The Neglect of Physics Laws and Surrogate Parents in DC's Juvenile Crime Epidemic

Did you know the District of Columbia (DC) received a Gold Certification from its mayor's professed mentor and friend Mike Bloomberg's "What Works Cities" for 2023? I've never heard the mayor mention it! Hmmmm?

In a city grappling with extremely high levels of criminal activity, citizens are exercising increase caution, taking extra precautions and enduring persistent anxiety - as a result of a substantial surge in crime. As a male who works as an educator and mentor, and fulfills the role of surrogate parent--our city's problem deeply troubles me since it directly impacts the young people that I serve." Since 2014 some of us elementary educators have advocated and lobbied for more innovative youth investments.

We're witnessing the repercussion of Madam Mayor's neglecting your local educator voices.

A common response echoed is that homicides are on the rise nationwide.

Before I begin, let's address the elephant in the room: Poverty. Poverty is indeed, in my opinion, the #1 driving factor that contribute to juvenile crime. As studies have shown the correlation between poverty and the increased likelihood of engaging in criminal activities.

Two supporting factors driving this epidemic.

#1 Poor Leadership

The first such factor is the law of physics, specifically Newton's first law of inertia - specifically leadership inertia within the mayoral administration. This law states that an object at rest or in motion will remain in that state unless acted upon by an external force.

Leadership inertial is defined as “having no inherent power of action, motion, or resistance.” In other words, it’s a tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged. In the case of DC's juvenile crime epidemic, the lack of a mayoral agenda specifically to our youth since 2014 can be seen as a clear example of leadership inertia.

Fact: educators warning city officials since 2014 have fell upon the willfully blind

I believe, since 2014, there has been a dearth of initiatives and policies that effectively address the underlying issues contributing to high rates of juvenile crime in the city. This lack of action can be seen as a form of inertia, where the city's response to the problem has remained stagnant and unchanged.

For years, elected officials rely upon the Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program(SYEP) and recreational centers as sufficient city-wide youth engagement.

Despite the mounting evidence and research indicating the importance of early intervention and prevention in reducing juvenile crime rates, the city's leaders have failed to take decisive action to rectify the situation. As a result, the problem has persisted and intensified, with more and more young individuals becoming involved in criminal activities.

This neglect of the law of physics, specifically inertia, has had a profound impact on the trajectory of DC's juvenile crime epidemic.

Let's talk about the parents but not the two biological ones.

#2 The rapid death of surrogate-parental guidance

The second crucial factor contributing to the juvenile crime epidemic in Washington D.C. is the neglect of surrogate parent(s) who happen to be a teacher, custodian, paraprofessional, support staff or school administrator within a young person's school.

Children from both functional and dysfunctional families often seek guidance, support, and stability from surrogate parents within the educational setting. Educators play a crucial role in the lives of our children - becoming extended family members and authoritative figures whom students look up to for guidance and support.

The presence of surrogate parents within the school environment is particularly important for children who may lack proper parental guidance and support at home. These children view educators as the most important adults in their lives, and they rely on them to provide the discipline, nurturing, and praise that they may be missing in their own homes.

Special teachers, support staff, paraprofessionals, custodians and school administrators become parental figures in a child's life, offering them structure, guidance, and a sense of belonging. We become the parents of students who may come from dysfunctional or inadequate biological families. By taking on the role of surrogate parents, educators become the engaged and supportive adults that children need to succeed academically and socially.

As surrogate parents, educators have the power to positively influence a child's social-emotional and academic development. Research has shown that children who experience family engagement and support tend to perform better academically and exhibit stronger social-emotional skills throughout their educational journey. They are more likely to have lower rates of involvement in delinquent behaviors and criminal activities.

Surrogate parenting is not in the educators' job description

Surrogate parents play multiple roles in the lives of their son or daughter/students. They not only act as authoritative figures but also serve as role models, mentors, and advocates. This means that they provide guidance and support to help shape the child's behavior, serve as positive examples for them to follow, offer mentorship by sharing knowledge and experiences, and advocate for their well-being both within school settings and beyond.

And it's no secret amongst educators that early family support and education have a significant impact on reducing the devastating effects of chronic delinquency. That family support includes surrogate parent educators who play a pivotal role in the holistic development of their child/students'

Sister schools welcome surrogate parents wholeheartedly

Surrogates go above and beyond by actively participating in their child's educational journey, such as enrolling them in school, attending parent-teacher meetings, supporting their extracurricular activities, and much more. Research has consistently shown that when children lack primary parental support or come from disadvantaged backgrounds where parents are unable to provide adequate psychosocial care, our surrogate parents make all the difference.

Surrogates provide the essential ingredients needed for a prosperous city

Our dedicated and committed educators serve as a vital source of emotional nourishment for children who may not have access to consistent nurturing environments at home. Numerous studies have demonstrated the positive impact that programs offering surrogate parenting can have on children's socioemotional development and learning outcomes. By providing stability, guidance, and love to vulnerable youth during their developmental years - particularly during early childhood and early education stages in elementary school - these caring individuals effectively mitigate some of life's adversities while fostering resilience among young minds.

Surrogate parent educators contribute significantly to building strong foundations for future success by helping shape well-rounded individuals capable of thriving within society.

It should be understood that early family support and education is just one component of a comprehensive approach to addressing the root causes of juvenile crime, such as poverty and environmental factors.

Final thoughts

In essence, to effectively address the juvenile crime epidemic in Washington D.C., there needs to be a renewed focus on both the laws of physics and the role of surrogate parents within the educational system. By neglecting Newton's first law of inertia--which states that an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will continue moving in a straight line unless acted upon by a force--the mayoral lack of attention to juveniles pre and post-COVID has allowed the high rates of juvenile crime to persist with minimal intervention.

Furthermore, by neglecting the importance of surrogate parents--especially Black males surrogates, within the school environment, children who lack proper parental guidance and support are left vulnerable to negative influences and may not receive the guidance and nurturing they need to thrive academically and socially.

Margaret Valbrun is correct: “The absence of engaged Black males has a more profoundly, negative impact on our children’s development than raggedy schools, racism, classism, sexism, and joblessness combined.”

In the past, educators played a vital role as surrogate parents for students coming from dysfunctional households. However, due to a LACK OF APPRECIATION AND RESPECT for their work, today's educators are more reluctant than before when it comes to going above and beyond their basic duties.

Educators, who were once trusted to bridge the gap between dysfunctional families and their children, are now hindered by the DC mayor's pervasive toxic culture of Fear, Silence, Intimidation and Revenge.

This toxic culture not only discourages educators from acting as surrogate parents but also creates a hostile environment that further exacerbates the issue of juvenile crime.

You don't need to tell educators that surrogate parents have a positive impact on children's socio-emotional development and learning outcomes because educators have been doing the work without praise, recognition, resources or monetary support for decades.

By neglecting the laws of physics and the role of surrogate parents, we are failing to address the underlying factors that contribute to our current juvenile crime epidemic. Therefore, by the mayor recognizing the importance of Newton's first law of inertia and the educator's invaluable role as the surrogate parent in the educational system, our city can begin to take the long-overlooked steps toward addressing the root causes of juvenile crime.

God help us ALL!