Teenage wasteland

When one hears about teenage gangs and fraternities in the news, we might imagine ultra-rebellious and extra-aggressive teens whose lives consist of figuring in brawls and intimidating other people into submission. We might be thinking of the classic image of a bully  domineering, rebellious, and perennially hotheaded and violent.

I have had a number of students who were members of feared and notorious gangs in their community. But they were not bullies. On the contrary, they were timid, distant, and socially withdrawn. They do not challenge a teacher’s authority. They try their best to stay out of the teacher’s radar by being inconspicuous in class. And so it comes as a shock when we discover that these very same students are involved in notorious activities after school hours.

One such student of mine came to school one day with cuts and bruises all over his small and frail body. We learned that he was involved in a brawl the night before, and he claimed that he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. His fresh wounds, too many to treat and cover with gauze and bandage, told another story, however. As it turned out, he had to leave the school, not because of his discipline record but because of his failing marks. Several years after, we learned that he was brought to a nearby province by his parents who thought that a new environment might be beneficial. Unfortunately, he died in a vehicular accident some time last year just as he was treading a new path away from his violent life here in the city.

I remember his tragic story as I watched an episode of GMA-7’s Reporter’s Notebook last Tuesday where Jiggy Manicad covered a story on teenage gangs and violence. True to our experience, his story did not involve the usual suspects. His first subject of interest was a young Grade 5 female student who was already a gang member at her early age. She admitted one of their pastimes was to beat up teenagers who refused to acknowledge their authority as a gang. She got involved in her group as she was permitted to spend time with her friends and classmates all night long.

Another subject was a timid and respectful boy who admitted that he only wanted to be part of such group because he felt lost after his parents separated. He recounted how he spent time with his group engaging in initiation rites, gang wars, drug addiction, theft, and other petty crimes.

Manicad’s story ended with an update on the student who stabbed his teacher while riding a motorcycle, apparently after being reprimanded for his haircut. The police found out that the act was part of a gang’s initiation dare.

Urban poor teenagers are highly prone to being recruited into gangs and introduced thereafter to a life of inescapable violence and irresponsibility. The documentary revealed that 40 percent of the students have experienced violence as a result of being affiliated with gangs and fraternities. Child psychologist Dr. Joseph Regaldo, the show’s resource person, discusses how students with low self-esteem view gangs as an attractive option, seeing strength in numbers. One gang was found out by the show to have had 80 juvenile members with ages ranging from 14 to 30 years old.

Joining gangs is also an avenue of rebellion against their parents and guardians, as brought about by the child’s feelings of neglect and abandonment. Psych 101 tells us that adolescents demand acceptance and guidance from parental figures as they try to form and commit to their identities at this age. Naturally, youths with absentee parents use their gangs to fill that void, not knowing the difference between genuine companionship and a false sense of acceptance.

The home is always the first school of a child. Parents are essential partners of teachers in forming the character of a student. With stories of how gangs have infiltrated urban poor communities, yet again, we grasp the real meaning of poverty, not merely as lack of material possessions but ultimately as a deprivation of dignity and basic rights to a decent life that must be accorded to an individual. The school will never be able to address these issues alone. It needs the rest of the members of the community to work together and make sure that our future generation do not fall victims to senseless violence all because of our neglect and apathy as a society.