Lynwood, CA - The links to the following videos and website were sent to Lynwood Watch with the title "Lynwood Youth". The sender alleges to be a resident of Lynwood, and states: "Nobody is doing anything about our kids."
Video 1
Video 2
Lynwood Gangs
(Viewer Discretion is advised)
Saturday, August 12, 2006
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44 comments:
Finally, someone is concerned enough to mention our youth. What plagues our youth are drugs and gangs. What is the council doing about it? NOTHING!!!!! I have gone from councilmember to councilmember with a proposal from Southern alcohol and drug rehabilitation (Downey). In the proposal,S.C.D.A proposed to service the city of Lynwood absolutly FREE. The arrangemnet was all set up to have after school drug intervention at Lynwood Youth Center. To help individuals with a substance abuse problem or problems with family members who had drug issues. In our city we have lost a dozen teens and young adult to gang violence. The kid are all strung out on heavy drugs that make them completely guiltless in the crimes that they commit. You can buy any drug you want in Lynwood but, if you want to get off of a drug,we have nothing. Maybe its benifits the council to have everyone high. That way they can get away with there crimes. Most of the council members are a joke. Sylvia Ortiz
Hahahhaaha. I was cheering all of those idiots in the video. It's best they kill eachother off.
Why waste money on rehabilitating idiots? They made the choice to stick the needle in. They made a concious decision to do the things they do.
How about making money available for the truly worthy in our community so they can go on to college and do something with their lives.
For every "lost", they're really actually retarted kids, theres 5 that don't want to waste their lives and dedicate themselves to a life of crime. How about giving them some attention?
You can buy any drug in Lynwood, but if you wanna do something with your life, shame on you.
The issue of gang violence is a multi-faceted problem that exists because of the breakdown in the home, community indifference, and/or school pressures. Being a longtime resident of Lynwood,and an educator in the district, I will address the issue as a school related problem. It is very easy to identify a child who is exhibiting gang behavior. For me, it is due to my background in Psychology/Counseling but also because I grew up in the "neighborhood" and I was always surrounded by gang problems. However, many parents are unaware that their children are in gangs. They do not know how to look for the signs of gang behavior. It is as easy as asking a teacher and/or a counselor who knows the child and can help the parent with this issue. And yet, when parents are told that their child is in a gang, their first reaction is denial. Of course, the child denies it as well. Even when parents are offered proof, they still don't believe it. Let me tell you something else, city service programs might be well and good, but those affected students never go to those meetings. Those programs need to go to the schools where those kids will be. It must be done as early as elementary school because students start to exhibit gang behavior in 3rd and 4th grade. These kids need someone to talk to, to guide them, to show them alternatives to the "vida loca". And these people need to be there on a daily basis. Those kids in the video look to be about 12-16 years old and I'm pretty sure they are failing miserably in school. The sad thing is that if you ever have the opportunity to actually sit down and talk to them, these kids are bright and want to learn but just lost their way. A few years ago, the school district had a counselor who dealt with at risk students in the middle schools. Specifically, she dealt with students involved in or beginning to show signs of gang behavior. What happened to that program? i don't know what you notice but i see the gang problem getting worse in Lynwood. It used to be you had your El Segundo's , T Flats, Banning St. etc. but now you have all these cliques trying to start-up in the elementary and middle schools because the "big homies"(older gang members) try to recruit in these areas and are successful because they find impressionable kids to do their bidding. Another eye opener for you, most gang involvement involves girls!!! This is a problem that has existed for as long as I remember, but if you don't see it with your own two eyes it doesn't exist. This is also a very complicated problem that needs to be addressed with all stakeholders in Lynwood involved. I'm just saying that information and prevention at an early can at least help stem some of the problem.
Wow... Now stop talking and do something.
Has Commissioner, Adolfo Lopez paid the $1,700+ he owes the City of Lynwood in parking tickets?
Call him and ask him. 310-889-6840
I bet you won't.
One quick note to Aide Castro:
True the water fund can not be used for certain services. Where do you think that the deficit or negative will be paid from? Eventually, the general fund! Therefore, if you take money from the general fund, we will have less to spend on other services.
