Gangs, Bullying, and Violence

What teachers need to know

By Kaylen Palmer and Kailey Schlosser

A bully: an individual who voluntarily seeks out and attempts to victimize others

A potential victim: a student who is substantially weaker than the bully in one or more significant ways

A location in which it can occur School locations where bullying is common are often

those with limited adult supervision, such as hallways, bathrooms, and playgrounds

Student bystanders are a fourth important element that often impacts bullying if witnesses are present when bullying occurs, these

bystanders can play a pivotal role by choosing either to encourage the bully or to protect the victim.

The 4 Elements of Bullying

Shift from direct to indirect bullying takes place as children advance from elementary to middle and high school

Direct bully confronts the victim face-to-face situations in which the victim is verbally harassed or

threatened, physically attacked, or socially embarrassed Indirect

bully attacks the victim’s social standing or reputation—usually when the victim is not around

if he or she spreads malicious gossip or writes insulting graffiti about a classmate, or organizes a peer group to ostracize that classmate

http://www.youtuberepeater.com/watch?v=EYL0a1aQRbA

Types of Bullying

Boys are more likely than girls to report that they are victims of physical bullying.

Schools may also tend to overlook the possibility that girls take part in bullying, both because of gender stereotypes (i.e., that girls are ‘less aggressive’ than boys) and because girls may prefer to bully using indirect means such as hurtful gossip that are difficult for adults to observe

Boys vs Girls

The bully may enjoy watching a weaker child suffer

The bully may like the increased social status that comes from bullying

The bully may covet the money or personal property that he or she can steal or extort from a victim

A common myth about bullies is that they bully others to cover up their own sense of inadequacy or poor self-esteem

Why bully?

the presence or absence of friends in a child’s life Older children often bully younger children Passive victims may be physically weaker than most classmates,

avoid violence and physical horseplay, and be somewhat more anxious than their peers Lacking friends, these children are an easy target for bullying

Provocative victims may be both anxious and aggressive They may also have poor social skills and thus tend to irritate or

alienate their classmates Bullies often take pleasure in provoking these provocative victims

into an outburst through taunts or teasing, then sit back and watch as the teacher reprimands or punishes the victim for disrupting the class

How would we know if a child is being bullied?

Adults seldom see it occurring School staff may misinterpret aggressive bullying as

harmless physical horseplay When questioned by adults, victims often deny that

bullying is taking place There may be too few supervising adults in those

unstructured settings where bullying is most likely to occur

Supervising adults may not be trained to intervene early and assertively whenever they see questionable behavior between children

Why does it happen in schools?

All staff must to be committed to a common response to bullying when it does happen. Immediate intervention is crucial Clear procedures must take place when a case of

bullying is discovered The school needs to provide necessary support

for the individual teacher There must be clear guidelines that stipulate the

responsibilities teaching staff have when dealing with a case of bullying

What can you do?

Develop clear statements of what is appropriate behavior in the classroom. This may be in the form of a school-wide Code of Conduct

or in an individual classroom or school statement. A good teacher will:

Notice when a pupil is isolated and sad. Look for the reasons for this. Not see it as just play-fighting, name-calling, a bit of fun

or just part of growing up. Work with the victim to stop the offending behavior. Not tell the victim to ignore it, to sort it out themselves

or to hit back.

What can you do?

Research indicated that beginning teachers are less likely than veterans to respond to incidents of bullying

75% of 8 to 11-year-olds reported bullying in their schools

More than 85% of 12 to 15-year-olds reported bullying in their schools

One third of students have reported being bullied or had been bullying

More common in the middle school level

Why do you need to know this?

23 students died in schools 15 from homicide 8 from suicide

Students aged 12-18 were victims of 1.9 million nonfatal crimes, including 1.2 million thefts and 740,000 violent crimes

Incidents of violence are highest at the middle school level and decline as students are older

Acts of Violence

Physical bullying is a crime3 trends

1) incidence of violence in schools is declining

2) students are safer in schools than on the streets where they live

3) school violence is more common in some school contexts than in others

Crime

A criminal street gang may be defined as a group of people who form an allegiance for a  common purpose, who engage in criminal activity, and who conform to one or more of the following traits. 1. Share a common group name

2. Share common symbols, tattoos, or graffiti3. Share a common style of dress 4. Frequently congregate upon, or lay claim to a geographic location 5. Associate together on a regular or continuous basis

What is a Criminal Street Gang?

