified neighborhood" we should provide them with a proper opportunity to learn, to achieve academically and become successful adults. The children are the future of our neighborhood, city, country, and planet. Let's help them out instead of shoving them away.

Note: I have recently purchased a house within one block of Canton Middle, and have never witnessed any of these troubling assaults. This response was written with the help of four Canton Middle school students who came to me with their concerns, but who wish to remain anonymous.

The story of the student attacks around Patterson Park have been confirmed by the local EMTs and Major Bergeron. As an immediate action, he is changing the shift to have a patrol in the neighborhood work from 2PM to 10PM so there will an officer on duty during this supposed change in shift time period.

It would seem that there is a severe lack in after school programs for many of these Baltimore city middle school kids. With no programs, and no direction, than many of these kids will start doing what the older kids in their neighborhoods do which is to fall in to the pattern of crime and violence.

If people are interested in seeing this cycle break, than as a city, we must invest in programs that keep these kids occupied and productive beyond the school hours until the evening where they (supposedly) have (grand/guardian/parental) supervision.

How is this surprising? The rich white DINKs (especially the ones from DC) don't want to be confronted with the real Baltimore - that's why they're paying all that money to live in Canton!

My favorite quote in the story is from the pediatric social worker:

Colligan said residents have made Canton "a very healthy, clean part of the city."

"Houses that used to go at public auction for a dollar are now going for hundreds of thousands of dollars, and we're giving the city a lot of revenue," she said. "We don't want to feel unsafe in our neighborhood, and we don't want to lose the ability to sell our homes at fair-market value."

Translation: I don't mind consorting with troubled black kids when I'm on the clock, but I don't want the little animals affecting my property values!

I'm not sure exactly what I want to add to the conversation, but Friendship absolutely needs to be given a chance to create a positive learning environment for students. It cannot be judged on the current state of Canton Middle. The community members who are so impassioned by this issue need to get involved now to help make the new school a success. There is so much potential to keep families and students in the community if there were a solid high school option for them. Friendship could be this option - I am so disappointed that Jim Kraft can't see this...

Many posters state that the neighborhood should get involved to ensure the school's success. However, many people who live in this area work all day and don't have the time to watch over the neighborhood school to make sure that its students are behaving and getting a proper education. Isn't that the job of the School Board and those who work at the school?

Tim's post regarding the "DINK's" is correct. Sadly, the "real Baltimore" often involves crime-ridden neighborhoods. The "DINK's" (such as myself and my wife) have moved to neighborhoods such as Canton to avoid this. Makes sense to me. I see nothing wrong with wanting to maintain our property values as, for most people, our houses are our largest asset.

Interesting Observations: One of the reasons the school system had the press conference was because no one except The Sun covered the transformation schools story when the board approved their creation in March. It was the same night the budget was introduced, but I lobbied successfully to have the story on the transformation schools on the front page. (The budget story went on the Maryland section front.) So there wasn't much that happened at the press conference yesterday that I hadn't already covered. Are there more stories to do in the coming months about the transformation schools and what they'll bring to Baltimore? Absolutely, and I will write them. But you have to recognize that when members of the city council are threatening to hold up the school system's budget, and when an issue generates the kind of community controversy that this one has, it's news.

Liz's comment is right on the mark. As a teacher at Canton, I can attest to the fact that the vast majority of our students are great kids who are just as frustrated with their school as the community is. I can not adequately express the utter frustration my colleagues and I endure every hour of every day when we attempt to deliver quality instruction only to have our efforts thwarted by a few students who completely disrupt our classes and make our building unsafe by engaging in all the behaviors that Liz mentions. Those students need a different setting with more 1:1 attention and support, end of story. We have many students at Canton who would excel in an environment that the Friendship School is promising. I just hope that they are given that chance.

