Richmond High School

Front of school.

Today I visited Richmond High School. Richmond is INFAMOUS in this area for having much violence. I have been to other areas of Northern California and have met kids from Richmond and their parents sent them to live with their grandparents so they don't have to go to Richmond High.

Church across the street.

 I try to find good things about a high school when I go there so I can compliment the people I meet about it. I know this is a bad area so I was expecting the school to be built like a prison, to keep the bad guys out. A school needs to feel like a safe environment so kids can relax and find a way out of the area. This school was like a prison, a high security prison. When I tried to park I found the visitor parking lot had only 5 spaces, and all other cars were locked behind a gate.

Stores across the street.

Since there was no place to park I had to park on the street, after I waited behind a car that was waiting for the gate to open to park with the other cars. After I parked I looked around and realized the school was in a neighborhood I wouldn't want to walk down the street. There were stores across the street that had 3 or 4 security guards walking around outside. There was a church across the street and it didn't look too inviting. I don't mean to be negative, but I was very sad to see where this school was. Looking at the school it looked like a prison, no windows and barriers all around. Trash on the lawn, and not a well kept lawn. I always look at schools and wonder if I would want my daughter going to this school. I think if I lived in the area that my daughter would have to go to this school she would be living in Monterey with my Mom! Walking in the school felt strange. I know it is the first week of school, but most schools have lots of inviting things for the new Freshmen.

Street across from the school.

This looked like an abandoned hallway that led to the office. In the office it seemed like complete pandemonium. There were 5 people working in the office, only one was helping the 2 people at the desk. I walked in and there was a lady behind me. As I waited for those two to be helped 2 students walked in, pushed me to the side and demanded to get passes so they could get home. I waited while they were helped. When I asked where the Career Center was the lady didn't know, and neither did anyone else there, so she looked in the directory and found out. She pointed me in a direction. I asked if she would like me to sign in. She said, "oh yea". She didn't worry about the VISITOR stickers next to her. I went in the direction she pointed and my heart started racing and as I walked in the hallways.

Hallway coming into school.

Some students were wandering around and they just looked scary. I asked a couple where the career center was and no one knew. I saw a teacher in an empty classroom and asked him, and he said he didn't know. I got an idea that not many people went to the career center. I walked past one classroom and the teacher asked, "What is 1 times 4", and no one answered. He said, "Come on students, think." Okay, I needed to get finished with this school quickly. I finally found the Career Center in the back of the last hall.

Career Center!

The counselor there was very negative and didn't understand why I would visit their school. Well, she doesn't have to wonder that any more ... she won't see me until next year.
After I spent the morning in Richmond I had some business in Palo Alto, near Stanford. These two cities are about an hour away from each other by car ... a lifetime by reality!

Palo Alto street near school.

School in Palo Alto.