Aide, be very careful when you speak. Get all your facts straight and don't believe "certain people". Some folks like to instigate.
I think that is why she gave them an extra 1% to pad the reserves for the water department. Although you are right, I prefer for my general funds to be used to replenish the account then have the council spend it on stupid things. I think that little Bi..h is actually on to something.
Sounds like the former crack head Sylvia Ortiz is on to something too!
It's funny but it thought this website was meant to deal with all parts of the city of Lynwood. Every time something is posted about kids, students, schools, most comments revolve around city issues, rummors, how this person or that person is this and that. But you know, who cares what happens to our kids right??????????
sorry rumors
lynwood has alwyas been mesd up and while be for a while.... cmon look at lynwood high when it was build one of the most expensive high schools of the united states!
people who had to sell their homes for the land got paid twice the original cost why because people knew people who knew people... and that school aint the best.. i go there and see alot of the stuff the goes on half the kids are lost or their trying to keep up with what happens....many programs dont help at all sometimes sports and music help i noticed that alot... also when i went trough this schools probaly elemantary was the best years of dedicated teachers but in 5th grade we had got asubstitue teacher who let us sit there the whole year.!!! 4th grade i had one teacher but i change class because he would do the same so i had another teacher mr.samaniego who later in the year was proved to molested students and send to jail
middle school every year i had about 2 teachers that didnt teach me nothing i mean nothign we probaly open the book about 3 times the rest he wasnt there we were wacthing movies, fighting, gettign send out to the office, on a fire drill, or sleeping! teachers had no control wasnt that the kids were bad jsut that the teachers didnt care about anything all they said was.."if your here or not i still get paid" i heard that so many times... those fights from the videos are at school at a spot were it easy to do anything any one wants to do ..
.present. lynwood high student.
lynwood has alwyas been mesd up and while be for a while.... cmon look at lynwood high when it was build one of the most expensive high schools of the united states!
people who had to sell their homes for the land got paid twice the original cost why because people knew people who knew people... and that school aint the best.. i go there and see alot of the stuff the goes on half the kids are lost or their trying to keep up with what happens....many programs dont help at all sometimes sports and music help i noticed that alot... also when i went trough this schools probaly elemantary was the best years of dedicated teachers but in 5th grade we had got asubstitue teacher who let us sit there the whole year.!!! 4th grade i had one teacher but i change class because he would do the same so i had another teacher mr.samaniego who later in the year was proved to molested students and send to jail
middle school every year i had about 2 teachers that didnt teach me nothing i mean nothign we probaly open the book about 3 times the rest he wasnt there we were wacthing movies, fighting, gettign send out to the office, on a fire drill, or sleeping! teachers had no control wasnt that the kids were bad jsut that the teachers didnt care about anything all they said was.."if your here or not i still get paid" i heard that so many times... those fights from the videos are at school at a spot were it easy to do anything any one wants to do ..
.present. lynwood high student.
lynwood has alwyas been mesd up and while be for a while.... cmon look at lynwood high when it was build one of the most expensive high schools of the united states!
people who had to sell their homes for the land got paid twice the original cost why because people knew people who knew people... and that school aint the best.. i go there and see alot of the stuff the goes on half the kids are lost or their trying to keep up with what happens....many programs dont help at all sometimes sports and music help i noticed that alot... also when i went trough this schools probaly elemantary was the best years of dedicated teachers but in 5th grade we had got asubstitue teacher who let us sit there the whole year.!!! 4th grade i had one teacher but i change class because he would do the same so i had another teacher mr.samaniego who later in the year was proved to molested students and send to jail
middle school every year i had about 2 teachers that didnt teach me nothing i mean nothign we probaly open the book about 3 times the rest he wasnt there we were wacthing movies, fighting, gettign send out to the office, on a fire drill, or sleeping! teachers had no control wasnt that the kids were bad jsut that the teachers didnt care about anything all they said was.."if your here or not i still get paid" i heard that so many times... those fights from the videos are at school at a spot were it easy to do anything any one wants to do ..
.present. lynwood high student.
Dang! I hope you're still in school. . . Because you sure can't spell and there is not one period in this whole story!