As a member of the listserve which has been discussing the incidents that happened Friday, I have been thinking about this issue for the past few days. Please don't misunderstand Canton residents...it is still a diverse neighborhood including elderly people who have lived in the same house for 60 years, blue collar workers who want the best for their families, young families who moved here for other reasons and have chosen to stay, and young business types with money to spend on granite countertops and stainless steel kitchen appliances. All of us want the same thing, a safe supportive neighborhood to live in, where we can leave our belongings home or parked outside, and trust they will still be there when we return. A place where it is safe to walk to a friend's house or the park, or just play outside with our young children. There are a number of families in the neighborhood who are chosing city life with their children, and the elementary schools are accommodating our needs and desires for positive viable educational choices.
I believe the outrage from the community isn't about Friendship academy or even about keeping the building in use as a school, it is more about communication. Yes, people have bought houses under the assumption that the school would be closed. If the new school becomes a strong educational community partner, property values will continue to improve, or at least stabilize. However, before making this change, the system should have had a community meeting , not waited and had one in response to community outrage...there is a meeting scheduled for Thursday evening. We Cantonites understand that we are just a small part of this troubled city. Communicate with us, we can be reasonable.

I also teach at Canton and couldn't agree more with my colleague. I suspect, if and when more of us post, we'll all have similar feelings regarding our students and the neighborhood's reaction to them (which, incidentally, only makes them feel worse about attending, without their consent, this train-wreck-of-a-school). As unbelievable as it may seem, the charter school is set up to try and fix this terrible problem and give our students another chance. Without the charter (and with the neighborhood's continued shunning), we are perpetuating this long-standing problem by casting off responsibility and making Baltimore's young people suffer in the process.

Sara:

Thanks for clarifying and reminding me (and others maybe) that the Sun did cover this story. It just makes me sad that on a big push day this is the lead. And let's be clear, it's not city cousul members, it's one city counsel member. It's also not nearly the whole "community" as is the misleading headline (I know you don't write the headlines and also know the purpose of these things, but really it make sit sound like the whole neighborhood is against this move and it isn't.)

From the sounds of it, and again, I realize that only a few residents of this area have posted, it seems like the Canton folks were under the impression that they were trying to find a gated community. Well, welcome to city living - with all the good, bad and other stuff that goes with it.

The thing that seems to have been forgotten by some is that these are KIDS - 12 year olds. As Liz states, they have been let down by so many adults including the current staff (not all since I know some of these dedicated people, but really, let's walk the halls) of BCPSS schools. We are expecting 12 year olds who have been told in no uncertain terms that no one really gives a darn about them for years and years that they should act in some way that isn't possible. "these kids" didn't get to be angry and seemingly uncaring about those around them without lots of help. Now there's a group that has a proven track record who wants to come in and do something different. And what's the reaction of some vocal community members? "They are criminals"., "They are thugs", "They are aren't interested in learning." I wold be happy if the adults started acting like adults who thought that civic duty went beyond paying taxes. But that's expecting too much.

Frankly I don't care if my schools neighbor's support or don't support our kids. It would be nice, but heck, that's life. But calling my kids thugs and criminals is shameful. If someone commits a crime call the cops, don't blame the school. And a school doesn't attract criminals, it attracts kids. I don't want my house broken into or my family mugged any more than anyone else, but blaming 12 year olds boggles my mind. If you wanted a gated community move to Cross Keys. And yes, I am angry.

Ps. Sara - you know in the end, I only have mad crazy love for you and the job you do bringing news of schools to the larger audience. I do love a good discussion.

D

And of course high school students are even bigger and scarier. Poor Cantonese, thought they losing a middle school, and they got a middle school PLUS a high school. And aren't these new schools set up specifically to attract all those grown up middle schoolers who already flunked twice before reaching sixth grade? The real cream. Nope, the Cantonese are definately not going to be happy no matter how much Alonzo lays a white guilt trip on them. Folks don't mess around when it comes to their property values, especially now with the market already heading south. I'm setting up my lawn chair now to watch the fireworks.

