The problem of crime and, in particular, gang-related crime has caught the attention of the media and our political leaders. A number of partial solutions have been proposed including gun control, stiffer punishment, swifter punishment, etc.
I agree with and support each of these proposed solutions, but I believe an additional factor has generally been overlooked.I believe that one of the fundamental things that gangs offer to juveniles is an identity and an acceptance that, for whatever reason, they cannot find elsewhere. We as a society must provide positive socially acceptable opportunities for all of our youth to find acceptance and develop a positive identity.
I would like to suggest that the best, most humane and most cost-effective places to enhance the self-esteem of our youth is in our families and in our schools.
I believe that adding counselors in our elementary and junior high schools when the social attitudes of our youth are forming would be tremendously helpful.
In addition, smaller class sizes at all levels of our public schools would allow our teachers to become more effective and more personal role models for our youths.
Robert J. Weaver
Layton