How Does Gang Activity Affect Student Achievement?

Teenagers in gangs often use spray paint to tag buildings with graffitti.

Gangs are a serious problem in urban areas of the United States. In many high schools and middle schools across the country, students are joining existing gangs and developing new ones. Gangs are created by organized groups of people and often act out of revenge. Teenagers who are already experiencing the emotional and physical turmoil of adolescents are vulnerable to pressure from large groups. Gangs can create distractions in the classroom and may ultimately end in violence. Students not involved in gangs are also affected by gang activity.

Distractions

Many students that receive good grades in school do so by paying attention during class hours and interacting with the teacher. Students involved in gangs are less likely to listen to the teacher and participate in class. These students may act out in class verbally or physically. This behavior is distracting to other students who are attempting to learn. The possible peer pressure of gang members to disrespect teachers and refuse to do homework is distracting.

Grades

Students that are also gang members seldom have excellent grades. Often these students fail to turn in homework, pay attention in class, and pass tests. Students in gangs often use their free time participating in gang activity rather than completing homework and studying. Gangs often encourage members to only respect their leaders and not other role models such as teachers. Other students may receive a less quality education as teachers attempt to control gang members.

Trust

Students that do not feel safe in their schools are less likely to focus on their education. Students involved in gangs often have a distrust of authority figures. Other students will lose trust in their teachers if they cannot control gang members and violent students. Students that feel that their teachers are not protecting them will not feel safe while they are in class. Some students may drop out of school to avoid gang activity.

Assimilation

Gangs are dangerous because they are often violent and encourage members to engage in risky behaviors such as drug use. However, these gangs continue to exist and grow even as members die and age out. Students that have no ties to gangs may decide to join them once they are faced with gang members every day in school. Some students may join gangs to protect themselves while others may join a gang out of anger.

References

• Southwest Educational Developmental Laboratory; Issues about Change: Safe Schools: Lessons from the Sites; Southwest Educational Development Laboratory; 2005
• National School Safety and Security Services; Gangs and School Safety; National School Safety and Security Services; 2007
• Inside the School; Researcher Advises How to Reduce School and Gang Violence; InsideTheSchool.com; 2011
• State Universtiy; Out-of-School Influences and Academic Success - Background, Parental Influence, Family Economic Status, Preparing for School, Physical and Mental Health Read more: Out-of-School Influences and Academic Success - Background, Parental Influence, Family Economic Status, Preparing for School, Physical and Mental Health; Net Industries; 2011
• ASCD; How Poverty Affects Behavior and Academic Performance; Eric Jensen; 2011