As another Canton teacher, I was really surprised and upset by Councilman Kraft's comment that this is "absolutely absurd." Look up "absolutely absurd" in the dictionary and you'll see a picture of a city councilman trying to prevent a good school from opening in the place of a struggling school in the district that he services.

What I also find upsetting about this is that I know Councilman Kraft has been in the school before, and he MUST have observed how 80% of the students at Canton are good, hard-working kids who want a decent education--which they never seem to get because of the misbehaviors of their classmates. The good students at the school have already been punished enough due to their classmates' misbehavior, and Councilman Kraft is now trying to make this injustice even more severe. If he really cares about the well-being of the people in the district he serves, and not just the favor of the affluent property-owners, he will do everything in his power to make sure that a Friendship school opens up at 801 S. Highland Ave.

Thanks to the concerned residents of Canton, I spent the morning explaining to my students why the people in the neighborhood don't want them there (some of them DO read the paper, you know). These are students who have been let down and neglected before, and shipping them "back where they belong" is only going to add to the problem.

Councilman Kraft and the concerned citizens of Canton should stop trying to sweep problems under the carpet, and heed the words of Franz Kafka:
"You can hold back from the suffering of the world. You have free permission to do so, and it is in accordance with your nature. But perhaps this very holding back is the one suffering you could have avoided."

I'm going to lobby the teacher I work with at Canton to address this issue in class and allow the kids to write their own response. I encourage the other teachers reading here to do the same! Thanks for doing your best in a terrible situation, while people sit and bitch at their computer you all are actually there trying to make a difference.

"And aren't these new schools set up specifically to attract all those grown up middle schoolers who already flunked twice before reaching sixth grade?"

Where did you come up with this? I suspect you have no idea what you're talking about. The goal behind these middle/upper schools is to eliminate a stressful transition and give the students consistency in their lives. Let them form lasting relationships with their teachers. Let them grow as a class. Give the younger students mentors so they can see a realistic successful future. Give the older students a responsibility for their younger schoolmates, like little brothers and sisters.

Also, generalizing the opinion of an entire neighborhood of diverse people is dumb, I live in Canton and fully support the new school. "Cantonese" is really clever though, definitely worthy of multiple uses. If you think property values are going south your willfully ignorant. The biggest problem is currently being addressed with the new school and police focus, without which property values would go up anyway.

Hmm: That's as sad an attitude as those who believe that either the school attracts some sort of monsters, or, that all middle school kids are thugs, or that African American families somehow want something different from what "residents of the clean part of the city" want, or, well, the list of sad statements goes on and on here.

I hope that there can be some sort of going beyond the mis impressions that are clear here (and in reaction to the news story and the postings there in). Residents should take a deep breath and think about, honestly, what can be done with the building - what do they want? Condos? Tear it down? Leave it empty? Let's be honest about what will make property values (since that seems to be a common issue brought up) increase. And I hope that the vocal residents show up to the meeting and are willing to listen, not just shout. On the other side I hope that Friendship and BCPSS can do a good job of explaining the impact of this move - the impact to kids, culture, families as well as the safety and well being of those who live lear the school. As was the case with the press conference, I hope Friendship brings their current students from DC (not known for being any safer than Baltimore) to speak about what a difference that school has made to their lives. And of course I hope they too listen to the concerns. Finally I hope that the police listen and react to what people are saying. It's not the job of any school, even a failing one, to control what their students do when off grounds. It IS the job of EVERY school to be a place where kids know they are cared about and where a culture of education and caring is clear. If this is done (and I work in such a place now and will open another one this August) is DOES change the culture outside the building - not overnight, but in time. Soon students will choose to attend every day (my school has attendance rates of over 98%), choose to stay for after school programs (our kids stay beyond 5 pm) and choose to make a difference (many of my former students are finishing high school and are making plans beyond and this in a place that no Canton resident has ever gone, no matter what time of day).

