You are the principle of a North Lawndale College Preparatory High, a high school in a low-income neighborhood in Chicago. The area surrounding your school is known for gang activity and a high crime rate. This has led to your Stroud High becoming “low performance.” The district has threatened to audit your school and blames you, but how can you be to blame when the neighborhood is the way it is? Fights have become a regular occurrence, so the amount of security guards had to be increased. We also had three students get caught with guns last year, so the budget had to be cut in sections in order to add metal detectors.
It was another day at school when a freshman student named Ronnie got sent to your office. He attacked another student as soon as he walked into class. Nothing new, probably gang related. You begin your usual interrogation.
“So Ronnie, do you want talk to me about what just happened?” As usual, the student was quiet and doesn’t care. It’s getting really frustrating how students continuously choose your school as the place to solve their outside problems.
It’s whatever, he’s young and it’s his first offense so you’ll worry about him when he actually becomes a problem. [[Click here| 2.1]] if you’re going to follow current procedure and suspend Ronnie for 3 days, followed with calling his parents. Then you can continue your day and figure out how to stop this audit.
Maybe if you’re stricter with first offenses, students will start taking you seriously. [[Click here | 2.2]] if you’re going to charge Ronnie with assault. Plus, the district will see you’re starting to take more action.
It’s driving you crazy how suspension seems to have no affect on these kids. If anything, they seem to be worse when they come back. It reminds you of the time you got in a fight in middle school and you got sent to the guidance counselor. He spent over an hour talking to you about life and how to control your anger before you got sent home for the day. [[ Click here | 2.3 ]] if you’re going to try to talk to Ronnie.
You fill out the suspension papers and have Ronnie sign it. The day continues and you start to read about how other low performance schools have turned themselves around. You then come across an article about Kingian Nonviolence. It seems like a possible solution, but anything having to do with nonviolence seems far-fetched and out of reach.
It’s making you think about what happens daily in these neighborhoods. Your house is about 30 minutes away and the crime isn’t nearly as bad.
A few days pass, Ronnie comes back to school, and nothing really changes. Fights are happening daily and the idea of Kingian Nonviolence keeps coming back to you.
You finally decide to give in despite how hard it seems. [[ Click here | 3.1]] if you decide to find a way to incorporate Kingian Nonviolence in your school.
While it seems like a good idea and could be a good system in the future, it seems too far-fetched, so [[ Click here | 3.2]] you decide to think about it, but keep looking for alternative solutions.
Stricter punishments still seems like the best route. At least it might help keep the violence off of school property. [[ Click here | 3.3]] if you decide to make the procedures following fights and violence in your school
“Well, since you don’t want to explain yourself, Officer Ralston will be in here shortly to escort you out and take over from here. I can’t guarantee what will be decided, but it will probably be just an assault charge.”
Ronnie’s eyes got huge and he finally said something. “Please don’t.” Your plan worked, you got his attention.
“So, are you going to explain yourself or should I get him?” It’s obvious Ronnie is trying to pretend like he’s not scared.
“Everybody else gets suspended when they get in a fight. Why am I about to get arrested?”
“Our normal procedure hasn’t had a positive effect, so it’s time for a change.”
“I only hit him because he and his boys jumped my brother for being gay.”
Ronnie starts to get upset, but you don’t care. [[ Click here | 3.4 ]] if you call in Officer Ralston to escort him out.
Ronnie starts to get upset and you change your mind. [[ Click here | 2.1]] if you decide to just suspend him.
You’re happy that Ronnie started to open up to you and you want to hear more about him. [[ Click here | 2.3]] if you decide to talk to him more and not have Ralston escort him out
You tell Ronnie that you think he has potential. He starts to open up to you and tells you about his problems at home. His mom is a single mother of three boys. His oldest brother is in a gang and the middle brother just came out. His mom kicked him out and he got jumped by some of his old friends. Ronnie used to look up to the middle brother, but now hes been spending a lot of time with the oldest brother and starting to get into gang activity. You talk with Ronnie for about an hour and his experiences really inspire you.
You decide to look for solutions and come across an article about Kingian Nonviolence. It seems like a possible solution, but anything having to do with nonviolence seems far-fetched and out of reach.
It’s making you think about what happens daily in these neighborhoods. Your house is about 30 minutes away and the crime isn’t nearly as bad.
A few days pass and nothing really changes. Fights are happening daily and the idea of Kingian Nonviolence keeps coming back to you.
You finally decide to give in despite how hard it seems. [[ Click here | 3.1]] if you decide to find a way to incorporate Kingian Nonviolence in your school.
While it seems like a good idea and could be a good system in the future, it seems too far-fetched, so [[Click here | 3.2]] you decide to keep looking for alternative solutions.
Stricter punishments still seems like the best route. At least it might help keep the violence off of school property. [[Click here | 3.3]] if you decide to make the procedures following fights and violence in your school
You decided to incorporate Kingian Nonviolence! You begin by telling other administration about your ideas. Some people think its a good idea, while others are very skeptical. Most people seem to believe that stricter policies is a better idea.
People really start to doubt you once they realize you're serious, and you begin to doubt yourself. But you had this idea for a reason, right?
Thoughts about past conversations gives you an idea. [[Click here | 4.3 ]] if you decide to talk to more students and get their perspective on how to fix the school.
The students don't really care, so why would they have a serious conversation with you? [[ Click here | 4.2 ]] if you decide to put a system in place based soley on administration opinions.
