Raising a family in Columbia Heights

[Mr. T]

Just ignore the trolls...

[broNat]

My intent is not to attack my neighbors or gin up conspiracies, but foster a real inward look at the collective priorities "we" set. We have basically told our political and other leaders that "Ellwood Thompson" is a higer priority than addressing daycare and educational issues. We assume that the daycare programs in CH are not on par with the suburbs, but no such evidence has been presented.

I attended last night's meeting, we totally let the Council Member and the Mayor off the hook. I'm pretty sure there is no money for 11th & Monroe Park, Fenty was confusing that with 14th & Odgen. I ID'd approximately $1M for business development and the response was basically "oh well". We like to blame government, but "we" are the problem. I don't know of a politically correct way to say that.

[Oakie]

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[DCDireWolf]

Oakie, I can't tell you how to raise your kids or what to do for your family.

I know that my kids and grandkids will reap the benefits of a world where we reach out to the people in our community and work together to improve conditions, and that my kids and grandkids will in the long term suffer if we continue to perpetuate a world where those with the means to do so run away and segregate themselves by class.

I"m a product of public schools, and my loved ones are too. We did just fine.

[New2CH]

No one has ranked priorities, whether they be Ellwood Thompson's, daycare, or anything else. In fact, I don't think there was one question asked at last night's meeting about ET, for better or worse.

Of course, BroNat, if you and DCDire had your way, this city would be bankrupt, and there would be no money for ANY government program in D.C., because there would be no citizens nor commercial enterprises actually paying taxes to the city, nor any large businesses employing local residents who themselves could pay taxes rather than living off welfare. You can't have a public sector without a thriving private sector, these are fundamental facts which you refuse to accept.

I have received confirmation from the head of DPR (who used to be an admin at Tubman, so she knows the neighborhood well) that the 11th and Monroe Park has been budgeted and that a community process to plan the park will be starting in the near future. Mayor Fenty was not "confused" because he was specifically briefed on that particular park heading into the meeting. Yet another conspiracy theory down the drain ... just like the secret wine-bar cabal that never existed!!!

[Oakie]

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[DCDireWolf]

Oakie, I'm happy to have a civilized conversation about anything. I do that with just about everyone except Mr T and New2CH, those two just react too strongly to my messages.

My public high school had rampant drug use, metal detectors, bomb threats and periodic drug dog searches. The students who wanted to succeed did anyway. The parents who wanted to be involved were anyway. The teachers that cared, cared anyway.

There will always be bad apples, people who don't buy in, people with bad motives. But if we leave the rest of the kids to those wolves, we are part of the problem.

What we need is not just you Oakie, not just you and me, but a critical mass of parents who care to make the choice to save the public schools. That way we dont' become victims of inertia or isolation. Like I said, it takes organization and hard work. The alternative, to turn our backs, is much easier.

I'm not a parent yet. But we're committed to public education 100 percent if we do have kids.

[Oakie]

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[DCDireWolf]

I think it's a mistake to write off community members that don't have kids. We all have a common interest in improving the schools and keeping engaged families in the neighborhood. Eventually some of us without kids will have kids as well. Why refuse to work with people who want to help simply because they don't have kids?

[Oakie]

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[Mr. T]

Because, DCDW, not only are you not a parent, not only have you not lived here very long, if at all(!), you're simply a troll who doesn't really care about the neighborhood. Your recent inflammatory statements on the Prince of Petworth's blog posts weren't enough entertainment for you, so you have to chime in here again? You're like an arsonist, you always like to see things go up in flames. Always talking about "community", yet striving on a daily basis to wreck the online resources that given a chance would actually help build a sense of community. Why don't you and Bronat go fix up that ANC website now???

[DCDireWolf]

Mr T., what is wrong with you? Jesus, I want to do my part to discuss ways to improve public education in the neighborhood and you go off on a rant. I've lived here since 1999 but should it make a difference if I moved in yesterday if I'm trying to help. Man, I don't want this thread to devolve, I want to engage just like others in a positive discussion on the schools. Then you have to ramp it up for some reason. If you don't like my contributions, ignore them.

Oakie, you just want someone to tell you it's okay to avoid the public schools. You'll probably find people here to do that, but not me.

I will NOT be silenced just because I don't share your selfish worldview.

Now, if there are people reading this who would like to do some real work in setting up an organization to provide after school activities for kids, or tutoring, or gang intervention, or any other ideas you may have, please chime in.

Those of you wanting a pat on the back for recognizing that the schools are bad and affirmation for avoiding them, whatever your reasons, continue your echo chamber.

[jrenaut]

I originated the thread. I am interested in talking to anyone who would like to see the neighborhood improve to the point where young families don't move out. I think excluding people who don't have children is the wrong way to change the neighborhood for the better.

[Oakie]

Sorry, jrenault, I misunderstood your intent. I'll remove my posts, since I appear to have taken it off in an unintended direction.

[DCDireWolf]

I think one thing we can do to help keep families here is to promote and support the schools that do work. I know there are some charter schools especially that do a great job. I'm thinking first of the new Chavez school on Sherman.