Is it the schools’ responsibility to control youth violence and mischief? No, it isn’t. I agree with most that this charge should begin in the home. However, the public-school system is in a unique position to be a true and influential surrogate to its population of young people. Instead, we are hyper-focused on testing, accountability scores and being the next shining star in school rankings.
Of course, testing and academic achievement have a place. After all, school is about education. And I could very easily argue what it must take to make the scholarly gains some schools so desperately desire or need. But our schools are also about so much more.
Let’s not forget testing in the literal sense, but we must be mindful of the particular non-academic roles that schools can play to help our students. From the teacher, to the administrator, to the custodian, to the coach, to the resource officer, to the lunch lady—before we step into any of these shoes, all of us are human, and humans influence other humans, especially little ones. Shouldn’t we use our leadership to positively affect the senseless cycle of criminal activity among some young people? Perhaps we are doing just that. In fact, I know we are. Yet, more needs to be done.
Although it seems that public schools in America are becoming progressively diverse within its student population, there is a severe under-utilization and under-representation of Black male teachers. Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
The majority of students are not armed robbers, carjackers or murderers. The majority aren’t dropouts, gang members or drug dealers. We celebrate those students who go through the system without incidents of violence or trauma. We celebrate their achievements and perseverance because they deserve it.
But what about these numbers? In the United States, homicide deaths are ranked second among 5- to 18-year-olds, the Centers for Disease Control reports. Another Kaiser Family Foundation study reveals that firearms are the top cause of death for children 19 and under. And young people under 18 accounted for more than 400,000 violent-crime arrests in 2020.
Now, let’s
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