Peterson's Blog

Lincoln and Me

One of the differences I noticed between Lincoln Elementary and Eden Prairie schools is the surrounding community and their support or the school district. Lincoln school district is in a very poor area of North Minneapolis and the community and overrun with crime and poverty. The city is divided into sections by race and wealth, which commonly go hand in hand. The community in Noth Minneapolis has become accustomed to the crime, drug delaing, and various illegal activities that infest the streets. There are people in the community who want to help out and make a change but they are threatened and no longer want to stick their necks out again. In Eden Prairie, the people are all extremely nice and there is not fear of crime of drugs on any street there. Everyone seems to have a sense of pirde in our city , and don't want that tarnished.
I feel that the people of North Minneapolis have always been surrounded by hardship and poverty, so they consider that the norm. Children raised on welfare and food stamps may grow up with the understanding that they can do that same thing when they grow up. These situations on hurt the community that they're in becuase they aren't out working and bringing money into the community. If a kid sees some wealthy older person frim their cimmunity, they assume that they're a drug dealer. The youth only see drug dealing as a way to make money and live a fulfiling life. There aren't enough possitive role models in the community who are there to set examples for the children. These kids end up hurting their community and themselves by bringing drugs into the community even more.