Fight after fight was breaking out at Southwood High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. There were numerous arrests. The school seemed out of control, even hopeless. It’s just the way it is. Then, some dads from the school decided to do something about it. They started a group called, “Dads on Duty.” They received permission from the principal to just hang out at the school. There are about 40 of them. They greet the kids each morning, they encourage kids to get to class, they laugh and they joke. Turns out there hasn’t been another fight since the dads arrived on the scene.
Some of the responses from the students were, “I immediately felt a form of safety, ” “People stopped fighting,” “The School has been happy, you can feel it,” So, why is it working? One student responded, “You ever heard of a look?” When they asked the Dads why it is working, one said, “Not every one has a father figure in their life, so just to be here makes a big difference.”
Joe’s Perspective: Some 20 years ago, I was the associate director of the North Carolina Fatherhood Initiative. I learned how important dads are. The statistics for children who grew up without a dad are alarming. It remains one of the strongest correlations with dropping out of school, getting arrested and ending up in prison. This is true for girls and boys. Turns out a good father can motivate kids to stay out of trouble and do the right thing. It doesn’t mean that moms aren’t doing a good job. It just means that dads provide something important to the parenting equation. We need to understand this phenomenon.
So, when I see this story, it just make sense. Let me explain why I believe this approach is working. I happen to know a thing of two about psychology, as I have a doctorate in this stuff. #1) dogs, monkeys, lions and many other pack animals can get unruly if there is not an alpha in the group. Once the alpha establishes rules and order, the younger trouble makers simmer down. We don’t like to think of humans in this way, but in the end, we are just another species of animal. So, the young trouble makers at the school understand there is a more dominant presence on the premises. This is why “the look” is effective. #2) humans, by nature, are rebellious. However, these dads are not wearing uniforms or carrying guns. They are not mandating a major crack down. These dads carry coffee and tell disarming jokes. So, there is very little to rebel against. If the school brought in more security guards, the result might have been more fights. #3) these dads are doing this for the right reason. It’s not for a paycheck or for fame. They are doing it out of love. And when you do something for the right reasons, it permeates thru the culture.
Your Turn: Why do you think the dads are having a positive impact on the school?
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Dads had a big impact on the school because they didn’t show up in uniforms and look intimidating like the security guards. They talked to the kids and became close with them so they could trust each other. All kids who didn’t have a dad and were trouble makers improved after the dads visited because they were able to get the feeling they had a father figure and that’s exactly what they were. These dads had their own children but they went out of their way to give these kids what they never had and to help them improve. When they said the dads carried around coffee and made jokes that showed how much different they were from security guards which is why they didn’t feel the need to get anymore. They had positive attitudes and they shared that with the kids unlike the security guards who gave a negative feeling.
These dads show tolerance among the highschool kids, they put up with these teenagers like the cool dads they are.
Dads are important because they man you up and can show you more things than a mom can.
those dads Probably go to that school to make sure that every one gets along
you need a dad in your life so you have another role modal of the different or same sex so they actually know what your going through and or
A dad has a responsibility when they have a son because they need to teach their son how to be a man and teach them things that a women connot.
I think it’s the reason as stated in the blog. Having a positive figure there for the students makes them feel more welcome, safe, and comfortable without making them feel on lockdown within the school with paid staff.
It makes the students feel safe and they have people there that care about them.
I think dads positively impact the school because some people need a father figure in their life. say they have a father but he’s never there they rely on other men in their life. saying they don’t have a father figure can turn into a big deal and they try and act out and their moms feel like they failed.
there like ever one dad in this school they help out all the kid in there we get bad kid out of the school he like the for the hole school.
I think having a male role model in your life is important because they teach you respect and manners.
I think that dads have a good impact on boys in school because they look up to their dads and then they want to be like them if the dads are good and they tell the kids what to do the kids will be good in school and they would act good and be friends with everybody.
I think they are having a positive impact because they are just making people happier.
They are preventing any further misbehaving, and they had a protest or some kind of convention. They were trying to do their part and help out, and they did what they could. They also used their tough love but also their gentle love that they do some well.