Maslow's hierarchy states that there are five different levels of needs that must be filled in order for a child to learn and function properly. The first level is basic needs that must be met, such as food, shelter, warmth, and and water. The next level is the need for safety and security. The third level states that people need love, affection, and a sense of belonging. The fourth level is the level of self esteem. And the fifth and final level is self actualization, which is the development of a sense of commitment to something larger than a self cause.
On Monday, we started with our activities related to this simple chart. Monday morning, the school resource officers (Officer K and Officer Rock) came in and began a powerpoint presentation all about gangs. We learned some warning signs, some common gangs, and how to deal with gangs. We learned that gang members are people too and they deserve respect, just like any other student. The reason that children join gangs is because they have a really bad home life and are looking to fulfill the levels of the hierarchy that they cannot fill at home (love, a sense of belonging, a purpose) by becoming a gang member. Officer K also shared with us some of his personal story of when he was a gang member.
On Tuesday, we continued with the presentation, asking questions related to gangs, sharing what warning signs we had seen throughout the day before. Officer K was very kind and we talked more about the reasons behind the joining of a gang.
On Wednesday, we began watching The Gridiron Gang, a movie about kids in a juvenile detention center starting a football team and escaping from the gang life they had experienced all of their lives, learning cooperation and teamwork and fulfilling all levels of Maslow's hierarchy in a positive way. We continued to watch the movie throughout the week, seeing the characters gain a sense of safety, a sense of belonging, higher self esteem, and eventually self actualization.
Over the course of the week, we learned lots about gangs and the reasons children join them. We learned how to be better teachers by doing our part to make sure that kids feel loved and accepted when at school because they may not get the same attention at home. We, as teachers, can be the only source of love and hope in a child's life. Overall, it was a fascinating, emotionally moving, and informative week.
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