Youth Gangs and Violence In Schools

The theme, which I have decided to research and base my portfolio on,

is Youth Gangs and Violence In Schools. The term “Youth” is defined by

the Compact Oxford English Dictionary as the period between childhood

and adulthood and is also commonly used as a noun to describe young

people. The same dictionary defines a “Gang” as an organised group of

criminals or disorderly young people. Youth gangs are groups of young

people who assemble and often engage in criminal and illegal

activities such as graffiti, vandalism, theft, robbery and violent

activities including, gang fights and brawls. The Compact Oxford

English Dictionary defines “ violence” as behaviour involving physical

force intended to hurt, damage or kill. Violent acts committed by

gang members are often done with the intention of causing physical and

or psychological trauma/ injury to persons. These acts include

bullying, threatening, inflicting physical injury or applying any

physical force, which hurts a person, the throwing of objects and

missiles at or towards persons, destruction of a victim’s property or

any type of sexual abuse and sexual harassment.

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Nowadays, there is a small minority of students attending elementary

and more so secondary schools who are forming gangs. The growth of

gang culture has not only occurred in places like the United States of

America and Great Britain, but also in smaller lesser-developed

countries in the Caribbean.

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Sad to say, Gang Violence in my very own school is on the rise. As

re...

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In conclusion, neither the level nor incidence of school violence and

gang culture has yet gripped the Caribbean as it has elsewhere.

However, the youths here are influenced by the cross fertilization of

contemporary social behaviour as depicted in songs, music videos (MTV;

BET; VH1) films and literature. American culture is dominant and is

very influential on Caribbean society. The two pieces are good

starting points. They are informative, well written and documented.

The level and type of violence, which is emerging here has American

influence and thus the studies are relevant, though not in all

respects. Our socio-economic and demographic factors are quite

different. Both studies are well written, clear and easy to follow

and can undoubtedly assist the reader, as it did me, in my research on

this topic.