Questions and Answers on Gun Violence at Harper High School Paper Example

Question One: Describe the Sort of Gun Violence at Harper High School?

Children are always exposed to many dangers in the society. Taking a case of Harper High School, the learning institution is overly exposed to gang violence that disrupts the running of the school. The type of gangs that are found to be affecting the students of Harper High School includes the J-Town that owns the block between 69th and Loomis. Jordan, a new student at Harper High, openly confessed to the Deputy Principal Chad Adams of his affiliation with J-Town (This American Life a). The membership of a gang is assigned by default concerning one's residence; for instance, the children from 72nd and Hermitage belong to the S-Sub, whether they like it or not. The membership of such a gang means that the students in the group are involved with criminal engagements such as stealing (This American Life b). However, some cliques just get involved with having lunch together and providing company to each other while heading home, without any violence accorded to their names (This American Life a).

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Question Two: Why Harper High School Finds It Hard to Avoid Gang Related Violence?

Harper High School is placed in a position where it is hard for the institution to avoid gang violence in daily operations. This is because the students from the school get to witness the murder of their friends in gang violence. The remorse in the students builds up to vengeance that makes the children develop violent tendencies. Such a case is of Thomas who is keen to carry out revenge against the murder of his friend Shakaki (This American Life b). The school's social worker, Mrs. Smith, has to find ways of interacting with Thomas to understand what he is going through. Moreover, Ben Calhoun points out that retaliation shootings are a factor in the safe environment of the school where parents and students are seen to be shot after while on their way home (This American Life a).

Question Three: What Changes to Public Policy are Advocated to Address the Issues at Harper High School?

To address gang violence in high schools, some public policies can be implemented. German Lopez of Vox outlined definitive measures to reduce crime and violence without necessarily bringing up gun control measures. Lopez recommends the implementation of stricter alcohol policies since there is a direct correlation between gun assaults and alcohol stores (Lopez). Moreover, hot-spot policing is seen to be taking roots in major cities, where police units are deployed intelligently to specific areas of a town that are prone to violence and gun-related crimes (Crime Solutions). Harper High School could benefit from this policy if it gets to be marked as one of the crime hot-spots. Behavioral intervention programs can also be introduced to teach the children on how to carry themselves in situations that have the potential of turning violent. Among other measures, the policies examined can be used to reduce the number of gang violence associated with Harper High School and other schools nationwide.

Works Cited

Crime Solutions. Hot Spots Policing. n.d. <https://www.crimesolutions.gov/PracticeDetails.aspx?ID=8>

Lopez, German. 6 Proven Policies for Reducing Crime and Violence without Gun Control. 2016. <https://www.vox. com/2016/2/15/10981274/crime-violence-policies-guns/>.

BIBLIOGRAPHY This American Life a. 487: Harper High School - Part One - The American Life. 2019. <https://www.thisamericanlife.org/487/transcript>.

This American Life b. 488: Harper High School - Part Two - The American Life. 2019. <https://www.thisamericanlife.org/488/transcript>.