If someone is making this up, and trying to pretend they can't spell... shame on you.
Wasn't Mayor Vasquez a "teacher" in the LUSD?
nope its not made up joust that i type really fast with out care... and yeah ms.vasquez was she was my sub for a whole year 7th grade
WHIle the boardmembers are traveling wasting the kids money.
HOW MUCH HAS EACH OF THE BOARD MEMBERS SPENT IN TRAVELING? I'D LIKE TO KNOW.
I was told by no other than AL that Solache has spent over $30,000 in travel. Can anyone verify this information?
The board doesn't have that big of a budget for traveling. Sounds like Martina is pulling your strings.
It wasn't Martina, it was actually someone closer to you...
Instead of just spreafing rumors why don't you request the info from the district.
For those ignorant gadflies...Any professional person interested in contributing to his/her professeion MUST attend confereces. I guess you call it "traveling" and you think it is fun. Well it in NOT!
By the way...the crackhead Sylvia Ortiz is the joke. She's the one spreading all the rumors about Solache.
Ortiz supports Solache, get your story straight. It's Martina spreading the rumors.
Well unlike yourself, I leave my name so that when I see you, I can check you. I'm not spreading any rumers concerning the school board members past orr present! I'm too busy babysitting the councilmembers. I have nothing but the upmost respect for Mr. Solache and Martina Rodriguez. STICKS AND STONES WON'T BREAK THESE THICK BONES!!!
Come on,,, sign your name scary cat!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sylvia Ortizzzzzzzzz
The good thing is that Solache has repeatedly said he doesn't visit this website (althought I think he's lying), so he probably won't even know this discussion is taking place. But if he does, good, you haven't done anything for the District except for traveling, and partying with our children's money.
Shup up Martina. You are not going to get re elected. You should have done something when you were their for 4 years. You are just mad at Solache for helping Alfonso get elected.
I am not Solache. Just someone tired of Martina talking shit. If Solache is traveling prove it, and i'll join you in hating him. If not shut up along with Martina. Did you verify your information or are you just repeating what you heard? The gay thing, just get over it.
That's funny, "just get over it" is the exact same phrase Solche uses to end sentences... hummmm what a coincidence.
No fool. I'm not Solache. Remember we all speak the same language. So their is no coincidence. With as much Gays as we have in this city, him being one is not even important. We have a good board, at the moment. We have an actual teacher that understands curriculums. We have an attorney that understands contracts. We have Rachel with years of experience on the board, and truly cares for the kids. We have a mother who has been involved and has a true education. With Solache we have a young man that went through our schools and can identify were we have problems. You still didn't answer. Did you verify your information. Martina is bitter looser and needs to get over the fact she lost. She had 4 years to do something on the board. She did nothing. Now she wants to do something. Please! Yeah Right......................... She's a total fraud, non GED having, lying, ignorant bitter looser.
Hehehe. Exactly the way I thought you would react. Pretty common in your type...
Lo unico que han echo Solache,Lupe,Maria,Alfonso es darle un aumento 30,000.00 a su amigo el SR Lal por ano y el cumple con sus caprichos personales.
Haber, haber, vamos quedando claros. Quien le dio por el ano a Sr. lal? Solache?
O quieres decir año?
Hay un mar de diferencia amiguito entre darle por el ano al Sr. Lal, y darle un año mas a Sr. Lal...
I just hope we don't end up having another Eric Lee incident. I really, really hope we don't have no high school boy having an affair with Solache as we did with Eric Lee.
Dr. Lal has done a great job and continues to try to clean house.
All that dead weight will soon be gone. The unfortunate part, is that they will file a lawsuite against the district for whatever.
Eventually, it'll be cheaper to pay them off than keeping them.
Let's see how well he is doing when the scores come out. many administrators at school sites and district are his hires, did they do better or worse than previous ones? Lawsuits aren't new to Lynwood, but this one may be serious, just don't know.