I feel sad for those who thought they were somehow getting the benefits of a city (parks, places to walk to, culture, nice houses) without any of the problems that go along with that. If you moved from DC and thought you were moving to some "OC" area where you would never come in contact with "those kids" shame on you. This is a city. And it's made up of all kids of people and that's what makes it great.

For those who think that Alonso is moving too fast, go and ask parents and students if things are moving too fast. I can tell you the answer is that while things are moving fast now, they have moved far too slow for far too long.

Basically I believe that it is a good idea that Baltimore is finally getting the funds to build
better schools. I also, believe that it is unfortunate that the
community was misled, but they should be willing to embrace the fact
that they can be the model for a new Baltimore Educational System. It
all sounds good on paper, but we shall see. The only down fall to this
whole project is that they spending the money on these buildings and the
educators are still getting shafted with their pay. Once the buildings
are up and running, the staff should be selected very carefully and
compensated for it.

As a teacher and a city resident, I would be THRILLED to have one of the transformation schools in my neighborhood. I see it as presenting an opportunity to help shape a fledgling school, to help students grow and become integrated into a supportive community where they can see themselves as fitting in and contributing to its success.

I challenge Canton residents to be part of the solution by becoming involved with this new school. Attend the school's science fairs or concerts. Volunteer some time to help plant gardens on a spring Saturday. Provide money for incentives. Do SOMETHING! You and your community - Baltimore, not just Canton - will benefit, as will the students.

When we moved to Canton 3 years I was attracted by the racial and economic diversity of the neighborhood. I was pleased to have a school in our midst. In the past three years my particular street has had block parties to raise funds for the Southeast Youth Committee.We planted trees. We have the streets swept. Our social capital has been our energy and our commitment to the City. Some of the threads seem to be a bit polarizing and misleading. Some comments are very sensitive.
What I want is to feel relatively safe where I live. I want children in school and to and from school to be safe. I don't believe children can learn when they are not in a safe environment and I do not believe that communities can be wholesome unless there is relative safety.
This blog is about a very big and complex issue. Baltimore City has a high rate of addicition. There is a growning impact of gangs. Dealers are recruiting and exploiting children. These are big social issues. There is no isolated problem with the promise of a linear, simple solution.
It is going to take all of us who believe in our communities to collaborate and work toward solutions.
I look forward to attending the meeting tonight. I certainly want to hear how the new school proposal can offer students a more enriched academic milieu while holding parent, students, and staff accountable. I am hoping to hear how children will be safe from the aggressive children! There is hope but only if the parents, the schools, law enforecement and the entire City can come together on expecting nothing less then a reasonable, and respectful dialogue and partnership. susan colligan

The one thing that I never heard mentioned in any substantial way was the parents.

Children who are successful, even in BCPSS have supportive families (even if they are extended families). They may not be able to come to school a lot, but you know they support the school.

It is always the 10% or so of students who run wild, whose parents are not involved or behave as though the school is the enemy. It does not help to have policies that cause principals to not suspend and blame the teachers.

I am also tire of the entitlement mentality that we encourage. Not in our children but in their parents. We are constantly feeling sorry for them. If you take the time to get to know many of them as I have you will know that their lot is not as bad as you think or it is often self-created and their children suffer. Again, their children suffer.

Not all parents are responsible and it is time that someone, somewhere do something to encourage that responsibility. Most of our problems come from students whose parents are not responsible. I will admit that I don't have the answer to all societies problems but helping adults learn to take responsibility and stop feeling sorry for themselves would help.

As a black person, I know there was a time when we "as a people" were openly discriminated against and we had less opportunities, both wealthy and poor. Yes there is still some social injustice, however, we have more chances now yet we seem to be in worse shape. What is going on?

The one constant that I see where poor black people are consistantly at the bottom of the ladder is the family. We are no longer in strong families led by strong men or even women. Schools can't be responsible for every aspect of the child's life. At some point we have to find that the parents are responsible for some of the things that happen to their kids.

