School Bells - Current Affairs - Grade 8 – Week 33
I am eager to hear the thinking of the students and their families about what to do about gun violence in Chicago. Actually, the question was what they would do if they were suddenly in the position of mayor of Chicago.
The students are now arriving.
Me: Good morning class. Yes, I have cookies. Amena and John will you please pass out the cookies?
(They do so and the cookies are soon consumed.)
Me: I am eager to hear your thinking about what you would as mayor of Chicago about the gun violence. First let me say that per capital – number of people – Chicago does not have the most gun violence in the United States. It has experienced a significant increase as has other cities. It is also true that the United States continues to have more gun violence and more guns than other so-called developed nations. Having said that it is also true that 2016 saw the worse violence in Chicago in nearly 20 years. Just this past weekend there were two gun deaths and 43 were wounded.
Abdul: My mom suggested that the violence is a symptom and not the problem. She said that a lot of people seem to be talking as if the violence is itself the problem.
Me: That is a great point Abdul. Do others agree with his mom?
Tom: My parents said the same thing.
Paul: So did mine.
Me: Who else think that the violence is a symptom?
Everyone raises their hands.
Me: Well, I will write that on the board then. The next logical question is what are the causes if the violence is only the symptom?
Ann: One of the articles we were reading suggested that the historic distrust of the police by many in the community – especially people of color and poor people – is the issue. This is true not just in Chicago but in many other cities.
Me: I will write that on the board. What are other problem/issues which you think might contribute to the violence?
Paul: Several people suggested that inequality has contributed. As some of the old high rise subsidized buildings were torn down, affordable housing less available. Even though some housing was subsidized the landlords got richer but decent housing did not get more available.
Me: Great point Paul.
Will: We read that there are not as many large gangs but lots of small gangs and more hurt feelings and power games.
Susie: I read that with small gangs social media plays a big role.
Tom: We read that they have more police, less affordable housing and fewer assistance programs for counseling, addiction and other issues.
Me: This is great. It appears that the new mayor – a member of this class or the entire class – is seeing the problem as a systemic one which is different than viewing violence as the problem. You will remember perhaps that we talked about the concept of systemic previous. It means that many parts of the system are contributing to the problem.
John: My dad was asking if it would make sense to call in Father Greg Boyle who works with gangs in Los Angeles and Dr. Gary Slutkin. Dr. Slutkin previously did some work in Chicago and Baltimore didn’t he Mr. Jim?
Me: Very good John. Dr. Slutkin who worked with epidemics in other countries began to look at violence as he would epidemic. Many people have said that the violence in Chicago and many other cities is mainly in certain areas. You and your dad are suggesting that the mayor actively consult with people who understand both the pattern of violence and the root causes.
Ann: My folks were saying that a lot of the evidence says that many of the parents do not have the time and energy because of work and other reasons to be active, hands-on parents. My parents and I think most of our parents in this class spend a lot of time with their children.
Me: That is another great point. Often gangs, even if there is danger, give people a sense of belonging that they are not getting in a family.
Susie: Mom did some consulting with police departments and she said that the police person often complains that the paperwork, the threat of a lawsuit and other factors have affected how the police do their job.
Me: Great point. It sounds as if we have to start from a position of mutual respect which is how Father Boyle treats gang members and law enforcement individuals. That, of course, does not happen overnight. It is easy for both side to just point fingers isn’t it.
Goodness, we are nearly out of time. We have obviously not solved the problem of violence by we have come up with a lot of suggestions that we focus less on the symptoms and more on identifying some of the factors which may contribute to the end result of violence. We have also suggested that there are individuals who know how to look at the overall picture. I know that if any of us were actually the mayor it would be easy to just put out fires and never identify the cause. Stil, I happen to believe it is possible. I am also hearing that the problem is not just Chicago but an overall cultural issue which leads to more violence.
Great job all of you.
How about for next week we focus on what can be done about the fact that many parents do not have the time and energy to be active parents? Susie, please hand out the assignment. Will and Ann please pass out the cookies.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Me: Have a good week everyone.
Class: Bye Mr. Jim.
