Letters to the Editor

Moving Boston Latin to Hyde Park?

The fact that people are trying to make this issue into a matter of race completely disgusts me (“Boston School Committee considering relocating some schools,” Bay State Banner, Aug. 11, 2011).

I am white and am from a predominantly white neighborhood. I went to Latin Academy for six years and had many friends from many different races, backgrounds, towns, religions, etc. That was one of my favorite parts of going to Boston Latin Academy (BLA), that everyone was so different, but could find things in common with one another.

This has zero to do with race. Roxbury isn’t even that bad compared to other neighborhoods. I felt much safer going to school there than I would have if I went to my neighborhood’s high school (which again has nothing to do with race, but behavioral issues that often occurred at this high school).

I do not want the location of the school to change — the Townsend Street location is much more centrally located for many of the surrounding Boston neighborhoods. Placing the school in Hyde Park is going to make it practically impossible for students from Dorchester, South Boston, East Boston, Charlestown and many other neighborhoods to get there in a reasonable amount of time.

It took me an hour to commute every morning as it was, since there was no direct line other than the school bus.

So much has gone into the Townsend Street location — a greenhouse, memorials, lighting, murals — it would be a shame to lose all that and move to a smaller, less convenient location.

People thought it was hard to get into BLA before? Well, it’s going to be a lot harder if they go to a location that can house about half of the students.

Lauren
Via e-mail