Okay EHOG, you might have a point. But take into consideration the parents who simply don't have the time because they need to work long hours. Also the kids that are left to their grandmothers who are to old to actually participate in the childs education. Not to forget the ones who simply don't have anybody, or their parents just don't care. Then what? It's easy for you to critique but what true solution do you offer. As your sister would say: Excuses get you nowhere. The responsibility belongs to all of us. I'm sure that because you learn from your sister, you would agree with her motto of excuses get us nowhere. But even your sister believes that we must work together and help others get out of their rut. You don't turn your back on someone because the adults that should care about their education don't. Where is your humanitarian side? Teachers, family, and every adult in this community have the responsibility to help our children. Simple as that. You are obviously a very smart kid. But you have lots to learn. You remind me so much of your sister in her younger years. I recommend that you prepare yourself for future leadership positions by participating in local community efforts. I really feel that in experiencing different cases of people in your own community will help you understand a little more. Cultures make a big difference in the way we raise our childrens. Perfect example, it is my understanding your sister raised you. Your father didn't care that your sister was an honor student. It was more important for her to go home and help the family. It happens to be that many hispanic families have the same tradition. Now ask yourself. Did your father do the same with you? The answer is no, right? Why? Because you are a male. The reason I point this out to you, is so you can take in consideration how many more hispanic parents do this to their daughters. For the males, the macho attitude permits for the male to have more freedom. All this goes hand in hand. Now why is the district also responsible? What ever happened to truancy officers? Why do we still have over crowded schools? Didn't we just get 5 new schools? How many friends did you report to the district for not living in Lynwood and attending our schools? Do you have a double standard for that? As you can see their is much more to be analized before just pointing the finger. One last thing, the majority of the problems in this community are due to the hispanic culture that does not value education. Both you and I as hispanics have a responsibilty to our own people to make sure they get educated. If you are not going to offer solutions to our people you have no right to critique. You have less of a right if you don't understand your own culture. Not everyone is as blessed as you are. I believe that at a very young age you had everything as well. You had a computer and a cell at a young age. You have been spoiled by everyone in your family. I'll never forget the story about your dad doing your homework. It's funny that everything in your comment, spoken about you have experienced personally. I asked your sister why you critiqued something you yourself had. She said you had earned it. So I ask you, are you assuming that other kids don't earn what they have? Anyways, I'll stop. I look forward to seeing you mature. I'm sure you will be a great leader like your sister. She is very proud of you. She claims she will make sure you go as far as you need in education so take advantage of it. Your whole family is behind you. Too bad all children in Lynwood don't have your family. By that I mean the Ortiz Guerra family. Don't even get me started on the Pedroza's. What happened their? Just kidding, you don't have to answer that last question.
To the previous comment,
It's funny but when I read about your upbringing and all the "incentives" you received for las calificaciones, I wish that I had those same things as you. My father worked long hours and sacrificed all he could for us to provide us with all the basic neccesities for school. Did I want those things like video games and stuff like that? Hell yes! But our family understood that some things were just more important. He never allowed us to forget where we came from and that we had a social responsibility to help those that are less fortunate than us.
I work as an educator in the district and I see it as a social responsibility to help these young people succeed in life. Do I care where they came from? No, because that is not my job. I'm not "The Migra". My job is to educate.
You and I are lucky that we have a strong family unit. Many of these kids today don't have that. They don't have that "American" ideal family that you and I have. Could it be a product of the Latino family assimilating into the Anglo concept of Divorce? For many of us in the educational community, we are the defacto parent. Many times we are the only person able to help our parents and students. Do you know how often I am asked to help people fill-out forms and papers, or asked for assistance on things that have not one thing to do with education? I do it with pleasure because I know that many years ago someone took the time to help mis padres, mis tios, mis primos with this same issues. Again social responsibility!!!
I knew from an early age that education was my ticket out of Lynwood. You and I were fortunate to be identified as GATE at an early age, tracked into an academic program, and served by some exceptional teachers. But you and I are the exceptions. Most kids are not GATE. You say that all students had the same opportunities as you, PLEASE!! Just by being in a GATE program changed our opportunities. We were exposed to different curriculum, differentiated instruction, probably went on many fieldtrips with the GATE kids.
