New Plan in Chicago to Stop School Violence

Derrion Albert, a 16 year old from Chicago, was beaten to death last month by rival South Side gangs, neither of which he was a member. He was the third to die violently this academic year, and 67th since 2007. However, the new chief officer of public schools in Chicago, Ron Huberman, has a plan to help a potential 10,ooo victims increase their chances of survival, and it doesn't involve more security technologies or guards; it involves statistics.
Financed by a federal grant for two years, the 60 million dollar plan uses an analyasis of over 500 students killed over the last several years, to detect any patterns as to similar traits between the students, andwhen and where they students might be attacked. While other big city school districts like NYC have stepped up secruity, this appraoch will give potential victims paid jobs and an advocate they will be able to call 24/7. Also, police will be keeping a sterner watch over the streets kids take to school, looking for signs of gang activity in and around school areas. This new approach will be the first of its kind used in Chicago.
Some parents, who fear for their childrens lives, are angered that only 10,000 out of the 410,000 students that make up the public school body will get special attention and resources for the city. And this is not the first time some type of new plan or strategy has been brought to Chicago schools, most of which have obviously failed. Also, the security budget for schools in Chicago, which is currently 55 million dollars, will be lowered to about 30 million.
Futhermore, it is not just the school that is the troblue; it is the whole South Side neighborhood. Over 85 percent of students who attend public schools in this area live in poverty. Recently reinvigorated gang wars, in part due to the termination of many public housing projects, leaving tenants without a home, have caused a number of the violent deaths of these students. However, many deaths were not gang affliated.
Unfortunately, this is a solution that came too late for Albert, a football player in the honor roll. Although I don't personally agree with the selectivity of the new plan and the cutting back of the sercurity budget, it is a good plan in the sense it will keep certain students off the streets and doing something productive with their lives. I also think the idea of an on-call 24/7 advocate is a good idea not only for physical safety reasons, but for the student's peace of mind. It is a tough issue to deal with, but I believe Huberman and other officials should think about not only maintaining and possibly increasing security measures, but help to foster a different attitude and lifestyle in the poorer communities. Perhaps borrowing from socialist ideals, the neighborhood could have a communal food or shelter pot, where the community helps itself, and create a more soild sense of brotherly love and respect in a city that desperatley needs it.

Here is the article link:http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/07/us/07chicago.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp