Arturo Hernandez

In the following viewpoint, Arturo Hernandez asserts that schools can reduce gang violence by providing mentoring and encouragement to gang members. Schools can let these “bad kids” know that they matter to the community, he maintains, by providing services such as support groups, cultural and athletic opportunities, ties to local businesses, and ceremonies that acknowledge their accomplishments. Hernandez, who has founded two experimental schools for gang-involved youth, is the author of Peace in the Streets: Breaking the Cycle of Gang Violence, from which this viewpoint is excerpted.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Hernandez, which group benefited most from the Scared Straight tour?
2. In Hernandez’s view, what advantages do “good kids” receive?
3. What is the impediment to “bad kid” schools...