Shhh ...can you keep a secret?

In an apparently exclusive report, KOB TV (link) reports escalating tensions between rival gangs at West Mesa High School. In a related incident, a WMHS student was arrested for felony possession of a semi-automatic pistol with a semi full magazine, on school grounds.

The story begs a few questions. The first is; the district decided not to make the truth about escalating gang tension at WMHS available to stakeholders. Is the district correct in hiding the truth from stakeholders? Is it in the best interests of stakeholders (students, parents, teachers, community) to keep them in the dark about the situation at West Mesa High School?

Many would argue that it is not. Stakeholders have a right to make their decisions based on the (whole) truth. Perhaps if parents knew that their child was increasingly likely to become the victim of gang violence at school, they might make a decision to mitigate that risk; up to and including enrolling their child in a different school.

Another question; who is in charge at West Mesa High School; adults or gangsters?

If the gangsters are in charge; the truth is self evident; they are wearing their gangster uniforms in school, in open defiance of the rules. If they are sagging, they are in charge at West Mesa High School.

This in not about sagging; it is about the permission of prohibited behavior.

It is about who is in charge in school.

This essay is not an indictment of West Mesa High School. That the gun was found as WMHS, is mostly their bad luck. There are deadly weapons in close proximity to every high school in Albuquerque.

Nor is it an indictment even of WMHS administration.

The responsibility for the situation at WMHS, and at every other school in the APS; the responsibility for the fact that students are in charge in schools, falls squarely on the shoulders of the leadership of the APS. It is they, who have failed to generate even one plan to regain control over children in schools. Their response to date, is to leave thugs in place and ig nored.

Major gang violence in a high school is only a heartbeat away. While the tension does build perceptibly and over time; the climax will be precipitous. Some day, some kid is going to "look" at another in the wrong way. Dozens of adult sized children will be fighting. There will be weapons used. There will be injuries; maybe there will be a death.

It is not a matter of "if" it will happen.
it is a matter only of, when will it happen.

In preparation for that day;

should we be arming ourselves with the truth, and with candid and forthright discussions of the truth?


Or should we be hiring more executive directors of communication to keep the problem from being discussed at all?



We need to do something soon, or a child is going to die.


Do we look at the truth in the light of day,
or do continue to hide the truth and hope nothing happens?


... your call.