Afterschool Violence
Are kids safe after dismissal?
by Maryann Kallinikos
PARENTGUIDE News March 2004
“Let’s get him!”
That was the last thing 11-year-old Steven heard
before he realized he needed to run— run
as fast as he could. Walking home from school
by himself was something that Steven had just
recently been allowed to do. After pleading and
begging his Mom— telling her that everybody
walked home alone— she reluctantly agreed.
And now this.
He didn’t know what the four boys who were
chasing him wanted, but he knew he wasn’t
going to stick around to find out. He successfully
ran across the street, thankfully, since he didn’t
waste time looking to see if there was any oncoming
traffic. When he realized the boys were catching
up, he decided he could run faster if he took
off his bookbag. Once he threw the bag on the
floor, he noticed the sounds of footsteps had
ceased. Exhausted and frightened, he ran all the
way home.
Incidents like this happen every day in New York
City. Often, kids gang up and threaten, steal
or beat other kids in school and after school—
for no other reason but to show off in front of
their friends, appear “cool” or “tough.”
As individuals, many of these kids are not “bad”
kids, and if stealing is the motive, many are
not in need of the money. But gathered together
in a group, coupled with the need to be in the
“in” crowd, each tween feels compelled
to join in.
According to Ellen deLara, Ph.D., co-author with
James Garbarino, Ph.D., of And Words Can Hurt
Forever, How to Protect Adolescents from Bullying,
Harassment and Emotional Violence (Free Press),
tweens have less cognitive ability to see things
from another person’s perspective. “It
is harder for them to be empathic about words
or actions that might hurt someone else. They
are more apt to think what they do is ‘just
a joke’ and not realize that their behaviors
lead to feelings of retaliation in someone else.
Also, children in this age group have little impulse
control.”
“With approximately 1.1 million students
and 12,000 schools in New York City, you are bound
to have some incidents,” explains Chief
Gerald Nelson at the School Safety Division of
the New York Police Department. “Yet, as
far as we are concerned, even one incident is
one too many,” he adds.
According to Chief Nelson, the NYPD has established
an approach called Safe Corridors in major school
districts with large populations. The idea is
to try to provide a safe environment for kids
getting out of school to get to their transit
hub— whether it be train or bus. Once they
are at the transit destination, transit cops then
take over. In addition, each precinct has beefed
up coverage during dismissal time, trying to cover
as much surrounding area as possible. “Our
goal is to have enough uniforms in place to allow
children to get to their transit hub,” says
Chief Nelson.
The impact on children is huge. “Children
who are victimized at school or in afterschool
programs tend to withdraw from school activities
and functions,” explains Dr. deLara. “We
find that they do not feel attached to, nor do
they identify with, their school. This is understandable
because the school doesn’t represent a safe
place for them to grow and thrive. Those who act
out their anger end up in trouble with school
officials and community members.”
John Fuentes, program director of the CityKids
Foundation, a local organization that supports
the personal and artistic development of young
people, believes that something that could help
would be more afterschool programs targeted at
tweens and teens. “In my opinion the city
needs to implement more afterschool programs that
are attractive to teens— a program consisting
of creative discussions around issues they the
teens feel are important,” says Fuentes.
So what can students do to protect themselves?
“Any type of harassment is taken very, very
seriously,” says Chief Nelson. “But
the fact is, crimes happen in school, after school
and on the school bus. And, no one should be forced
to come to school in fear.”
Chief Nelson advises kids who are being threatened
to speak to their school safety agent, a teacher
they trust or any adult they can turn to for help.
Kids can do this without appearing like tattletales
by telling the adult to keep a eye on them during
school and after— just to make sure they
remain safe. “Each incident is unique and
different— you can not give a catch-all
in what a child should do. The most important
thing is to try to best avoid the incident and
protect yourself at all times,” advises
Chief Nelson.
“Kids tell me that they need more supervision
by adults at school and on the bus, for example,”
says Dr. deLara. “They get discouraged when
they tell an adult about a chronically bad situation
and it doesn’t stop. They need our help
to prevent bullying, and other forms of violence
among peers. Another thing that is proving to
be useful in many communities is mentoring—
providing a high school senior or junior as a
mentor (for other than academics) for kids in
this age group.”
Adds Fuentes, “Young people should walk
in groups and not be afraid to walk on the other
side of the street or even take the longer way
home if they feel threatened by a vibe or an event.
They can act as if they need to go ‘somewhere’
so they do not look like cowards. There is nothing
wrong with being afraid and doing something about
it.”
He advises that if a young person finds himself
a victim he should:
• Try to remember what the culprits look
like.
• Notify a parent/guardian.
• Get medical attention if needed.
• Notify the appropriate authorities.
• Seek mental health if fear or anxiety
becomes part of your life.
• Walk in groups.
• Avoid walking the same way and time.
• Participate in after school programs.
• Run if you have to.
Of course, you, the parent, must stay involved
in your child’s life. Says Dr. deLara, “The
primary thing that can be done to prevent such
incidents is heightened adult awareness that these
incidents are prevalent and ongoing. This is in
reality an adult problem. Only with such awareness,
and the determination to provide a safe, caring
school community, can they be interrupted. We
can provide anti-bullying programs, but it is
only adults who can ensure a violence-free environment
for children.”
“The more adults know about how kids think
about safety, the better they will be able to
help them develop coping strategies for physical
or emotional threats,” says Donna Ceravolo,
executive director of the Girl Scouts of Nassau
County. “The research suggests that in order
to help kids deal with threats to physical and
emotional safety, parents should be proactive
about asking how they are feeling, even when they
don’t want to talk. Parents and children
should work together to establish healthy guidelines
for behavior without judging, threatening or belittling;
and take emotional harm seriously. Teasing, gossiping
and name-calling should also be addressed by adults.”
Maryann Kallinikos
is a freelance writer living in Brooklyn, NY.
