There are more parochial than public elementary schools. Nearly 40 percent of the children attend parochial schools. For the most part, though, people are pleasant, if a bit suspicious of outsiders, not to mention a reporter with pad and pen in hand. Many offer opinions about their hometown, but few give their last names. Insular, working class, and Irish are descriptions often tagged to Southie.
Ice hockey is the sport of choice for kids.
For adults, it's politics. Or, win a case to prevent a gay contingent from marching in the St. Patrick's Day parade. As a reporter, I might be tempted to write about racial flare-ups in the housing projects, brawls, alcoholism, and drugs, especially among young people. The community s proximity to downtown and its reputation for being safe makes it an appealing location for many. Seven more died from drug overdoses.