Canton Middle School

801 S Highland Ave, Baltimore, MD 21224
Phone: (410) 396-9172
Level: 6-8

(October 2007)
I am a new subsitute teacher and Canton was the fourth school I subbed for and the first to not recieve ANY work for the restless students I had to babysit and repeat myself to. For a computr class, the network shut down for the last half of my first period, and the rest of the day the students went on myspace via some program that could temporarily block the security browser. The class room was hot and everyone suffered, students went in and out of the room constantly and compained throughout the day that they were "bored." Of course. In response to the person who called this school a "jungle," how dare you? These children are disrespectful, but it comes clearly from a lack of caring. For an eighth grade class to have only revolving substitutes and no assignments towards the end of October is ridiculous. Although I did not condone of their web surfing, cursing, and rudness, I understand. What else are they supposed to do?

(February 2006)
"the is is dangerous as a teacher in the school i quit after seeing another teacher attacked. It looks good on the outside because it is multicultural but the culture is primal. Like surviving in the jungle. on all levels the school is poor. parent involvement involves poor . everyone feels entitled to every thing from the students to the ignorant but arrogant parents . the level of disrespect is beyond any thing you can imagine. Canton middle school is like lean on me the movie. Run and do any thing to get your kid out. although the surrounding area has row homes (not to be confused with brown stones)for 300,00 0 you have generation of multi- racial poverty and crime and a lack of caring. Showing that you care is like showing weakness they are crazy"

(January 2006)
"In my opinion, the problem is that not with the educational system, but with how the system is communicated. Sure there may be problems, everywhere you will go thats the case. The lastest principal is by far the greatest since the age of speilman which about 8 years ago. If you believe the problem is that theres not enough kids then you may have mistaken. Also there are other schools that could be used. In my opinion Canton has went from ok to trash; but now there is some progress in a turn about. The question now is that will the school ultimately be allowed to remain open or will it close? There are others middle schools out there and besides the city wants to save space so why not shut down a underproductive school?"

(July 2005)
"The school has a good educational program believe it or not. The sad part is, there are not enough students in the 21224 area to fill this very large school so students are bussed from other areas. This is where the problem lies with Canton and Patterson High School."