Harford County students will miss out on visiting the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Walters, the National Aquarium, the birthplace and grave of Edgar Allan Poe, and Fort McHenry, among many other Baltimore-area attractions. That’s because Harford County administrators have banned all field trips to Baltimore City locations for the indefinite future, citing safety concerns.
“The travel restrictions were implemented strictly for the safety of the students based on information we received from various law enforcement agencies, including the Baltimore City Police Department, following the riots and relating to potential issues that may occur during the first and subsequent trials,” a Harford county spokeswoman said. The county made an exception for students traveling to Baltimore for sports tournaments and events because — well, just because.
The field trip ban resulted in much head-shaking among people who live, work, and hang out in the big bad city: “We are afraid the lesson being taught to the children of Harford County is to fear the city, and that is disappointing,” a spokesman for Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake told the Sun.
That’s only the tip of the iceberg. Baltimore has a major PR problem.
Indeed! If Visit Baltimore, formerly BACVA needs a theme song for the city, Welcome to the Jungle by Guns n Roses gets my vote! On Saturday, I found a whole unused baggie of crack on the sidewalk.
Let me be sure I understand this, any Baltimore City high school is safer than the BMA? the National Aquarium, and the science center because there has never been any violence surrounding sports. However, the ruffians who hang out at the BMA are not to be trusted.
I’m afraid to go to Harford County!
I’m with you, Brian! There are more bigots per capita in Harford County than anywhere else in the state, with the possible exception of Thurmont. I don’t know that we would want our kids exposed to those Neanderthal attitudes.