Let's be a part of the solution

To the editor:

The New York City performance assessment reviews the values and attitudes fostered in our school programs. It evaluates the effectiveness of the student government, peer mediation, community service projects, and individual/group guidance program.

The Grow Report and School Report Card are also published assessments. They are available to all invested parties. These in-depth assessments will also tell us where we need to go as we press ahead. 

Everyone is accountable as we move toward creating emotionally safe schools, and emotionally safe communities.

We need more programs and services in the Hunts Point community which can prevent violence. These programs serve as safe havens for our youth. Parents should also set curfews for their children. And if random acts of violence occur in the evening, children should be supervised closely in the evening.

“In the Bronx, we have seen the number of murders increase this year, up from 68 to 80 at this time last year, according to the most recently available statistics,” borough president Ruben Diaz Jr., announced. “And this problem does not only affect the Bronx. 

Citywide, we have seen 40 more murders, from 280 to 320, than we did at this time last year. Increased violence, and the turmoil and loss that comes with it, have taken a hold in all five boroughs.”

We applaud the tireless and dedicated effort of Diaz, who has invested his time and energy in an attempt to ameliorate the growing problem of gun violence in the Bronx from 1996 to the present. However, everyone must be held accountable as we move forward toward creating emotionally safe schools and emotionally safe communities.

Everyone — the parents, teachers, students, police, as well as our elected officers, are all stakeholders. 

And if we are not a part of the solution, then we are a part of the problem.

Phyllis Murray