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Youth Gangs in Schools Violence, drugs, guns, all this seems to be plaguing American schools for quite a time now. One word that can unite all this problems is a gang. The growing network of youth gangs in schools demands particular attention. The article Schools prepare for teen gangs by Jon Ward gives some insights into this issue. It especially underlines the importance of finding ways to prevent the existence of gangs in schools.
These ways can be different, for example, it is necessary that school administrators and security learn how to identify if a student became involved in a gang and they are encouraged to share this information with police gang units. There is a concern that law enforcement agents have been educated about gangs and schools, unfortunately, have not. This has to be corrected and a lot is being done, for example, some schools organize summer camps in order to protect children from gang involvement and to make teachers as well as parents realize the dangers of such an association. Gang members are good recruiters, they know how to control, how to influence and they know how to attract students to join a gang. Its a huge problem that schools at present have nothing to offer to children to counteract this influence. Glenn Ivey, states attorney for the county, recollects his conversation with a teenager, who confessed to him that gangs were trying to recruit him on a daily basis and inquired Mr.
Ivey, What are you doing on the other side? Weve got to have an answer to that question, Mr. Ivey said. Because if we dont, we lose. As for now, the number of teenagers involved in gangs is increasing very fast, number of gang members nationwide have jumped from 4, 800 to 731, 000 since 1999. (Jon Ward Schools prepare for teen gangs, 2004) Once again, the importance to understand what makes gangs tick is underlined. As only through realizing what is attractive to gangs, will it be possible to counteract them.
That question, about what schools have to offer instead of gang camaraderie, is the crucial one, in my opinion. Thats exactly what school officials have to work on to invent and introduce curricular as well as extra-curricular activities, which can keep children away from the deadly influence of young gangs; activities, which will preserve teens self-esteem and help them feel better about themselves as thats one of the reasons they make choice to join the gang. Most of children who join gangs come from less-privileged background and its a well known that more than 90 % of gang members are black or of Hispanic origin. They want their self-image to improve and at present, they see only one way to do it, which is to become a member of a gang. I also completely agree that it is very important to make teachers decode the symbols, read the signs, understand what goes wrong and be aware and alert when there is a chance a child is going to join, or already did join, a youth gang. I agree with the statement that its needed to know the evil so we can counteract it.
Perhaps, school staff has to learn how the gangs operate, to what they appeal and what they have to offer. That way it will be possible to develop a more effective policy against young gangs. One last point I want to make here is that safety is of huge importance. It was not mentioned in the article and I think it is one of the reasons students become gang members. If children do not feel safe in educational environment, if they feel threatened and insecure, they will be much more tempted to join a group, which supposedly can offer some protection. Thats why ensuring calm, peaceful and safe situation at school will also contribute to solution of this problem.
And, finally, I want to finish my summary with the words of Dick Called, the principal at one of High Schools, - If you dont address the issues of the gangs, it destroys the culture of the school. (Jon Ward Schools prepare for teen gangs, 2004) Reference list: Jon Ward Schools prepare for teen gangs, published August 19, 2004. The Washington Times. Retrieved April 18, 2005 from web
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Research essay sample on Youth Gangs In Schools
