While listening to 1010 WINS the other day I found out about the principal of PS 21 in Bed-Stuy who refuses to let his elementary school students outside for recess. He says that stray bullets are too much of a problem and it is unsafe to let the kids out no matter the weather. Mayor Bloomberg responded that the neighborhood has actually gotten safer recently, that the police are working with the principal on the issue, and there's no reason to keep the children indoors.
Flash back to about a month ago. I get a report that my homeroom students are acting up in the art room, and my disciplinary assistance is needed. Knowing that it's eighth period (the last, about 2PM) and that the art room and my students in it can get crazy sometimes, I stroll purposefully down the long hallway to look into the situation. I arrive, and the art teacher is screaming at the children. My class is crowded along the windows in the corner classroom and loudly commenting on what's going on in the park behind our school. There are 4-5 people sprinting through the park and the sounds of gunshots are in the air. I start screaming to get away from the windows, for God's sake, and what the hell are you thinking there are bullets flying, and what the hell is going on, anyway? Art teacher responds- 'they're shooting in the back' to which I respond 'no shit' in my head. After a minute or two, everything was calmed down, and we talked at length about why its important to stay away from the window if there are random people shooting just outside that window. The one child who moved toward the door had some thoughts about that one…
I'd taught at the school for a year at that point and had not heard about shootings around the park, but Art Teacher told me enough. "There've been a couple times this year, I don't know when it was- but I've got it written down here somewhere…" It was all I really wanted to know. It wasn't really a surprise. But it was unnerving. I know there are guns around the school and I've seen and heard too many gunshots around me already, but what the fuck? Two PM? Within fifty yards of a classroom window? Most of the students in the classroom run toward the window? Its just unfair. To everyone.
