Shootings

In the past week there have been two shootings in the neighborhood surrounding my school. A week ago there was a rifle found in a car, when the police attempted to arrest the guy there were shots fired. Last Friday there were shots fired one street away from my school around lunch time. There were two shooters at least one was injured.
A teen was shot and killed this weekend. Police say it was a drug deal "gone bad". The boy was addicted to heroine and apparently came to the neighborhood for drugs.

I was at my school when the first shooting happened last week. We locked down the out side of the building and had to delay dismissal until the police were gone. It was crazy to know what was happening just out side our doors. The violence that is going on is happening in the neighborhood around us not in the school (which makes it a little better). But they are saying that they have not had this amount of gang activity in the area or the school in a long time. There have been a lot of problems in the upper grades and for the first time (in awhile) teachers are feeling "shaken" and some not safe at school. Its really hard to work and teach if you dont feel like you are safe at your work place.
There are a lot of comments on the news sites regarding the area and the shootings. Some comments sound ignorant but others (unfortunately) make a valid point.

I know I am going to come out of this experience with much more than just a college education.
-Miss Hansen