Comments Highlight Strong Opinions on High School

There has been a lot of discussion over the last week about Charlestown High School: the good, the bad and what should (or should not) be done to reconnect to the community -- and whether it could be reconnected at all. 

Regardless how you feel about the school, you have to acknowledge that people in Charlestown have strong opinions about it, and some of them go back a long time. 

Here's a sampling of the comments we've been receiving. Please, add your own.

The current Charlestown High school curriculm is a joke. There are no certified Vocational teachers at Charlestown High school. The Forensic class is supposed to be a science class, not a class that takes plaster cast of sneakers eyc., etc.. Where are the curriculms located for the public to view? Charlestown high school cannot be a community school with only 9% of students from the town. What has happened to the relics from the many years of the schools existence? They have been purposely expunged. The Principal has no rapport with the neighborhood. The mcas scores have not improved since her tenure. A change of venue would benefit the students, but the current Administration is regressive. All of the facts on this issue logically support moving the current high and bringing the Arts Academy here. --Frank R

It is unfortunate, but it is the weakness of CHS that motivates most parents to move from Charlestown or send there kids to Backbay,Beaconhill, Brookline, etc. Any change is likely to be an improvement from the current state of affairs. --gabor bethlendy

How about more programs for the Charlestown student residnsts. This is their town, let's cater to them for a change. --Dottie Nardone 

Was there any discussion on the behavior of the students in the neighborhood and how that would be addressed? I think it has less to do with busing and more tondo with the disrespectful students today. --McKenzie Ridings

I have a really good idea for anyone that is really truly concerned with CHS. Join the proposed committee's/help out and volunteer with the sports programs. Reach out to CHS instead of waiting for them to reach out to you. Call the school if you have a problems with students vandlizing your home to and from school, I am sure they will help you out. Quit complaining about the statistics of the school. I do believe that many of these kids come from homes/extenuating circumstances that hinder their success. This has nothing to do with the teachers/curriculm at CHS. Take this into consideration when you look at the stats of the school. Quit complaining about it and reach out to CHS with ways that they might be able to help you, a friend or your next door neighbor, I unsure you it's not all bad down there!!!! -- Harry