NCJ Number
45935
Journal
American Education Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1977) Pages: 12-16
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
RECOUNTING INCIDENTS OF A QUARTER CENTURY OF STUDENT VANDALISM AND TERRORISM, THE ARTICLE OFFERS INSIGHTS INTO THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM TODAY AND EFFORTS TO REDUCE ITS GROWING FISCAL AND EMOTIONAL COSTS.
Abstract
IN THE 1950'S YOUTH GANGS, AFTER THE FASHION OF THOSE POPULARIZED BY THE PLAY 'WEST SIDE STORY,' STAKED OUT A NEIGHBORHOOD TERRITORY AND PROTECTED IT AGAINST COMPETING GANGS. THEY FOUGHT WARS WITH KNIVES, CHAINS, AND CLUBS, OFTEN SERIOUSLY INJURING OR KILLING ONE ANOTHER BUT SELDOM DIRECTING THEIR VIOLENCE AT OUTSIDERS. TODAY'S GANGS ARE DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT IN THEIR ORIENTATION. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT NEW YORK CITY ALONE HAS 350 GANGS WITH A TOTAL MEMBERSHIP OF 20,000. THE CITY SPENDS $13 MILLION ANNUALLY TO REPLACE OR REPAIR GANG-DAMAGED SCHOOL PROPERTY. THERE ARE 200 GANG-RELATED HOMICIDES A YEAR. A RECENT LEAA REPORT NOTED THAT IN SOME LARGE CITIES YOUTH GANGS REGULARLY TAKE CONTROL OF SCHOOL CAFETERIAS, PLAYGROUNDS, AND HALLWAYS, SHAKING DOWN STUDENTS FOR PERMISSION TO USE THESE PUBLICLY SUPPORTED FACILITIES AND THREATENING TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WHO TRY TO INTERVENE. ALTHOUGH STUDENT VANDALISM AND VIOLENCE HAVE BECOME GRAVE NATIONWIDE PROBLEMS, A MAJORITY OF SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE ACTING DECISIVELY TO REVERSE THE TREND. SCHOOL SECURITY MEASURES ARE BEING ENHANCED; NEW SCHOOLS ARE BEING DESIGNED WTH WINDOWS ONLY ON THE UPPER FLOORS; TYPEWRITERS, MOVIE PROJECTORS, AND OTHER EXPENSIVE EQUIPMENT ARE EITHER BOLTED DOWN OR LOCKED UP AFTER HOURS. MOST SCHOOLS NOW EMPLOY EXTENSIVE NIGHT LIGHTING AND SOPHISTICATED ELECTRONIC INTRUDER ALARM SYSTEMS. STUDENT SECURITY COUNCILS HAVE BEEN FORMED AS WELL, AND VOLUNTEERS CHOSEN BY THE STUDENT BODY PATROL PARKING LOTS AND LOCKER AREAS, MONITOR SCHOOL DANCES, AND WORK WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND THE SCHOOL SECURITY FORCE IN DEVELOPING OVERALL SECURITY MEASURES. A POLICE-SCHOOL LIAISON PROGRAM IS ANOTHER DEVICE THAT HAS PROVED SUCCESSFUL IN REDUCING JUVENILE CRIME DIRECTED AT SCHOOLS. AN OFFICER SPECIALLY TRAINED IN YOUTH PSYCHOLOGY AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION IS ASSIGNED TO EACH HIGH SCHOOL. HE WEARS NO UNIFORM OR BADGE AND DOES NOT CARRY A GUN. INSTEAD HE TRIES TO GET TO KNOW THE STUDENTS THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES; HE TRIES TO DETECT AND STOP DEVELOPING PROGRAMS. SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS COMBAT VANDALISM BY HOLDING PARENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF REPLACING DESTROYED SCHOOL PROPERTY. ALTHOUGH ONLY A FRACTION ON THE LOSSES DUE TO VANDALISM ARE USUALLY RECOVERED, SUCH MEASURES CAN HAVE SOME DETERRENT EFFECT. THE CREATION OF CHEERFUL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS ARE OTHER DETERRENT METHODS WHICH MAY HELP RELIEVE THE BOREDOM AND ALIENATION THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE INCIDENCE OF VANDALISM. (KBL)