Welcome to a new post on gang issues in education. In this writing I hope to address some of the issues that I touched upon in my last posting.
I guess the first question that needs to be asked is why would a child contemplate joining a gang or even consider that lifestyle as an alternative? I wish there was a simple formula one could follow to help achieve an answer.
But realistically because we live in such a diverse, instant gratification, and money driven society, the current culture dictates the proliferation of gangs today. I know there will be many who disagree with my assessment. But all you have to do is enter into just about any public school on any given day and you can see it in the hallways of education.
What I’m referring too is the gangster style of dress many students seem to be emulating nowadays. If you think gang members are not noticing this trend you better think otherwise, because this is exactly what they are looking for. They know that if they are dealing with someone who is willing to emulate the culture they can be more easily swayed to their way of thinking.
I feel this is because the student is lost in an identity crises and is searching for their place in school and society, in general. Unfortunately, our schools are becoming fertile recruiting grounds for gangs because of so many students who fit the mold described above. I know many students flirt with this type of dress and will be approached more readily by members more than if they were not sending out this subliminal signal.
Many times the student may not even have a clue they have usnsuspectingly aroused intererst from a gang because of their dress. But I can assure gangs do take notice and will eventually approach the person to inquire about it.
So if this is one factor that might lead to a confrontation with a gang member, the solution almost seems too obvious; school uniforms. But before you jump on the uniform bandwagon let me interject some experiences here. All members will tag anything they possess to still show their affiliations, even to the point of tagging their undergarments if that’s what it takes. So understand it eventually turns into a game of cat and mouse between members and school staff.
So if uniforms are not the answer then what is? Short of a self contained school where all members are sent too, which I’m sure would be difficult to staff and is also unconstitutional at this time. A grin and bear it attitude has to be implemented, until stricter penalties are enacted nationwide to deal with gangs in our schools. If our government doesn’t start to take a hard look at this issue from the inside out, gangs will continue to proliferate our schools districts, and at an alarming rate I might add.
I wish I could offer a solution one could use across all schools and districts, but there just isn’t one right now. Although I do offer some strategies on this subject in my book. There is nothing concrete that can be done until our society begins to put it’s united foot down to eradicate gangs from education.
I would like to delve more thoroughly on this issue in a post, but the discussion could literally last countless pages, so instead please refer to my book; Gangs In Our Schools An Educators Guide, for more information.
Although I didn’t really answer the question I first asked, consider this only a small solution to the answer.
Thank you and come again for another posting on gang issues in education.
If I ruffled your feathers and you wish to contact me to discuss this further you may do so at: cabgil@aol.com
Gilbert R. Cabrera