Written April 17, 2017
I am eager to hear the thinking of the students and their families about what to do about gun violence in Chicago. Actually, the question was what they would do if they were suddenly in the position of mayor of Chicago.
The students are now arriving.
Me: Good morning class. Yes, I have cookies. Amena and John will you please pass out the cookies?
(They do so and the cookies are soon consumed.)
Me: I am eager to hear your thinking about what you would as mayor of Chicago about the gun violence. First let me say that per capital – number of people – Chicago does not have the most gun violence in the United States. It has experienced a significant increase as has other cities. It is also true that the United States continues to have more gun violence and more guns than other so-called developed nations. Having said that it is also true that 2016 saw the worse violence in Chicago in nearly 20 years. Just this past weekend there were two gun deaths and 43 were wounded.
Abdul: My mom suggested that the violence is a symptom and not the problem. She said that a lot of people seem to be talking as if the violence is itself the problem.
Me: That is a great point Abdul. Do others agree with his mom?
Tom: My parents said the same thing.
Paul: So did mine.
Me: Who else think that the violence is a symptom?
Everyone raises their hands.
Me: Well, I will write that on the board then. The next logical question is what are the causes if the violence is only the symptom?
Ann: One of the articles we were reading suggested that the historic distrust of the police by many in the community – especially people of color and poor people – is the issue. This is true not just in Chicago but in many other cities.
Me: I will write that on the board. What are other problem/issues which you think might contribute to the violence?
Paul: Several people suggested that inequality has contributed. As some of the old high rise subsidized buildings were torn down, affordable housing less available. Even though some housing was subsidized the landlords got richer but decent housing did not get more available.
Me: Great point Paul.
Will: We read that there are not as many large gangs but lots of small gangs and more hurt feelings and power games.
Susie: I read that with small gangs social media plays a big role.
Tom: We read that they have more police, less affordable housing and fewer assistance programs for counseling, addiction and other issues.
Me: This is great. It appears that the new mayor – a member of this class or the entire class – is seeing the problem as a systemic one which is different than viewing violence as the problem. You will remember perhaps that we talked about the concept of systemic previous. It means that many parts of the system are contributing to the problem.
John: My dad was asking if it would make sense to call in Father Greg Boyle who works with gangs in Los Angeles and Dr. Gary Slutkin. Dr. Slutkin previously did some work in Chicago and Baltimore didn’t he Mr. Jim?
Me: Very good John. Dr. Slutkin who worked with epidemics in other countries began to look at violence as he would epidemic. Many people have said that the violence in Chicago and many other cities is mainly in certain areas. You and your dad are suggesting that the mayor actively consult with people who understand both the pattern of violence and the root causes.
Ann: My folks were saying that a lot of the evidence says that many of the parents do not have the time and energy because of work and other reasons to be active, hands-on parents. My parents and I think most of our parents in this class spend a lot of time with their children.
Me: That is another great point. Often gangs, even if there is danger, give people a sense of belonging that they are not getting in a family.
Susie: Mom did some consulting with police departments and she said that the police person often complains that the paperwork, the threat of a lawsuit and other factors have affected how the police do their job.
Me: Great point. It sounds as if we have to start from a position of mutual respect which is how Father Boyle treats gang members and law enforcement individuals. That, of course, does not happen overnight. It is easy for both side to just point fingers isn’t it.
Goodness, we are nearly out of time. We have obviously not solved the problem of violence by we have come up with a lot of suggestions that we focus less on the symptoms and more on identifying some of the factors which may contribute to the end result of violence. We have also suggested that there are individuals who know how to look at the overall picture. I know that if any of us were actually the mayor it would be easy to just put out fires and never identify the cause. Stil, I happen to believe it is possible. I am also hearing that the problem is not just Chicago but an overall cultural issue which leads to more violence.
Great job all of you.
How about for next week we focus on what can be done about the fact that many parents do not have the time and energy to be active parents? Susie, please hand out the assignment. Will and Ann please pass out the cookies.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Me: Have a good week everyone.
Class: Bye Mr. Jim.
Written April 17, 2017
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