It’s so easy to stop violence with violence.
As much as people think it is a deserved response, there are times that understanding and compassion should be prioritized. After all, two wrongs don’t make it right.
What is the root of this violence? Why are they acting the way they do? These are the questions that should be answered first, most especially when young people are involved.
A high school in Lousiana woke up to a baffling situation.
In a span of just 72 hours, twenty-three students were arrested, suspended, and expelled after a series of fights.
The root of the violence was undetermined but the effect is nothing but palpable. Students should be studying, and yet, they are exposed to the dangers that fellow students exact on one another.
At this point of the crisis, a group of fathers decided to take matters into their own hands.
Michael LaFitte Jr. met with four other dads and brainstormed on how they could curb the violence their children had to fight through.
After several hours they formulated a plan that doesn’t involve physical intervention but what they believe is still an effective way to get their children out of trouble.
They formed what they called Dads on Duty USA.
“After about three hours, we came up with the idea to have us be a presence on the campus,” said LaFitte Jr. told Good Morning America, “We thought we could be a collective unit to be able to show them that there are strong men who are on the campus.”
Instead of intimidating the students, they shared jokes with them. Instead of chastising and reprimanding them, they offered to listen. Instead of monitoring them, they welcomed them to school.
The fathers work on shifts. There are about six or ten fathers on campus on school days and all throughout school hours. Their shift doesn’t only cover academics but also extracurricular activities like football games and the homecoming dance.
But can kindness really stop the violence?
The evidence might be anecdotal but the numbers prove the program’s effectiveness. Since the dads’ presence, there hasn’t been a single incident on campus.
Some students also said they immediately felt “a form of safety”. They also shared that students started going to class instead of going to fights.
The fathers don’t even have counseling training or law enforcement backgrounds. They just do what they do best – being dads.
They also said that they are “uncles on duty” as well.
They shared that not every one of these kids has a father and that they might be lacking a male role model to look up to.
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The school said their efforts had a tremendous impact. They shared that students often feel uneasy when there’s a heavy police presence at school. With the dads, however, they feel safe and protected.
The dads are looking to expand their reach to other schools in the district. They hope that if this initiative catches on, they might also see the project go national.
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So, can kindness stop the violence? Maybe these dads can show you what a good heart can do.
Watch how these dads curbed violence with dad jokes.
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