Never have I felt how compelling my blog name was until this day. In no way would I attempt to compare my title to the suffering of the Martin family right now but a level of frustration continues to mount that supports the grief the family must feel.
We already know much of the details of Jaewon Martin's murder, which is not why I am writing this article; Jaewon's age, school, academic intelligence etc. are all above par for a public school student. No this is a question to the public.
So I was sitting on the Memorial Drive side of river bank on the Charles unable to let go of the apoplectic emotions that stirred inside. I already knew what would follow this event; people would be outraged, the mayor, commissioner, and other public figures would make statements and hold a press conference; for a few weeks Jaewon would be memorialized. In other words nothing would really change. This time, that was not enough, so I began writing feverishly about real solutions to this violent conundrum. I wanted to really understand what was at the heart of the issue- safety! No surprise there.
I found a great sense of safety as I was sitting by the Charles. I had to convince myself that same sense of safety was at least possible- and it is. If you look in certain places in the country even here in Greater Boston, there is a sense of safety. And as I looked around, the remaining Harvard students and other pedestrians appeared to have a similar sense of safety. So if it is possible why are we not making the kind of investment felt in Cambridge for example. Then I went down the Green Belt; again I felt a strong sense of safety, and I went over by the Ritz Carlton, again I felt a strong sense of safety. I ended up in City Hall, to further establish that a sense of safety was possible. Knowing that budget hearings were occurring I felt a compulsion to see what accommodations had been made in the BPS budget to address this critical need. My timing was impeccable.
Sitting in on the fifth of the school budget hearing at City Hall today; deeply disturbed by Jaewon's murder over the weekend, I was looking for what charters had been made on behalf of students for their well being. Answer, none. To the Boston Public Schools; safety meant bus monitors, and truancy officers- neither of which met the concerns of real safety. Not even a sense of food security, did I feel. I had something in mind along the lines of the type of safety people should have when they lay down to sleep at night, or that of a good wholesome meal that awaits- not even that.
How long will we allow these events to dictate the future and aspirations of youth in the City of Boston. My call today is multifaceted. There should not in my opinion, be a single program or service in Boston that does not have a component of elimination of youth violence in it. I am not calling on the usual suspect to do the ground work; this is a call to all residents, business owners, and public officials alike to marshal an effort that provide students with a indisputable sense of safety. Each one teach one is not enough. We don't need better schools we need a better society.
Thomas Edison has one of my favorite quotes; "Nonviolence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages." What I would add to this quote is that, if we stand by inactive, but able to do something, then we are just as culpable.
Here is what I believe might be a good start to a Student Manifesto; money not being an issue, how would go about creating safety for each school age student?
No school age student will experience random shootings, unsafe areas for leisure developmental activities or bullying without exception.
FIRST Each community member is to support 1 youth for the rest of this school year and summer and bring them to or collectively meet with other mature adults in a safe place.
SECONDLY I am asking each person in he city to coordinate getting a youth to school and picking one up from school each day.
THIRD I am asking Google, MIT, Harvard and BU, NU to support the logistics of this effort using students in technology tracks as part of service learning and to earn credit for course work
FOURTH I am asking for $$$ to launch this effort immediately.
FIFTH I am asking all councilors to halt personal campaigns and hearings to cease until it is established that every initiative funded in the City of Boston has a component of school age safety built into it. This includes development of new properties and receipt of federal and state revenue.
SIXTH establish where the least homicides occurring; and everyone identify 5 places you identify as safe, relay them to a central repository.
SEVENTH I am requesting a 1% pay cut for every teacher, public official, administrator until each has a student safety plan built into their budget as part of a wrap around plan plugged into a central goal
EIGHTH It is my REQUEST. That the city do a survey of all BPS students to better understand the relationship between FEAR, and ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IMPEDIMENTS
NINTH The Boston Police Department will establish what settings most of these crimes occur based on historical data initiate change in a concentrated effort for that area.
TENTH Establish when students have the greatest sense of fear and fortify the services by communicating with businesses to support employees that help to escort students to school?
ELEVENTH Provide mentors to help recondition the damage that has already been done and a real support structure to foster healthy psychological development.
We can deduce that the same number of homicides will occur this year that occur last year based on the current trajectory, possibly more if the weather is nicer. Some people believe last year's short Summer season influenced homicide numbers downward.
These events have a devastating effect on youth, their confidence, and self concept. Youth live with a sense of fear from the very environments they are suppose to grow up in with a sense of security and we need a different strategy. I simply believe we can do more.
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