It seemed like such a good idea -- keep criminals and undesirables out of the neighborhood. About four million families in the USA live in "gated" communities. Before entering, visitors first stop at a gatehouse where a guard checks the day's list of expected guests. But, do these neighborhoods really provide safety? According to an article in today's Christian Science Monitor, urban planners are raising questions.

• Do residents of private, gated communities feel less civic responsibility?
• Do gated communities increase the sense of division between racial, ethnic, and social groups?
• Will children raised in gated communities come to depend on walls and gates to feel safe?

Read the full story in the Christian Science Monitor
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