Gentle Teaching in a Violent Society

The society is violent, the urban neighborhoods are violent, and the schools are violent. People who want to teach in urban schools need to recognize the reality of the situation they will enter. Beginning teachers must recognize that preventing violence is an integral part of their legitimate work; the more effective they are at empowering youngsters, the less violence they will engender; the less effective they are, the more violence they will cause. Beneath the surface and not very far beneath the surface of all urban teaching is the potential for unleashing uncontrollable violence. Only those who really understand the constant threat and horrific consequences of school violence will be sufficiently on-guard to do the countless things that will prevent it. Violence is already smoldering in the children, and only those teachers who see the deep frustrations and anger children carry into the school building with them will be sufficiently sensitive to avoid setting it off. In this article, the author identifies the characteristics of teachers who are effective in urban school settings. The author refers to these teachers as "stars". Star teachers work toward a common goal by various forms of gentle teaching. How star teachers can use this ideology to empower children growing up amidst poverty and violence is discussed. (Contains 8 notes.)