I was driving into school this morning, when I heard that a teenager had been arrested for two armed robberies yesterday. “Oh great, more teens with guns. I love Charlottesville…” I was thrown off when I heard the kid’s name, though: “Quentin Levar Gray.” Smack. I knew that guy; well, a few years ago, anyway. He was the kid that bullied me in 9th grade Gym! You see, I was a very shy 9th grader, and my first month in high school was, shall we say, less than ideal. Quentin would always walk up to me and make fun of me in some respect, calling me names, all that good stuff. So eventually I complained, and he was expelled and sent to wherever they send the expelled kids.

On the one hand, I’m glad I only had to deal with him for a month, considering he’s moved up to wielding guns now. On the other hand, how the hell did society fail this kid? I’m probably not legally allowed to disclose what the Assistant Principle told me about his background back in 2004, but it’s not like he was quiet about his delinquent behavior - I mean, he did get expelled. So how is it that, given his background and history of violent bullying (I haven’t been back in those locker rooms ’til this day…), he ends up with his mug shot all over the local news? There’s not always a lot you can do about someone’s home life, but that’s where the public school system comes in. Just because someone’s been expelled, doesn’t mean they should be subjected to substandard education. Honestly, I don’t know anything about the Alternative Education Center for Charlottesville, but I also don’t hear any teachers talking about how they’d love to work there. It’s hard enough getting teachers for Charlottesville City Schools when they can’t afford to actually live in Charlottesville, let alone getting teachers for the so-called “bad kids.” I know the teachers at the Alt Ed Center are doing everything they can - but we as a community need to give them the resources to do more.

Unfortunately, the forum for school board candidates was last night, so I’ve missed my opportunity to bring my opinion up before the candidates in general. But I’ll be going to school board meetings throughout the year, and I’ll be letting them know how I stand on this issue - because these kids obviously are not getting the support they need. Something more needs to be done. And if we don’t want kids running around downtown with guns, we need to attack the problem from where we can do the most good: the schools.

Just because someone is on the news, it doesn’t mean they are guilty. Let the legal process take it’s course before passing judgment on Mr. Gray. DGD