Like you, I was motivated to do well in school, but not by material objects like game boys and other stuff. I was motivated to succeed because I was doing it to help my parents in the future, to recognize and affirm that their struggles as immigrants meant something, to be a voice for those people who couldn't speak English (like me), to live the American dream. Yet, I never let my nationality dictate how I treated others. I am a human being first and foremost and I could never forget that. Did I feel this way as I grew up. Not really, I had to grow as a person and become self-aware. It took the ooportunity to teach in a bilingual classroom for me to see things in a whole, new perspective. I was a Republican, voted for Bush 1, concerned with money, and thought that social programs were a waste of money. But when I started teaching, the kids were in the same boat as me a long time ago. Their parents were my parents, their diffculties were my difficulties, they were going through what I went through. Were they striving for a better life, trying to make it in the USA, you bet!!! It was then that I realized that I had a responsibility to help my community. I didn't see them as the cause of society's ills but as human beings who deserved an opportunity to do well, to fix what is broken.
You say you only have to answer to your mom, dad, and sister. Very true, but I also have to answer to that kid in my class, the parent who needs a helping hand, the kid who is in trouble and needs some guidance.
As far as your Affluence Revolution, those are the same tired talking points that Republicans always use to remove any sense of personal responsibility when dealing with society. All those key words apply to me as well, however, I CHOOSE apply those words to help my others in my community. It took me awhile to realize that, let's hope you do to because you would be a good role model for a young person in Lynwood, you just have to check their immigrant status first right??!!!
To the previous poster,
I find it amusing how some people are so simple minded so as to immediately break things down to party lines. May I respectfully ask: Who the fuck was talking about Republicans?
The ideals being argued by E-Hog are specific to him, and I seriously doubt, particularly from personally knowing E-Hog that all of his views are perfectly in line with the platform of the Republican party. Furthermore, there are those who share Edgar's position and do not necessarily identify themselves as Republicans. A bit of advice: Don't assume. Assumption is the mother of all fuck ups.
While your attempts to help others, particularly those less fortunate, is a noble one, let us also remember the familiar proverb regarding good intentions and the role they play in constructing the "road to hell." Personally, I have nothing against you wishing to help people, etc. etc.
Financial Aid was created with good intention of increasing the graduation rate from higher level institutions. After 30 years or so, the graduation rate remains constant. The only thing that's gone up is the number of enrollments. If you put those statistics on a graph you'll find that there's a delta to be accounted for. The word "drop-out" comes to mind.
The key to education is parenting. But of course, we can't talk about parenting because god forbid that the parent who works two jobs might get offended that we point out their irresponsibility.
The truth is that these parents don't get two jobs to make ends meet, they get two jobs so that they can continue to afford luxuries for themselves (luxuries which they later justify as necessities).
There is no way in hell that a family of 4, with two parents working above minimum wage jobs should have financial troubles. With adequate financial management (seeking this is a responsibility of the parents) they should make things work just fine.
Now, if you're gonna give me the "what if they work min. wage" -- then I'll tell you that's a double irresponsiblity. First and foremost, minimum wage jobs are not intended to be for heads of households. If they had this job and though themselves able to start a family with it, that's an irresponsibility. If they got this job after they started a family, that's an even greater irresponsibility. Finally, I'll use a quote you might be familiar with -- "they're taking jobs away" from teenagers, and unexperienced workers. Because, that's who those jobs are intended to accomodate.
The problem is that girls (not responsible enough to be called women) in the area think that kids are an accessory (much like a handbag) and that it is their sacred right to have a child if they want one. They never stop to think what responsibilities are inherent and once the child is born and they get tired of how "cute" he or she is then they want to go back to being teenagers.
And well, we have all kinds of handouts to help them, so they do.
We're sponsoring this kind of behavior, not helping these people.
As for those kids in the video: Where are their parents? Not home. They're working, because they have payments to make on the new Troca that they couldn't afford but bought anyway.
Previous post,
in response:
"The truth is that these parents don't get two jobs to make ends meet, they get two jobs so that they can continue to afford luxuries for themselves (luxuries which they later justify as necessities)".
