Edpsy 399 OL - Spring 2000

Tom Anderson, Instructor

Leonard Fretzin

Forum 14 - Lesson 14

Date: Sun April 17 2001

Subject: Lesson 14 Required q3

The Gang Scene

I was unsuccessful in obtaining information from my school or school district in time to write this paper, however, I decided to bring the question to my students in the form of an extra credit assignment. Students were asked to list local gangs and whatever additional information such as colors, signs, racial makeup, which they might be aware of. They were not asked about any personal involvement with gangs as gang activity constitutes a punishable offense under the school code.

I teach at Kenwood Academy High School, which is located at 5015 S. Blackstone in the historic Kenwood-Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. We are located about four blocks from the campus of the University of Chicago.

According to the Illinois School Report Card 2000 the Racial/Ethnic Background of the students here is 88.5% black, 5.7% white, 2.7% hispanic, and 3.0% Asian/Pacific Islander/Native American, with a total enrollment of 1,880.

The results of my survey indicated the presence in this neighborhood of the following gangs:

1. Black Peace Stone (aka Gangster Disciple Nation, GDN or GD) - African/American
2. Blackstone Disciple Nation (aka BDN or BD) - African/American

3) Gangster Disciples (aka: GD's, Brothers of the Struggle)

4. Mickey Cobras - Latino

The following information about each of these gangs is from the Chicago Crime Commission - "Chicagoland Gangs", Gang Awareness Page, and Chicagohoodz websites.

1) Name: Black Peace Stone Nation (aka: Gangster Disciple Nation, GDN or GD People, Black Stones) The Leader is Larry Hoover, currently imprisoned; This gang has been in existence for over 10 yrs; Jeff Fort, an early leader is imprisoned.

Colors: Black, Green, and Red

Signs: Crescent moon; five point star; pyramid w/ five point star

Team: Chicago Bulls Meaning: "Bulls" stands for "Boy You Look Like Stone"

Gang Symbol: Hand Sign:

2) Name: Blackstone Disciple Nation (aka: Black Disciples, BD's) Color(s): Black, Blue

Affiliation: Folks Ethnicity: Mostly Black

Sign and Symbol:

3) Name: Gangster Disciples (aka: GD's, Brothers of the Struggle)

Color(s): Black, Blue and Red Affiliation: Folks

Ethnicity: Mostly Black

Symbol and Hand Sign:

Mickey Cobras (aka: Cobrastones, Gangster Stones, People)

Colors: Red and Black

Signs: Cobra; initials"MC"; "People"

Team: Chicago Bulls

Gang Symbol:

According to the Chicago Crime Commission there are approximately 40 major active street gangs operating within the Chicago area. Gang structures vary from gang to gang. Structure depends on size of membership and the extent of illegal activity the gang is involved with.

I am not aware of any gang members or 'wannabees' in my classroom. The Uniform Discipline Code of the Chicago Public Schools classifies gang activity (5-6) and repeated overt displays of gang affiliation (5-11) as Group 5 Acts of Misconduct which require that teachers report and describe suspected behavior to the dean of discipline or the assistant principal.

The disciplinary actions prescribed for these offenses include minimum and maximum stipulations as follows: "suspension (six to ten days) and/or Disciplinary Reassignment and/or expulsion.

For first-time offenses of Group 5 Acts of Misconduct for which a student is referred for expulsion but which do not involve violence or the threat of violence, the student may be recommended by an expulsion hearing officer to attend the Board-sponsored SMART program in lieu of expulsion if he or she has no prior Group 5 or Group 6 violation during the current school year.

A student who is recommended to attend the SMART program in lieu of expulsion but who fails to successfully complete the program shall be expelled. If a student is expelled, Alternative School Placement may be recommended for the period of the expulsion.

The SMART (Saturday Morning Alternative Reach-Out and Teach) Program is a comprehensive and integrated nine session Saturday morning program to provide students with character building and conflict resolution skills as well as prevention, intervention, referral, and support services for amelioration of alcohol or drug related problems and misconduct in general.

Sanchez and Anderson (1990) claim that the effectiveness of the mediation process

has been successfully replicated in other schools with a minimum of training for the mediators and facilitators. Student misconduct such as, disrupting classrooms, being chronically truant, and falling behind academically suggest other categories of conflict that these gang members may be having, and would require other conflict resolution strategies.

Charles, C.M., Senter, Gail W., Barr, Karen B. - Building Classroom Discipline, Ch. 7

ISBN: 0801330041; Publisher: Addison-Wesley Longman, Incorporated 1998

Chicago Public Schools Uniform Discipline Code 2000-2001

Chicago Crime Commission - "Chicagoland Gangs" August 1996

Illinois School Report Card, 2000; Kenwood Academy High School, City of Chicago School Dist. 299

Violence and Discipline Problems in U.S. Public Schools: 1996-97

Sanchez. F. and Anderson M. L. (1990). Gang mediation: a process that works. Principal Magazine, May, v. 69, No. 5, 59 - 61.