e government does not assist. Are these programs necessary in fighting youth criminals? Canada thinks so. "Either we address the murder and mayhem in our country or we simply won't be able to continue to have the kind of democratic society that we as Americans are used to(528)." Although some programs offered to address youth violence depend greatly on government assistance, other programs introduced by some school systems are already in practice. While looking for answers to increasing gang-activity in a school in Texas, Tina Juarez, author of "Where Home Boys Feel at Home," implemented programs to distract youth from violence and poverty. These programs were a series of clubs, sporting activities, and fine arts, focusing on individual talents. To help with these programs, members of the community were introduced into the classroom. This proved especially helpful for those students that have little or no chance to interact with adults, other than those in the immediate family. In an environment such as this, where the children could recognize their talents and "succeed in the eyes of others(490)," the students did not realize they were being indirectly steered away from violent tendencies. As a result of this program, this school saw truancy rates drop down significantly, and gang activity disappeared(489). With the United States having one of the highest youth crime rates in the world, it is difficult to claim that youth crimes are not a problem of our society. What is clearly evident throughout this issue is that society has a hard time accepting the fact that it plays a role in shaping its youth. If poverty is a common denominator in many of these youth crimes, then alternative ways of addressing this situation are needed. Although I sympathize with Dickerson's devastation as a victim of youth violence, I also realize she is only one of thousands. "An eye for and eye, a tooth for a tooth, so that all the world will be blind and toot...
