The Principal Takes Control
In the Inland Empire of Southern California there are many public high schools where the students suffer from a lack of a few critical things that help them be effective students. This list includes parents that do not make much money and therefore struggle to support their children; there are also parents that are missing, absent from the home, illegally subsisting due to documentation issues, imprisoned for criminality, running or abusing drugs, or living irresponsibly in many other ways. There are many parents that are hard working law abiding citizens, yes, but because of the general malaise of surrounding neighborhoods and high school districts, all the children are under threat from many of the above mentioned problems that affect and afflict the adults as well as their families and children.
One high school in San Bernardino had a young third year principal named Ron Bernal who was overwhelmed by the problems of discipline and general disrespect that would surge throughout the year and flare up especially as it got warmer in the spring. He noted that the surrounding high schools of his and surrounding cities were all similar: they were suffering the same symptons of youthful rebelliousness that translated in some kids getting expelled, some getting hurt, some who were simple victims of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. These sudden flare ups of emotion would affect morale among both the students and the staff, not to mention the school security. And of course worse educational and academics, as well as extra curricular activities were negatively impacted. Every year.
One night he had an inspirational idea that he thought would help the situation: he was a religious guy who had been in the military. He knew that he could not impose military nor religious tactics to improve campus behavior and discipline. So he formulated his plan on a Sunday night and called up a counselor, a locally hired ombudsman, and both the football and basketball coaches. He explained his plan to them and then set up an after school meeting that Wednesday.
He decided to call in 30 influential male students, with the help of the staff and the coaches in their selection as leaders of their peers to all meet in a class room at 4:00 pm that Wednesday after school. Based on how that went, he was going to do the same thing with 30 female students the following week.
So that Wednesday at 4:00 pm the 35 of them convened at a classroom, strategically picked so that they would not be noticed by the rest of the student population. Doctor Bernal had gone out of his way to personally invite each of the thirty young men, offering to contact a parent or coach or boss or parole officer if necessary. These selected young men were going to be there.
They were surprised when they got together and looked around their fellow classmates. Some were captains of the sports teams; some were known for crimes or even occasional gang associations, some had great grades and some not so much. But they all had one thing in common: they all had influence on their peers for good or bad.
"Ok, guys, you don't know why we adults have called you here, but in a less than thirty minutes you will know why. We may or may not be successful at what I am suggesting that we do; my colleagues support me in this, so know that we have put some thought in it and we believe that this plan will help all of us. Just to let you know off the bat, the reason why you are here is because we know that each of you are strong and influential as leaders and your peers look up to you. That is a sincere compliment. If I were lying about that you could tell, I want you to trust me. Trust everybody in this room, including each other, old or young. That is part of what we want to do with this meeting.
Bernal walked from one student to another, looking at each one. He set up the room so that he could walk all the way around, so no one would be too distant or hide from his stare, his message.
He continued," Every year we have a problem, especially as the year ends. As our students get feistier, usually on a Friday around lunch, we get in pretty bad fights. Do I have to explain this? You all have been here for a while and you are not dumb. You have seen it, lived it. If you have been a part of it before: I am not here to blame you, or make you feel guilty. This has been going on for years and you did not start it. It's a natural occurrence for a few reasons. Got it. But whether you realize it or not, these fights not only lead to students getting penalized and hurt, but our studies and grades suffer from it. And who is paying the most for these problems in the end? You the students. Not cool."
Ron was quiet for a few seconds. Then he looked at the adults and the students. "Any questions or comments?" The adults shook their heads. Many of the young men did, too. Some looked perplexed or uncomfortable. But most were pretty interested, and they were thinking. Their curiosity was piqued.
"So here it is, short and sweet. Few times in your life will you be empowered like right now to have such a positive effect on so many people at such a critical time in your and their lives. We are asking you to do everything within your power to quell the violence as it crops up as we know it does. Talk to your buddies, no matter how big or small, brave or timid. Let them know that we, all of us, I'm talking team captains, crew leaders, strong guys that we know you are, students, honor roll or those underachievers in their classes, that we are not going to throw down this spring. In years past we have had up to five or six of these break out fights, and it leaves us in a bad way. Grades suffer, learning is curbed and stunted. You lose, we lose, I lose. Not cool."
"I realize that you may not believe that is is a big deal, but it is. And here's the additional bonus for all of you: if we are successful in quelling these throw downs, it's going to take on an added significance. Starting this year, and into the future, and years from now, you may not remember me or much about these years at this high school. That's fine. Move on with your life and do great things. High school does not usually equate to many of our best years, I know that. But I assure you, you will know more about yourselves, what a team working together can do, and that we can make a difference and that we do not have to sit idly by and let circumstances overwhelm us, and that we can be forces of good. You don't have to believe me now, but these things will translate into attributes and lessons for success in the future. You will be a better person for having participated and made a difference."
He paused. A few hands were raised. Some questions and comments were raised. Good points, good feedback.
A few minutes later the San Bernardino Principal piped back in. "By raise of hands, how many of you here now will commit to make this work this school year?"
All of them raised their hands.
Doctor Bernal told them at the end," I am not here to waste your or my time. Let's do this and move on with our lives. This is something we can do. If we have a fight this year, I understand. If we have two. Too bad. Three? No, not that good. But I believe we can make this work, and with your efforts and cooperation as you have shown today to be in good faith, we are going to make this a better or best year. Thanks for coming, and more importantly, thanks for seeing this thing for what it is and doing something about it."
They dismissed after twenty minutes, all were energized.
You tell me how the rest goes.
