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Gang Violence in Schools

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Gang Violence in Schools
Gang Violence in American Schools Did you ever have to move because your kids were bullied at school? Is the community you are living in is unsafe with gang violence and you were afraid your kids will grow up to be a notorious gangster? You believe the ideal place to raise a family is in a higher income suburban area where the school system is better and your kids will be free from violence. You might want to think again. In fact, youth “gangs, now more violent than ever, are spreading to new locations” (Gaustad, 1 ) all across the country, including public schools. Gangs are moving suburban areas to recruit more members to expand their gang group. They are using new members to distribute drugs because it is appealing to young children and profitable. It is causing an increase in violence in schools because other gang group does not get along with another set of gang. Kids are scared to go to school because they are afraid they might get bullied and attack. The dropout rates has increase, more weapons are being brought to school endangering lives. School properties are being vandalized with school logos and teachers are getting injured from trying to intervene (Capozzoli and McVey, 81).
Gang violence in school are getting worse that school officials, community members, and law enforcements are coming together to figure out solutions. The three solutions that seems to be showing a great impact in reducing gang violence in American schools are school uniforms, peer mediation programs, and after school programs.
School uniforms are the first solution that will help cut back gang violence in American schools. Gangs use colors, certain types of clothing, and bandanas to symbolize what group they are from or associate themselves with. Students that are not involved in gangs are unable to walk down the school hallway without being accuse they are involve with a rival gang due to the color shirt he or she may be wearing. School uniforms are typically seen


Cited: Capozzoli, Thomas, and R. Steve. McVey. "Gangs and Schools." Kids Killing Kids: Managing Violence and Gangs in Schools. Boca Raton, FL: St. Lucie, 2000. 81-82. Print. "Council For Unity." Riverhead.net. Web. 5 Apr. 2011. <http://www.riverhead.net/html/RHSnewscouncilunity.html>. Crawford, Donna, and Richard Bodine. Conflict Resolution Education. Rep. Champaign,IL: Research, 1996. Print. Gaustad, Joan. "Gangs.ERIC Digest." Ericdigests.org. 2005. Web. 29 Mar. 2011. <http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-9216/gangs.htm>. Lopez, Rebecca A. "The Long Beach Unified School District Uniform Initiative: A Prevention-Strategy for Urban Schools." The Journal of Negro Education 72.4 (2003). The Long Beach Unified School District Uniform Initiative: A Prevention-Strategy for Urban Schools. Web. 31 Mar. 2011. <http://elibrary.bigchalk.com.proxy6.noblenet.org/elibweb/elib/do/document>. Project, – Key. "Roca : Who We Are." Welcome to Roca. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. <http://www.rocainc.org/about.php>. Skiba, Russel J. Zero Tolerance, Zero Evidence. Rep. 2000. Print. Weber, Gretchen. "Peace among Peers." The Lynn Educator 2008. Print.
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