I agree with the comments of the teacher in the prior post!

As a Caton student I feel to believe to write this. Canton residents, some of you all feel the need to bad mouth Canton. You do not want a charter school near your house. Well just what if you do not like where the school is then move. Canton is not a very bad school. Some of the comments you all said about Canton is hurtful. Here are some of the comments my teacher said was posted: "The kids don't know correct spelling or gammer." and "Where is the teacher to teach them..........oh yea they have to dodge punishes and kicks." Well news flash some of you all don't know to spell either because as I was reading some of the comments someone put "hosue"which is suposed to be spelled house. We are 7th and 8th graders making mistakes we are still learnig but when i grown adult makes a mistake on house that is sad. What don't know how to check your spelling? And our teachers don't have to dodge punches and kicks. Canton's art teacher was not on the news getting beat up that was a different school's art teacher and Canton's students did not attack the Examiner's photographer. My teacher also told me that you all are scared to come out your houses because of us. What did we ever do to you? She also told me that you all complained about us leaning on your property when it was raining out sidde and Canton had a fire drill, then why didn't you come out of your houses and say something. Please don't tell me you all are scared of us when there is teachers and staff are outside with us? Our teachers would not let us hurt you. See I think there is racist white people in Caton that want to get rid of black people in Canton. Also i think that you all don't care about our education because you all already have yours. Yea I see walking your dogs and riding in your pricey cars. Just because you don't have kids you all are able to do that and if you do have kids then you have enough money to send them to private or catholic schools. Everybody is not like you all ok i think uyou need to sit back and realize that and I feel to believe that you should respect the middle and lower class citizens. The student that go to Canton might grow up to be a Politic and you all are going to want his or her help. Well if you ask me I personally would not help out a third of you all because you all are not helping us now. Yea you all may see us walking to scool with black bags with junk-food in them, but why are you conserned about it these kids are not yours. If you have a problem then move. For the guy who's wife's purse got stole i don't appreciate you sayin that Canton students did that because you assumed, so really you dont't know. You justed wanted to blsame the nearest black person because your racist. Canton is a good school; it has its ups and downs, but all schools do and I am personally happy that Canton is turning into a charter school. Stop complaning and deal with the facts of life. You all with your fancy stuff stop being a BITCH and do something and if you are to scared to do something about where you live at then move. You can't expect only the cops make the community better; you need to help or leave and if your BITCHASS leaves then don't let the door hit you on our ass on the way out because Caton does not want to fix it. And one last comment; Please stop looking and watching us because you all are just as worst then us Caton students because you all are stalkers. Thank you and have a nice day. MAy the LORD bless you and your family.

Sincerly,

Donald M. Johnston of Canton

If any one would like to contact me at: donlildon@live.com

The Canton residents posting in this thread should be ashamed of themselves. Maybe if you volunteered at the school and interacted with the community a little bit instead of self-righteously whining about how hard you work and how much money you paid for your house, maybe these problems wouldn't exist.

Go buy a McMansion if you want to enjoy your piles of money without anyone bothering you. This is a friggin' city. Grow up.

...and where does Baltimore get the "funds" to build "new and improved" schools? From the high taxes which residents in neighborhoods like Canton. Residents who, undoubtedly pay a disproportionately higher percentage than many other neighborhoods for sure. Do you think we get equal representation at City Hall when it comes to issues such as these? I think not.. One party rule in the city as all but assured that.

Yes, I know it's not as simple as that.

Nor is it as simple as branding an affluent white resident a racist if he or she opposes a high school in the neighborhood.

Its about feeling as one baring the brunt of the financial burden of a City on the rise, having little say in civic affairs because elected officials ignore your views or look upon you with contempt because of your financial situation.

Long time residents of the City dont want to admit it. But much of this great city's revival is due to inflow of money of once surburban affluent residents who decided to give the city another chance. Areas like Federal Hill, Canton and Fells Point can attest to that.