In the Inland Empire of Southern California there are many public high schools where the students suffer from a lack of a few critical things that help them be effective students. This list includes parents that do not make much money and therefore struggle to support their children; there are also parents that are missing, absent from the home, illegally subsisting due to documentation issues, imprisoned for criminality, running or abusing drugs, or living irresponsibly in many other ways. There are many parents that are hard working law abiding citizens, yes, but because of the general malaise of surrounding neighborhoods and high school districts, all the children are under threat from many of the above mentioned problems that affect and afflict the adults as well as their families and children.
One high school in San Bernardino had a young third year principal named Ron Bernal who was overwhelmed by the problems of discipline and general disrespect that would surge throughout the year and flare up especially as it got warmer in the spring. He noted that the surrounding high schools of his and surrounding cities were all similar: they were suffering the same symptons of youthful rebelliousness that translated in some kids getting expelled, some getting hurt, some who were simple victims of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. These sudden flare ups of emotion would affect morale among both the students and the staff, not to mention the school security. And of course worse educational and academics, as well as extra curricular activities were negatively impacted. Every year.
One night he had an inspirational idea that he thought would help the situation: he was a religious guy who had been in the military. He knew that he could not impose military nor religious tactics to improve campus behavior and discipline. So he formulated his plan on a Sunday night and called up a counselor, a locally hired ombudsman, and both the football and basketball coaches. He explained his plan to them and then set up an after school meeting that Wednesday.
He decided to call in 30 influential male students, with the help of the staff and the coaches in their selection as leaders of their peers to all meet in a class room at 4:00 pm that Wednesday after school. Based on how that went, he was going to do the same thing with 30 female students the following week.
So that Wednesday at 4:00 pm the 35 of them convened at a classroom, strategically picked so that they would not be noticed by the rest of the student population. Doctor Bernal had gone out of his way to personally invite each of the thirty young men, offering to contact a parent or coach or boss or parole officer if necessary. These selected young men were going to be there.
They were surprised when they got together and looked around their fellow classmates. Some were captains of the sports teams; some were known for crimes or even occasional gang associations, some had great grades and some not so much. But they all had one thing in common: they all had influence on their peers for good or bad.
"Ok, guys, you don't know why we adults have called you here, but in a less than thirty minutes you will know why. We may or may not be successful at what I am suggesting that we do; my colleagues support me in this, so know that we have put some thought in it and we believe that this plan will help all of us. Just to let you know off the bat, the reason why you are here is because we know that each of you are strong and influential as leaders and your peers look up to you. That is a sincere compliment. If I were lying about that you could tell, I want you to trust me. Trust everybody in this room, including each other, old or young. That is part of what we want to do with this meeting.
Bernal walked from one student to another, looking at each one. He set up the room so that he could walk all the way around, so no one would be too distant or hide from his stare, his message.
He continued," Every year we have a problem, especially as the year ends. As our students get feistier, usually on a Friday around lunch, we get in pretty bad fights. Do I have to explain this? You all have been here for a while and you are not dumb. You have seen it, lived it. If you have been a part of it before: I am not here to blame you, or make you feel guilty. This has been going on for years and you did not start it. It's a natural occurrence for a few reasons. Got it. But whether you realize it or not, these fights not only lead to students getting penalized and hurt, but our studies and grades suffer from it. And who is paying the most for these problems in the end? You the students. Not cool."
Ron was quiet for a few seconds. Then he looked at the adults and the students. "Any questions or comments?" The adults shook their heads. Many of the young men did, too. Some looked perplexed or uncomfortable. But most were pretty interested, and they were thinking. Their curiosity was piqued.
"So here it is, short and sweet. Few times in your life will you be empowered like right now to have such a positive effect on so many people at such a critical time in your and their lives. We are asking you to do everything within your power to quell the violence as it crops up as we know it does. Talk to your buddies, no matter how big or small, brave or timid. Let them know that we, all of us, I'm talking team captains, crew leaders, strong guys that we know you are, students, honor roll or those underachievers in their classes, that we are not going to throw down this spring. In years past we have had up to five or six of these break out fights, and it leaves us in a bad way. Grades suffer, learning is curbed and stunted. You lose, we lose, I lose. Not cool."
"I realize that you may not believe that is is a big deal, but it is. And here's the additional bonus for all of you: if we are successful in quelling these throw downs, it's going to take on an added significance. Starting this year, and into the future, and years from now, you may not remember me or much about these years at this high school. That's fine. Move on with your life and do great things. High school does not usually equate to many of our best years, I know that. But I assure you, you will know more about yourselves, what a team working together can do, and that we can make a difference and that we do not have to sit idly by and let circumstances overwhelm us, and that we can be forces of good. You don't have to believe me now, but these things will translate into attributes and lessons for success in the future. You will be a better person for having participated and made a difference."
He paused. A few hands were raised. Some questions and comments were raised. Good points, good feedback.
A few minutes later the San Bernardino Principal piped back in. "By raise of hands, how many of you here now will commit to make this work this school year?"
All of them raised their hands.
Doctor Bernal told them at the end," I am not here to waste your or my time. Let's do this and move on with our lives. This is something we can do. If we have a fight this year, I understand. If we have two. Too bad. Three? No, not that good. But I believe we can make this work, and with your efforts and cooperation as you have shown today to be in good faith, we are going to make this a better or best year. Thanks for coming, and more importantly, thanks for seeing this thing for what it is and doing something about it."
They dismissed after twenty minutes, all were energized.
You tell me how the rest goes.
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