Ballou is not a zoo, nor does it need to be torn down, nor are the students who attend "dumb," "delinquents," or "savage beasts."    They are young adults who, for a variety of reasons have not been dealt the easiest card in life.  They do what they can and a VERY small percentage of them get involved in incidents like this.  The press simply encourages these negative views of youth by publishing stories like this one. 

Where was the press when Ballou was awarded $20,000 last Fall by The Ellen Show?  Where was ABC News two weeks ago, when a group of Ballou students performed a play that they wrote called "You Don't Know My Story" at The Arc in Southeast and then later at Georgetown University?  Where were the cameras and beat-writers when Ballou students researched and investigated problems in their community and then tried to solve them? 

Try reporting on something positive for a change, ABC.  Positive stories about Ballou will attract just as much attention.

And to all those who made disparaging comments, try to see the other side of things.  Not everything is as it seems.