I feel as if it is a crutch for those in favor of the transformation of the Canton school to label those opposed as racists. Perhaps some are, but those who make blind accusations such as this are equally guilty.

I've been reading these comments and have tried to stay out of the situation but I really feel as if I need to comment now.
As a city teacher, I know I am biased towards these children. I didn't want to say anything in haste or blindly defend city kids that sound a whole lot like they could be in my own classroom. I do think many of the posts are racist, but I don't believe any comment I could make would change anyone's mind.
However, to "Resident..." who posted above:
I cannot BELIEVE the gall of someone posting that they are "look[ed] upon... with contempt because of your financial situation."
I have a feeling the school board meetings would be the one and only place in the entire WORLD where you are looked down upon for that. And after that look of contempt, you can go home to your nice house and rest in your nice bed.
My children are CONSTANTLY looked at with contempt. Their financial situation (through no doing of their own, mind you) is often incredibly dire. They go to schools that ALSO have embarrassing "financial situations" (to the point that they don't have books or decent food or furniture) They live in neighborhoods with drugs and violence and abandoned houses. They have no ability to leave this situation and their families often don't have the education as to how to change it or move away (which, by the way, you and your "financial situation" could always do)

"Resident..." is sadly mistaken if he/she thinks that I am going to thank them for how much money they make.

And lastly, these kids aren't stupid. If the views on this blog represent how most Canton residents feel, it's no wonder the children treat you like they do. They aren't going to cater to someone who thinks they aren't worth the dirt on their shoes.

Steph,

I believe you either misunderstood what I was trying to convey or are ignoring the key point I was trying to make.

I'm not trying to turn this into a class struggle. No where in my argument did I attack city children or educators.

My beef is with the elected officials, who in my opinion, do not do a fair job representing all of their constituents. If they had, we wouldn't be having this debate post-decision.

All I am trying to say is that these same officials have no problem collecting the higher property and income taxes in the more affluent areas, but when it comes to addressing our concerns, we are virtually ignored.

In addition, I stand by what I wrote earlier, it is unfair to brand someone a racist because of their opposition to a High School being instituted in their neighborhood without so much a warning.

You want your children to gain acceptance within the neighborhood, you want the residents of the neighborhood to be more open and understanding to your problems. Well, it works both ways my friend.

Its always easy to brand someone a racist or a bigot or whatever negative or derogatory team you wish to you without actually trying to see what they are trying to say or how things affect them and how they want what is best for their family or own personal situation.

First off, to Donald M. Johnston:

Wow. Way to reaffirm the fears of Canton residents everywhere. Eighth grade or not, you attack people for having a typo while constructing a nearly indecipherable tirade yourself. While I commend you for at least being positioned in a situation where you may have at least a peripheral exposure to a newspaper, I think you would be far better served by working on reading it instead of focusing your clearly passionate efforts on the construction of exciting new compound-profanities.

Moving on.

The many teachers in this thread should be mortified by what they've produced, as demonstrated above. I believe no child should be given up on, but when they produce work of this quality -- which I have absolutely no doubts is representative of the modern standard of excellence in Baltimore City schools -- you need to orchestrate a detention or something in order to get these kids reading and writing instead of "Myspace whoring" with their friends in some form of pidgin English.

Also, all of you that are up in arms about the Canton residents' opposition to a new school in their neighborhood who do not live their yourselves: we do not live under a socialist European regime. We're Americans. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. People should have the right of self-determination, and if they decide they don't want their community subjugated to the children of another, that's not unreasonable. Independence is our most important value, and if there aren't any handouts going around at the end of the day, it's up to the individual -- or individual community -- to pull itself up by its bootstraps and build a better life, community, and world.

Force your vision on no one.