How can you say that I'm the one assuming anything when you whole argument is based on the assumption that people work not for the basic necessities but to pay for material objects. How the fuck can you say so something so inherently stupid, immature, and close-minded? How can you also say that a family of 4 with two minimum wage earners not be able to make ends meet? Yes, minimum wage is not intended for head of households, but intended does not equate to the real world. See you can look at statistics all you want but not all statistics can explain what is happening in the real world. I can look at a graph and say numbers don't lie, But we can manipulate numbers anyway we like. Unexplainable trends (like the housing bubble) can not be explained mathematically but you're telling me that the rising costs of home ownership, the rising costs of rent doesn't play a significant factor in a family of 4 being able to make ends meet. What about the volatility of the gas prices? You're saying that doesn't affect that family of four. I dare you to go say that my parents, to my wife's parents, to my students' parents, it's easy to make comments when you have not lived or live through the struggles of others. Have you ever talked to many of these minimum wage earners? Are you telling me that your parents, grandparents didn't struggle? See, I had the opportunity to see where my parents came from. So whenever I get a little to full of myself I remember my parents and i get put back in my place. My dad told me "go to school so you don't have to work as hard as I did". I went to college, received my post-graduate degree, various credentials, etc. but I never, ever forgot the struggles my parents went through to get me in a position to succeed. I try to instill that philosophy into my students because I want them to succeed. Like I said in my earlier post, it took me a while to realize that I had a social responsibility to help others.
See my family struggled to make ends meet. My dad worked 60-70 hours to make it, in order for us to have the basics for school. A luxury for us was going to the McDonald's on Atlantic after going to church. See I can't look at someone working minimum wage with contempt. I have achieved the "American" dream, my parents are proud of me, I give to my community, but I never forgot where I came from. See, my accomplishments are my parent's accomplishments, my grandparents', etc. Their struggles and sacrifices made me.
The funny thing is you never really answered my post for your friend. People are always quick to blame society's ills on the less-fortunate, the immigrant, the elderly, the student, but my main point is where is his and your's sense of social responsibility? Did you ever help someone fill out a job application, persuade a young person from having sex, be a mentor, or are those not your problems because its beneath your class status because you made it?
To Mr. Professor:
My parents didn't work minimum wage jobs. That's because there's no mimimum wage for taxi drivers in Mexico, and well, that applies to my dad -- my mom never worked because they thought it was more important that they watch over me and my sister.
So on a taxi driver's income, my dad was making ends meet for my 2 older brothers, myself, and my sister.
I don't have contempt for those who reach a point where they touch bottom. I have contempt for those who find it perfectly acceptable to stay there, and those that make excuses for them.
Read again. 1 parent income, taxi driver, 4 kids.
Yet, just 8 years later my dad had established and operated a successful partnership in Mexico City that had multi-million dollar contracts with Government Agencies, Airlines, and other giant firms.
But that still wasn't cutting it for my dad. So we packed up and came to the states. And he once again had to start from the bottom.
He didn't know English, he had no valid high school diploma, no work history, no work experience.
And today, 12 years later, he's the general manager at a multimillion dollar company in LAX and is on the verge of an executive position.
Me? I learn from these examples and I honor them. Most people reading this had cribs and cradles, at least warm blankets. I had a mattress on the floor with my parents.
I identify with you saying that McDonald's was a luxury, but it wasn't something that we were willing to accept.
I also applaud you for telling your students to value the efforts of parents. I have no objection to this. The thing is though, I was friends with your students, hell I don't know who you are, I might have been one of your students. And I say to you again, from first hand observation:
"The truth is that these parents don't get two jobs to make ends meet, they get two jobs so that they can continue to afford luxuries for themselves (luxuries which they later justify as necessities)".
Like I said, I have no resentment or issues with those who find themselves at the bottom at some point of their lives. But I do have problems with those who think its acceptable to stay there and expect society to feel sorry for you, and with those who make excuses for them.
But lets get to your questions:
But my main point is where is his and your's sense of social responsibility?
- I won't speak for E-HOG. As for myself, I do what I can to help those that I can help.
The best ways I can help people is to continue on my path, (College-student, double majoring, btw, me and my sister are paying full-price for college STILL on a single income) to provide an example for others.