All of the doubt has overwhelmed you. [[Click here | 3.3 ]] if you decide to go back to the idea of implementing stricter policies.
A few more days of brainstorming go by, then you get an email drom the head of the district. You are officially in the bottom 10% of the district. You have to email her back with a plan in the next 3 days, or an audit of the school will be scheduled in 3 weeks.
You look for more solutions, but it seems like no other school systems exist. Youre running out time and realize that the two best options are Kingian Nonviolence and stricter punishments are the only options right now.
[[ Click here | 3.1 ]] if you decide to implement Kingian Nonviolence.
[[ Click here | 3.3 ]] if you decide to implement stricter punishments.
You decided that stricter punishments for misconduct is the best option. You send a letter home explaining the new policy. Optimistic about the new threat, youre surprised to find that over the next couple weeks, the violence hasn't decreased at all. You also found out that a few people who haven't gotten in trouble recently randomly dropped out.
Ronnie gets into another fight, but this time multiple people were involved and he lost. You talk to him afterwards and are prepared to have Officer Ralston take over, but it really bothers you seeing him like that. The new policy states that both parties are to be charged in the case of a fight.
Even though it really bothers you, you have to keep your word. [[ Click here | 4.1 ]] if you get Officer Ralston to escort Ronnie out of the school. This will be his second charge in the past month.
Ronnie is bleeding and really hurt. You cant find it in you to hurt his life more with another charge. You can't give one person special treatment though, [[ Click here | 3.1 ]] if you decide to switch to the nonviolent approach.
Ronnie gets escorted out of the office and recieves an assault charge.The week continues and Ronnie is back in a few days. Something about that situation stuck with you, though.
You start to read about how other low performance schools have turned themselves around. You then come across an article about Kingian Nonviolence. It seems like a possible solution, but anything having to do with nonviolence seems far-fetched and out of reach.
It’s making you think about what happens daily in these neighborhoods. Your house is about 30 minutes away and the crime isn’t nearly as bad.
A few days pass, Ronnie comes back to school, and nothing really changes. Fights are happening daily and the idea of Kingian Nonviolence keeps coming back to you.
You finally decide to give in despite how hard it seems. [[ Click here | 3.1]] if you decide to find a way to incorporate Kingian Nonviolence in your school.
While it seems like a good idea and could be a good system in the future, it seems too far-fetched, so [[ Click here | 3.2]] you decide to think about it, but keep looking for alternative solutions.
Stricter punishments still seems like the best route. At least it might help keep the violence off of school property. [[ Click here | 3.3]] if you decide to make the procedures following fights and violence in your school
Double-click this passage to edit it.
Ronnie gets charged, and drops out shortly after returning. The drop out rate has increased dramatically. The district gives you one last chance to turn your school around before replacing you.
[[ Click here | 3.1 ]] if you decide to finally try Kingian Nonviolence as a last resort.
[[ Click here | 5.1 ]] if you decide that this job isn't the right fit for you and its time you resign.
You and the administrators come up with a plan, including lectures, team building excercises, and other ways to get the students involved. You all put hours of work into it, but students don't show up.
[[ Click here | 3.3 ]] if you get discouraged and change your mind. You tried to be nice, but if they don't want to help themselves, then you can't help them. You decide to stick with the stricter policies idea.
[[ Click here | 4.3 ]] if you decide that you need students' perspective in order for it to be successful.
[[ Click here | 5.1 ]] If this job is too much and not worth it anymore. You tried, but decided to switch to a better school.
Double-click this passage to edit it.
Double-click this passage to edit it.
You resign and the school is shut down for low performance a year later. The neighborhood sees an increase in violence and crime. The end.
You spend the next few weeks interviewing all of your students. You didn't expect them to want to talk, but you were surprised at how willing they were to open up. They described the troubles they face in their neighborhoods, the problems with being young, and how they don't feel important at school. They give you many ideas for improvement.
One thing the students pointed out that you never really noticed was how prison-like the school is. You've been to a lot of public schools, but no prisons, and you never noticed how they are extremely similar. The students also talked about how suspensions are useless because it just keeps them on the street more.
The administration is still skeptical and feel like the students are taking advantage of you. Somebody anonymously reports you to the district head. You have to explain why you are doing this and your plans for improvement.
It seems like whatever you do, its wrong. [[ Click here | 5.1 ]] if you give up and decide to switch to a different school.
The talks you had with students were incredibly eye-opening. [[ Click here | 5.2 ]] if you're going to go with their ideas.
The administration is probably right, kids will say anything to get what they want. [[ Click here | 4.2 ]] if you decide to go with the administration's ideas.
You spend the next couple weeks integrating a Kingian Nonviolence system in your school using the ideas from students. The students see that their voices were heard and are eager to be involved. Even the people who were the school's biggest trouble makers seem to be making improvements.
Students begin to open their eyes to a life outside of violence. It has become so normal in their lives, that at first they had no idea how to exist without it.
The next year was extremely successful. The district head saw the improvements and isn't worried about your school anymore. Kids are showing up to school more and dropping out less. You have also noticed that you aren't hearing as many stories on the news about the school's neighborhood.
Kingian Nonviolence helped the school tremendously. [[ Click here | 5.3]] if you want more resources about Kingian Nonviolence in schools.
Kingian Nonviolence
Haga, Kazu. Chicago's Peace Warriors. Readings for Diversity and Social Justice. P 577-581