How are gangs present in schools? Why are schools a good venue for gang prevention programs?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Students should begin their answer by describing how gangs are involved in schools. Nationwide, about 10% of students report gang activity in their school. About 43% of public high schools and 35% of middle schools experience discipline problems relating to gang activity at least once. Students may also mention that school staff generally underestimate the extent of the presence of gangs within their schools. Students may also mention that gang activity can start early in the day, while students are making their way to school, and that gang violence tends to begin earlier on school days. Gangs can be fostered within schools if the school has a relatively harsh approach to discipline, including zero-tolerance policies, less support for students in overcoming individual risk factors, one-size-fits-all punishments, elevated suspension/expulsion rates, and bullying. Students should then mention that gang prevention can be particularly effective in schools because they can simultaneously identify student risk levels for multiple problem behaviors. Schools can identify and curb gang problems at relatively early stages. However, there is some evidence of spillover effects of gang activity into the community, so school-based programs are not in and of themselves sufficient for preventing gang activity--but rather, should be pared with other programs to effectively target and prevent involvement and the development of serious gang activity.