Teen Violence: How can we stop It and where do we start?

Written By:
Tashi Edwards

Published:
Nov. 27 2009

There has been a rise in teen violence during the past few months. Incidents ranging from gang rapes to brutal fights, many of which have resulted in adolescent deaths across the nation have attributed to this rise. However, there are several solutions to these violent instances that would help decrease the amount of teen violence and ameliorate its damaging effects.    
Although one may not be able to escape trouble, one may consider some possible strategies that would allow one to avoid such troubling situations.
One such way to minimize the risk of being caught up in a stressful or possibly violent situation is to surround oneself with people who have good intentions.
“Picking better friends or a better group of friends is a good way to avoid trouble because if you hang out with good people, people who don’t look for trouble, then you will be involved in good things. You could be the most honest person in the world but if you hang out with bad people then you’re going to be caught up in bad things,” security guard Oliver Riggs said.
“You are who you hang out with” is a coined phrase that reinforces the fact that your friends may determine the type of person you are and the type of activities you may be associated with, whether they are positive or negative.
Another way to avoid troubling incidents may be to evaluate the logic and consequences behind one’s actions before acting out. By analyzing the reasons and consequences of one’s actions, it allows one to determine if it is worth the consequences and whether or not it makes sense to get involved.
“Students should just stop and think, most of the time fights are started because of a dumb reason,” Ms. Sutton said.
Though students hold the responsibility of deciphering between what is right and what is wrong, as violent discrepancies emerge, other factors may also affect one’s frequencies with trouble. Parents should take more time to instill in their children stronger morals and values. For instance, the lack of family morals or the encouragement of ethical behavior instilled in students at home may affect their vulnerability in decision making.
“Parents play a role too because the teachings that you learned when you were a young child and the way that you are brought up may affect a child’s behavior,” said Riggs.
Due  to the recent rise in teen violence, a local radio station 93.9 WKYS held a two hour forum allowing teens and adults to speak about the problem and possible solutions. One speaker during the forum commented that the “it takes a village to raise a child mentality could do a lot to help with the problem.
“If you see somenone’s child acting a fool you should be the one to say ‘well thats not my child so it is none of my business’ because that child that you ignored could be the one to impact your child in a negative way in the future. Then all you will be able to do is wish that you had made him/her your business.”
Also the presence or absence of family support may also impact a child’s behavior.
Teachers and staff may also provide students with advice and support as well. This would allow students with problems to voice and solve their concerns in a calm manner instead of solving their issues through the use of violence and aggression.
“Teachers and staff should provide support here at school because there might be a lack of support in students’ homes,” senior Nyanda Tamu.
As well as home training, demographics may also impact the amount of violence or crime a student is exposed to.
“Where you live can have an impact as well” Mr. Riggs said, “Unfortunately, lower-income neighborhoods tend to have more violence.”
Though one cannot control one’s living conditions, if one is aware of the negative activities that flourish in one’s neighborhood, it would be best to stay inside or limit the amount of interaction with these activities.
  Although you cannot completely escape from trouble, you can limit or avoid certain activities and people in order to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment. Just taking the necessary precautions can allow people to avoid being caught up in discrepancies that emerge from the poor decisions of others.