There are hurt feelings on both sides, or more aptly, all sides since no issue is ever just 2 sided. Residents feel taken for granted, especially those without kids. I hope they remember that we all pay taxes (yes, even the students who pay when they buy those snacks in black bags) which pay for services we never use, but which as citizens we know that others do. Childless people pay taxes for schools, I pay taxes for parks I never use, you pay taxes for things I don't use. That's what it means to be a part of a larger community. I gladly pay taxes even though I know that some of my money is waisted on things that don't work. Again, that's life in a city, or for that matter, in the U.S.

As teachers (I am one) we need to remember that while we are not all powerful, we do have the power to engage students in their communities, and this issue seems to have done fhat for some kids. Yes, proof reading seems to be a lost art for many (I was never a good speller) and passionate speech is sometimes unclear, but let's focus on ideas first. Getting any student engaged is the first step to teaching them more skills. I applaud those teachers who have gotten their Canton students to write in - imagine if every student found something to be passionate about, to read about, to write about, to work to change. Hmm, sounds like what many of the transformation schools are doing (www.baltimorecivitas.org) including Friendship. Do the Canton teachers know that adults have failed their students, of course they do. Any yet what the good teachers know and remember is that these are children, not adults. Yes, some times unruly, sometimes disrespectful, some times angry, but at the end of the day, children who need caring adults to give the type of love that makes people whole.And good teachers at Canton as well as at other schools are doing that. The teachers who are applying to Friendship all understand that. Will they be able to wave a magic wand and create a school full of children who never curse, who never act out, who never misbehave? Oh that it were possible. What they can and will do is work hard to ensure that kids understand that they are a part of the community and as such need to be positive members.

The school and school system have work to do to repair relationships. I hope (and believe) that they know this and will do it. Canton makes Baltimore stronger and a strong school will make Canton stronger.

On another note, I have read with great sadness the comments of a few who are determined to belittle and insult those. I have read them here (although less than in other places), on the talk about it section about this story as well as on another papers discussion board. I wonder if all of us would be so, well, nasty, if we did what Mr. Johnson did and sign their real name. Do we need to, as adults (most of us) hide behind screen names in order to show our true selves? I don't agree with the ending of Mr. Johnson's posting, calling people Bitches and such isn't mature, but if he's a middle school student he isn't mature yet, he's 12.

Doug

What ever if you want to call the residents of Canton racist then so be it.The fact is this city should'nt be bringing thug kids from one part of the city to another.What they need to do is build a school near their own neighborhoods.

The kids in that school are a majority black.So they need to be tought in a black neighborhood.The simple reality if it was whites kids going into a influential historic black neighborhood.Trashing and beating people up stealing and harming from black people.That Mayor.Dixons would have closed down that school.

It is about race the kids are ether racist,or grow up in a troubled black community.No matter what!!!.It becomes a race issue because the majority of Canton residents are hard working whites.And the majority of Canton students are into hiphop black racist culture.

The sad thing about this is that white Canton resident's who have to endure these attacks.Can't even send their own kids there and the school is in their own neighborhood.If they we're to send their kids there they'ed be attacked by black kids.Don't give me I am taecher bull shit ok!!!!.You know why Canton white kids don't attend that school because racist blacks would attack them.

We have plenty of white kids in that part of the city to attend that school.No! what we do is go and get kids that int even from Canton.We ship them in they attack us and we can't even let are own kids attend.

Forced busing needs to end they don't belong in the neighborhood not because their blacks.Its because the racist hiphop junkies that don't even live in Canton.This has nothing to do with whites hateing blacks.There are many blacks and Mexicans in the area.

And I bedt they would agree with me as well but most likely their racist.Blacks want to bring their kids to our dam neighborhood to try and drive out white people.It int going to happen so you best be makeing a better dam plan.

This is part of Dixons plan to try and drive out whites from Baltimore.To destroy the white voteing block,and to mess up the parts of the city that did'nt vote for her in the election.Robert Migabwe would be proud of Mayor.Dixon she hates white people.