“I live here, and hate what is going on.” I understand exactly what you’re saying, Jaidyn. Lima’s my hometown and many years ago I started my teaching career right in the middle of this area in the old South Junior High. Even though I had grown up in the town, it was a different world. I was so naive, but learned a lot really fast from the first day when I walked in and was greeted with “another honky to teach us.”
I have so many memories. I’ll never forget the day one of my students told me her sister had just had her 8th baby—every one of them with a different daddy—and that meant she would get more money from the government. I honestly had no idea how to respond.
My second year and last day of teaching there ended abruptly when the students set the school on fire. Luckily the firemen extinguished it before too much was burned.
I now look back on it and realize that this is an area with generational poverty and generations of these problems. Many people have tried to help. Obviously, more work needs to be done.
BTW, the police chief is a really good guy from a super family. I grew up a few houses from his. I am sure that he is very sad that this has turned out this way.