I have no idea how this could be implemented for real, but extensive parenting classes would go the furthest. After that, yes, I'd such major community development, especially in terms of giving both younger and older kids outlets for all their pent-up energy and aggression. If those two could be combined into one multi-purpose community center (maybe with community-led groups and classes), where families and kids can get to know each other from a young age, taking away the alienation that allows for violence to occur, that would do the most for the community, I think.

ALL of the issues that you see with the kids from the hood are the reult of generational trauma. The students I taught at Gratz that were at grade level, worked hard everyday, and aimed to go to college - unshockingly - had nice, stable home lives. Those that were unstable and violent had home-lives that reflected their behaviors. So, blame the parents, right? Well, they had the same issues growing up, along with all the trauma that comes from living in North Philly, being black and always at odds with the police, never feeling safe around them, high incarceration rates, poor enployment options, etc. So their behaviors are just as understandable. This includes parenting styles and techniques. Some of these parents are violently abusive to their kids, because that's how they were raised, and that's all they know how to react when their child is upset and they don't know what to do.

Providing all the mothers to be - especially the teen mothers - extensive parenting classes, along with on-going support in the early years (for those of you without kids, as a parent of two, those early years are HARD).

I've also worked in elementary schools and have seen how some kids come into the school - with almost no academic prepartion. My kids were so far advanced by the time they hit the door of kindergarten, but we didn't do anything excessive. We read to them every night, we answered their questions, we took them to the library, museums, parks, etc. Mostly just always had conversations with them, and talked to them about everything, and talking abotu fun scientific concepts like, say, the rain cycle, I'd dig up a youtube video and we'd learn more. Also, watching shows with them and anytime they were interested in something, pausing and discussing it with them, as well as playing puzzle games with them. I know that kinda sounds like a lot, but I mean to say this wasn't all the time. There was plenty of unstrctured time and just watching shows and such. I wasn't grilling them on everything and making them study for tests or what-have-you.

Anyway, point being, that if every mother-to-be got intensive classes as well as support, maybe even up to kindergarten, I'd suspect that the multitude of issues would be vastly less within three generations.

There are plenty of nice people. I worked there my first two years in Philly, at Gratz (pre-Mastery), and found the vast majority of the people in the community are fine to great. Yes, of course, there is excessive violence and there are some mean-spirited kids, but rarely is the violence unprovoked. I treated my kids and their families with respect, and I usually got it in return (freshman are hard, though, til they get to know you.)

Please remember the people that hate this violence as much as you do, but are directly impacted by it.

We'll, he was there. I don't wanna say too much,... but he was also wearing a cape. Best of luck!

No, sorry. I was just your mom's doula.

It was the day you were born. Super interesting, in fact. You flew straight out of your mom's coochie rocking a cape. Pretty wild. Top 10 craziest things I've ever seen.

Indubitably

Tacos

You're not a smart one, eh?

Well, you, me n my kids, and responsible dog owners (not the dipshits that think they're special and don't have to leash their dogs.)

Ahaha. Who's more to blame for this atrocity, Kenney or Krasner?

We don't start there. We go to the trailhead off Green, where you park on the street.

I'm dying. Well played.

Yeah, Forbidden Drive

That's true of many black students from the hood. I've been teaching in one of the worst school districts in the country, and even when we can get a kid to graduate with decent looking credentials, they very seldomly graduate from the college - and then end up saddled with debt without a degree.

It's not only that the kids don't learn the essential knowledge, they don't learn/know the essentials of persverence, have immense issues with self-confidence due to stereotype threat, don't have the social capital, don't know how to take notes or study, etc. It's all-around quite depressing.

I'm in Manayunk too - and it was happening right when my adorable, lil 7 year old daughter ripped a HUGE FART. When I asked if she thought that was thunder, she thought I was referring to her fart - and just cracked up.