Often, my professors from high school refer students to me (who don't have papers, and need help getting into school) -- I do what I can.
Did you ever help someone fill out a job application, persuade a young person from having sex, be a mentor
Yes, I did.
Yes, I did.
Yes, I do.
or are those not your problems because its beneath your class status because you made it?
I haven't made it, and I already answered your three questions. What's next? Are you going to chastize me 'cuz I didn't say bless-you to the old lady at the park?
I'm willing to extend a helping hand, but my helping hand is only helpful when those I help recognize it as a helping hand and not as divine intervention.
There are no excuses for those who dwell at the bottom.
-HR
Ehog
I'm an educator in this district because it is important to me to help my community in which I grew up and eventhough I don't live there anymore I spend a large amount of my day in "The Wood". You're right, our test scores are shit!!! I'll be the first to admit it, but you can't blame a district-wide problem on just me. It is depressing to see those test scores this year, and it is easy to blame this person and that person, but you know what we all share in the blame and responsibility for that. But look at the scores closely. Where are most of the problems in our district? They are concentrated in the secondary schools. You're telling me that this is a new problem. You don't think the school board knew about this this year, last year, 5 years ago? Perfect example is LMS. That school has been underperforming since it was created about 5-6 years ago. It was plagued with problems (bad teachers, bad environment, etc.) and the school board knew it. When the school brought in Mr. Newell, he turned the school around in terms of performance on State exam. 3 years ago the school posted a 15 point growth on their API and a 60 point growth the next year. Guess what, new district admins. he had to "leave" the district. His replacement causes major upheaval (justified or not, that is not for me to say) and the school drops 59 points on the API. My point being that there is no consistency in Leadership in the district and at the school sites. Good administrators placed in near impossible situations, people replaced not because of incompetence but because of personality issues with board members, district personnel, and hanger-ons. Yes, there are some bad teachers out there. I'm not going to defend those people. I remember teachers like Cheoros, Budak, Lewis, Cambell, Mc Cann, etc., who were great, made you think, and cared. I pattern myself after them because they were of great help to me and they did not sit behind a desk all day. You have no idea who I am, but I am not the typical "Lynwood" teacher you think I am. I do chaperone dances, attend events. Everything I have said about being a part of the community is true, I don't say it just to say it. I do what I can, when I can and always do the best possible job I can, ask any of my students and parents. But hey, that's just me!!!
You dont think that there are people in the district who do bring up the problems to those responsible. You know where those people are: reassigned, demoted, "left" the district, I could go on and on.
As far as those teachers doing all those things you mentioned with computers and stuff, you think that I am happy about that. That stuff is meant for students to use to learn, not for someone to make a profit. That is a disgrace. Like I said before, I'm not the typical "Lynwood" teacher. I like to associate myself with teachers who care, do their jobs well, and participate in the community. We are out there EHOG, just ask the students, they know who we are.
As far as "getting out of Lynwood", like I said before, I had to become self-aware and see that I had to give back to my community. As a matter of fact, I spend most of my day in Lynwood. I work here and my parents still live here. You dont think I am asked constantly why I'm still working in Lynwood? You know what I say, the kids need me. Lynwood may have its faults, but I still enjoy being a part of the community. Yeah, I guess I'm too classy for this dump because of my little "paper", that's why I'm still here!!! Right????
But you know what Ehog, I think you and I have a lot of things in common. Although we may disagree on many issues (actually just see them differently) I am impressed with how you defend yourself, how well you write, and that you have a strong belief system. You are what the LUSD should aspire all their students to be:informed, independent, and with conviction. I also would like to say that you have probably judged me on my professional ethics and responsibility because of my job and some assumptions about Lynwood teachers (many do care, we're just not the ones in the photo-ops), but you know what, I am guilty of that as well with you. So I will apologize for that. I think you would be a great mentor for our kids, hopefully you are. I try to be one as well. Thanks for the great conversation.
I live in the city of Lynwood and attend Lynwood High School. I've read all of these comments and I agree with what people say about our school and our youth. I also believe that some of the cities board members do not really care about the city itself, but only of the money the are making.
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