Belonging Protection Popularity Family Tradition Dysfunctional Family Racism Strong Ties to Neighborhood Cultural Awareness Monetary Gain Drug Addiction

Why do Students Join Gangs?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlS3cXT3aoY&feature=related

How do you tell???* Gym Shoes and Athletic Clothes* The color of shoes vs. the color of laces * Two different colors of laces * "Converse" shoes with the five-pointed star shaded in * Tongues -- one side up, the other down * Laces -- halfway laced on one side * Wearing two different color shirts (E.g. Black tank top over gold tee

shirt) * Specific professional or college team colors may match gang colors. * Specific team logos may carry gang meaning.  (L.A. Kings - Latin

Kings, Chicago Bulls - People, etc. Jewelry

Five- or six-pointed stars

Rabbit heads Italian horns

Crescents

CrossesKnitted with gang colors

Latin King GrillzEarringsRight ear, gangs affiliated with the

Disciples (Folks) Left ear, gangs affiliated with the Vice

Lords or Latin Kings (People)

Grooming

Blood burn mark

Surreno

“Money Over BitchesOR

(Member of Blood)

Hand SignsBLOOD

CripLatin King

Gangster Disciple

Sur-13

Notebook Doodling

FOLK nation gangs accent everything to the right

side of the body  PEOPLE nation gangs accent everything on the left

side of the body

Types

Latin Counts, Sin City Boys, Surenos 13, Satan Disciples, Latin Kings, Vice Lords, Gangster Disciples, Insane Deuces, Maniac Latin Disciples, Ambrose, Four Corner Hustlers, Imperial Insane Vice Lords, Mafia Insane, New Breeds, Insane Popes, Imperial Gangsters, Gangster Two Six, Noble Knights, La Raza, Two Two Boys, Conservative Vice Lords Ashland Vikings, Party People, Spanish Cobras, Bishops, 12th Street Players, Insane Majestics

27 Gangs in our Surrounding Areas

Naperville, Aurora, Plainfield, Downers Grove, and Cicero Gangs

There are three “R’s” of gang mentality Reputation, Respect, Revenge

Despite common belief, those involved in gangs respond better to authority and rules. In a gang, members are punished if they do not adhere to authority or guidelines.

As a teacher, you can have individual rules and goals for a student whom you believe is involved in gangs. Keep your kids involved

What Can You Do?

Keep yourselves informed! Bullying: What Educators can do about it (A guide for educators) – http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/freepubs/pdfs/ui367.pdf

Bullying Prevention Resources (to use in classroom) – http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/wes/projects/bullying/bullying.html

Preventing Classroom Bullying – http://www.jimwrightonline.com/pdfdocs/bully/bullyBooklet.pdf

Stop Bullying – Guide for Schools – http://www.nobully.org.nz/images/guide.pdf

Gang Definition – http://www.gangsorus.com/definition.html

Resorces for Parents and for Kids involved in Gangs – http://chicagogangs.org/index.php?pr=RESOURCES

What Else?

"[ CHICAGOGANGS.ORG ] CHICAGO GANG INFORMATION WEBSITE." [ CHICAGOGANGS.ORG ] CHICAGO GANG INFORMATION WEBSITE. Web. 22 Feb. 2012. <http://chicagogangs.org/>.

"[ CHICAGOGANGS.ORG] GANGS IN THE SUBURBS." [ CHICAGOGANGS.ORG ] CHICAGO GANG INFORMATION WEBSITE. Web. 22 Feb. 2012. <http://www.chicagogangs.org//index.php?pr=BURBS_SECTION>.

Cleary, Mark. "Stop Bullying!" Web. <http://www.nobully.org.nz/images/guide.pdf>.

"Gangs OR Us Gang Identification." Gangs OR Us Gang Identification. Web. 22 Feb. 2012. <http://www.gangsorus.com/>.

Kauchak, First, and First Eggen. Introduction to Teaching. 4th. Boston: Pearson, 2011. 85-87.

Wright, Jim. "Preventing Classroom Bullying: What Teachers Can Do." Web. <http://www.jimwrightonline.com/pdfdocs/bully/bullyBooklet.pdf>.

Bibliography