WTF!?

[gen717]

There was a shooting today at my kids' high school.  A Freshman was shot a block away from the school around dismissal time, and is in critical condition.  I'm freaking out.  I never had to deal with this kind of thing when I was a teenager.  I'm just... freaking out.

Comments

[imigination]

My God, that's insane.

I don't know what to say ... but I'll keep you and your kids in my thoughts.

[gen717]

It is insane. Their school is actually not bad for a Chicago Public School. It's one of the better schools in the area. Just recently there has been some gang activity/problems, and my kids were telling me that there were fights going on last week. I'm guessing this is the culmination of it. It's terrible that kids can't go to school in peace without having to worry about this stuff, you know?

[imigination]

Absolutely. I'm from D.C., which on a whole has improved, but our public school system has always been incredibly rough. There are maybe three decent public schools (two of which are magnet schools and selective) ... the rest are dangerous, in horrible condition and have really poor leadership. My mother finally took my 16 year old brother out of it.

A couple of my closest friends are from Oak Park. I know their schools were excellent, but I'm otherwise unfamiliar with Chicago schools.

Regardless, it's heartbreaking that things escalate like that. I'm glad that your kids are safe, and I hope that the injured boy pulls through.

[wwg23]

Whoa! That's really scary! :(

[gen717]

It is.. and if I could I'd keep them home. This is their finals week. Ugh. They get out early too, and I usually pick them up from school, but I can't tomorrow.

[hmsharmony]

Oh, God, that's terrible! I'm so, so sorry something like this happened. *hugs* I know there's not much I can say that will comfort you, but know that I am thinking of you and your kid. Stay safe!!

[gen717]

Thanks, bb. It's just... I never had to deal with this crap as a kid. I almost want to keep them home, but they have finals now.

[hmsharmony]

I don't know if my experience will help you, but

[gen717]

No, thank you, I appreciate you telling me about your experience. I can imagine how you must have felt. I did talk to them tonight, and explained what I wanted them to do. There's supposed to be a dance on Thursday, but I'm sure it's going to be cancelled now. And you're right, we have to go about our normal lives, and not allow crazy people like that to dictate what we do.. we simply have to be on alert and smart in how we go about it.

[gen717]

Thanks, bb. It is scary. I actually teach in a very rough (elementary) school where the zip code I work in has the second highest rate of prison releases in the entire city, and we've yet to have severe violence that close to the school itself. (Heh, yesterday I busted one of my students coming to school high as a kite, I almost got high off of the reek of refer from his jacket).

Chicago can be an awesome city, but I suppose like all large cities, not without it's major problems, too.

[alexis374]

oh my god that's horrible. i wouldn't know how to handle that or react to that either. god it's hard to imagine how as a teenager you would be able to make sense of someone else's actions like that, especially when as adults is just as hard to make sense of. thoughts with you, your family and community... this really is terrible news.

[gen717]

Yeah, part of me wants to keep them home from school, because I won't be able to pick them up and they'll have to take the bus home tomorrow. But they have finals now, and they have to go. I hope this nonsense ends soon.