This class includes a discussion of the media's portrayal of gangs, gang members and violence. Often times, the media portrays gang association and the image of gang member as glamorous and exciting. These accounts leave young people with a false impression, as they fail to describe the pain and suffering felt by individuals, families and communities as a result of gang activity. The lesson concludes with a discussion on what it means to feel safe an unsafe. The third VEGA lesson continues to investigate the sources of violence and conflict by discussing how different ideas and feelings cause people to disagree.
Students learn disappointment, frustration, and anger are feelings which everyone experiences.
The violence occurs when someone does not get their needs met and can not control their feelings. The class participates as characters in a story which illustrates violence as a spiral. The story shows how violence not only fails to solve the conflict, but actually escalates the problem. Students learn how to apply these skills in order to resolve conflicts. Students review a videotape showing various types of conflicts involving their peers.