Last month, Chase Pellegrini de Paur reported that Durham Public Schools (DPS) has seen its largest enrollment drop since the COVID era, with about 1,000 fewer students than the year before. While the district doesn’t have a definitive answer for where each student went, Chase reported on some of the factors at play. Readers shared their thoughts and theories.

From Facebook user Tamara Brady:

I wonder if some of the drop might have to do with the massive lay offs, and grant reductions and closures in RTP from that doge b/s? Along with all the other defunding that’s happening. Where did all those people go?

From Bluesky user Joe Vilas: 

Dammit. Every charter that opens takes money from public schools. I’ve been to a private school—a theoretically religious one. It sucked.  

We’re a democracy.  We need education to make sure kids grow up smart enough to know how to vote. It’s simple: just send your kids to public schools.

An excerpt from Reddit user Top_Stuff4200:

Long-time high school English teacher, parent with a child who has been a DPS student for 8 years.

Given the means, I would absolutely have moved my son to Duke School or Carolina Friends. Charter schools are a big part of the reason why DPS and NCPS are in such poor shape, and even knowing that, I would have moved my son to a charter if I believed there was one in Durham that was doing better.

I’m significantly happier with my son’s current school, DSA [Durham School of the Arts]. To some degree, that school seems to be insulated from some of the most disastrous decisions and policies that undercut Club [Boulevard Elementary School]. I’m almost universally impressed with the people working in that building. With that said, I don’t have any faith in the board or district administrators, and in the long term, I’m not optimistic about the fate of DSA (especially given the baffling, self-defeating decision to shutter the existing campus and move the school to a smaller suburban site).

Following his death in October, Sarah Edwards wrote a rich reflection on the life of Durham artist and gay rights activist Allan Troxler and his body of work, which is archived at Duke. Appreciation for the story—and for Troxler—flooded in. Here are some reactions to the story and memories of Troxler.

From Bluesky user Meeker: 

I first met Allan at a house party visiting Durham in spring of 2016. I was struck by his gentle nature, rootedness in moral conviction, way of seeing beauty in the world, and generosity. Grateful to have know him his final decade. Thanks @eddysarah.bsky.social for this lovely tribute.

From Bluesky user micdwy:

great @eddysarah.bsky.social on the work of Durham artist & gay rights activist Allan Troxler: his paper cuts w titles like ‘Earth Heart’ & ruminations like “Seems to me that one big difference between the revolutionary and the fascist is that one tries to understand his own heart and one doesn’t.”

From Instagram user juliancphelps:

Back when I worked at the ups store on ninth in 2014-2016, Allan was a nice regular, he’d ship his art/letters and we shared small stories of our art interests. He would always say “I’ve been meaning to get an art website”

And finally, as Border Patrol agents swept the Triangle last month, we published an op-ed from Italo Medelius, the attorney for one man detained in Durham, calling for the state to activate its civilian defense militia to protect members of the community and their rights. We got a response from the North Carolina State Defense Force.

From reader Bill Harrison by email:

We are still here in NC. Self activated during Helene. SDFNC.ORG

Not waiting on activation, but funding would be greatly appreciated. Ready for our NC neighbors in need.

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