T.N.(Teacher's note) Show good models to your boys
We all teach our boys to keep their hands to themselves.We tell them, "If someone wants to fight you, walk away or tell the teacher." This sometimes goes in one ear and out of the other ear.Our boys are taught at home to be rough and tough.They are praised for winning and being the "best".Their egos are patted for being no.1.
So, are all boys supposed to win and dominate at any cost? How should we talk to them and encourage a healthy spirit while not taking away their stance on "pre-manhood"? Where does respect for others fit into all of this when anger is is covering their small brains? Young boys know what they are taught.They should be taught how to resolve conflict without putting their hands on someone.This behavior of wanting to fight must be dealt with while they are very young. I don't think waiting until they get older will help them when it comes to controlling their anger
The anger could grow out of control.It's best to nip it in the bud now! Our boys are not born fighting and being violent.I recall something that a psychologist told our teaching staff in a meeting years ago. She said, "Anger is not a natural emotion.Anger comes from fear." This is so true! This is true for parents also.
If someone is driving wrecklessly on the road, we may get angry because we fear that he/she may crash into our vehicle.
Try to communicate to the child and find out what is causing the anger and fighting.They will tell you.Express an interest in what they are fearful of.They will appreciate the comforting ear.Writing is a good way to let out those feelings if they do not want to talk about it.They must feel that they have great worth.They should be taught to channel the angry energy into another source, such as participating in sports, music, theater, safe swimming, bicycling, cooking, gardening,drawing or putting together a toy airplane.
Now is the time for shaping those behaviors of respect and caring for others.We cannot let our boys perish.The anger could explode if they do not get help from a qualified and trusted professional.We as parents cannot allow our boys to use their fist to fight, but rather to write.This is the time to take a careful look at their friends.Are there guns or other weapons in their homes or cars?
Parenting comes along only once.All of us are still learning how to parent.Show the best example possible and praise that fearful boy every chance you get! He will absorb the love and think twice before he gets into that
fight!

Study Shows Children Reported Abused and Neglected are 67 Times more likely to be Arrested as Pre-Teens

Document Author: Child Welfare League of America, 440 First Street, NW Suite 310 Washington, DC 20001-2085 Ph. 202/638-2952 Reprinted From: Handsnet Date Posted: 7/97

Factors That Put Kids at Risk for Delinquency Now Well Established, Study Confirms; Targeted Prevention and Intervention Could Cut Crime, Save Billions June 19, 1997,Press Conference, Washington, DC--Children reported abused and neglected were 67 times more likely to be arrested between the ages of 9 and 12 than other children, according to a study recently conducted in Sacramento County, California. The Sacramento study indicates "a smoking gun connection" between child abuse and neglect and later delinquent behavior, said Michael Petit, deputy director of the Child Welfare League of America. CWLA called on the Administration and Congress to spend less on the construction of juvenile prisons and more to combat abuse and neglect and divert at-risk children from crime. "Adult prisons are filled with victims of child abuse and neglect," Petit said. "The child abuse connection is chillingly obvious in the case of death row inmates. If we help abused and neglected youngsters whose lives contain certain risk predictors -- an incarcerated parent, serious mental health problems, substance abuse in the home, early trouble in school and inadequate housing -- we can save kids, reduce or prevent later crime and avoid spending millions or perhaps billions in judicial, prison and other costs. With early intervention and support it is absolutely possible to prevent violence." Buffalo Police Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske, San Diego Police Chief Gerald R. Sanders and Sanford Newman, president of FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS, a national organization of police leaders, prosecutors and crime survivors, joined Petit in calling for increased investment in proven crime-prevention programs. They pointed to other studies showing that America's most powerful weapons against crime are the proven investments that get kids off to the right start. "If Congress is serious about fighting crime, it won't pretend that just building more jails is going to solve the problem," said Kerlikowske. "Those of us on the front lines know we'll win the war on crime when Congress boosts investment in early childhood programs and Head Start, health care for kids, after-school and mentoring and recreational programs. We'll win the war on crime when we invest tax dollars in America's most vulnerable kids, instead of waiting until they become America's most wanted adults." The Sacramento study was conducted by CWLA and public and private county agencies in an effort to identify and help youngsters at highest risk of serious juvenile and adult criminal behavior. Results of the study showed that 9- to 12-year-olds who were reported as abused or neglected were 67 times more likely to be arrested for delinquent behavior than were children of the same ages who had not been reported as abused or neglected. It is possible that this dramatic 6,700 percent increase in the likelihood of arrest for abused and neglected children actually understates the problem, since some of the arrested children may have been victims of unreported abuse or neglect. In addition, the study found the following: Children reported abused or neglected made up fully half of kids arrested between the ages of 9 and 12 -- even though they made up just 1.4 percent of the total population.   successful early intervention program of comprehensive services could save taxpayers more than $400,000 per child in out-of-home placement, law enforcement and incarceration costs. This figure is based on the difference between the $471,000 cost for a "typical" youth offender between ages 9 and 12 and the $40,000 cost for five years of intensive intervention with one at-risk family in Sacramento County's model program, which is now being implemented. Today's presentation was sponsored by CWLA, with 900 member agencies the country's largest association of organizations that directly assist abused and neglected children and their families, and FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS. Both organizations expressed support for federal legislation that includes investments in early intervention and prevention programs for at-risk children and youth. CWLA vigorously opposes proposed legislation that would spend billions of dollars prosecuting juveniles and adults and building more prisons for teenage offenders but comparatively little money for proven early intervention and prevention programs. "This study adds to the proof that wait-for-the-crime approaches ignore our most powerful anti-crime weapons and force us to fight crime with one hand tied behind our backs," said FIGHT CRIME's Newman. "Those who spend every day in the trenches fighting crime are counting on Congress to support the right-start programs for kids proven to prevent crime and help keep Americans safe." CWLA also emphasized that, in addition to significant funding for targeted community initiatives, states should continue to uphold legal prohibitions against housing juvenile and adult offenders in the same facilities, remove status offenders and abused and neglected children from secure facilities, and address the disproportionate confinement of minority youth.

Young males, particularly young black males, are disproportionately involved in homicide compared to their share of the population

• For young white males, their proportion of the population increased slightly since 2001, while their proportion of homicide victims has been stable and their proporation of offenders has declined.
• For young black males, their proportion of the population has remained at about 1%. After 1993, their proportion of homicide victims declined slightly before stablizing in recent years. Their proportion of homicide offenders increased rapidly from the mid 1980's to the early 1990's and then declined slightly remaining at over one-quarter of all offenders..

To view data, click on the chart.

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Some risk factors for youth violence are as follows: