Gang activity is a persistent concern for Durham schools, so recently the city and county put up $65,000 for a study of how gangs operate in the school system. Students were supposed to be a primary source. They’re the ones who actually, say, deal with the issue and are closest to the source of the problem.
But now, the N&O reports, Durham school officials have pulled the plug on student involvement. Their reason? They don’t want the results of the study to “damage the
reputations of certain schools by branding them as centers of gang
activity.”
Oh, good point. I’m sure community members don’t already know which schools are troubled. Plus, protecting the reputation of a school with high levels of gang activity is much more important than getting all the information to put an end to the problem.
The new source is school officials (resource officers, guidance counselors, social workers). Good idea again, Durham schools. It’s much better to interview people who understand the political significance of their statements.
Damage control before the damage has been done… Does that make anyone else nervous?
