Welcome to a new post on gang issues in education. In this post I want to address an issue that recently came up from one of my colleagues. A few weeks ago I was talking to a fellow teacher when another one passed by and said, “trying to scare her with your gang talk.” I was taken off guard with the comment because I do not try to scare anyone about street gangs. In fact I try to do just the opposite. I want anyone who has to deal with gang members in the classroom to be well informed about them. It just so happened that the teacher I was talking to was having some problems with a member on their team.
Because of the mandates members live under I believe everyone who teaches to gang members must be informed, reguardless of affiliation. Not only about their practices out of school but also what to expect from a member in school. I believe by having a thorough understanding of what to expect from a member will make teaching, and more importantly, reaching them crucial to any teaching success you may have with them.
One of the things I make clear in my book is that in order to reach gang members you have to know their lifestyle. It is rare that anyone in the teaching profession has had life experiences that members live under on a daily basis. So I truly believe that the only way to reach them and be able to teach to them is to understand them.
So in answer to my colleagues statement, I can only say that I am not trying to scare anyone, only giving them pertinent information for their teaching success with gang members. Like anything else in life, the more you know about something the easier it is to deal with it.
If you wish to discuss this or any other issue that deals with gang members in your school or classroom please feel free to contact me at cabgil@aol.com.
If you need more information dealing with gang members buy a copy of my book, by going to the main web page, and getting your copy today.
Thank you and come again for another post on gang issues in education.
Gilbert R. Cabrera