BOYLE HEIGHTS : ‘Peace Warriors’ Won’t Be Reinstated

Stevenson Junior High School Principal Edward Amarillas has decided against reinstating a special leadership homeroom designed to reduce gang frictions on campus.

Teacher Jose L. Carmona started the Barrio Peace Warriors class more than two years ago, recruiting student gang leaders to one classroom. Over the course of a school year, the students said, they learned about each other and eventually became friends, leading to a reduction in gang tensions.

However, Amarillas said he did not see a reduction in school incidents and could not trace significant changes in the students to Carmona’s class.

“His success is based off-campus,” Amarillas said last week. “Maybe in their heart they have changed, but what they express to the outside in their dress and their attitude is the same thing.”

Amarillas eliminated the class last fall, citing a need to increase the number of students in Carmona’s classroom because of staff cuts and an enrollment increase.

Carmona and the students, who have gone on to high school, have been lobbying school district officials to try to get the class reinstated at Stevenson, 725 S. Indiana St., and expanded to other schools.

They have also been meeting with community groups to drum up support in anticipation of addressing the school board. Assistant Supt. Ruben Zacarias said in a meeting with the students and adult members of the Barrio Peace Warrior board that he supports their efforts to reduce gang violence.

Barrio Peace Warriors consists of 50 teen-agers who represent 15 barrios, Carmona said. Schools, he said, must be the place for reaching out to young people involved in gang life because that is where they congregate.

“We see them for seven or eight hours a day and they come from all over. If you have them there, why not take advantage of the fact that you’re from the school, you’re a teacher and you can talk to the parents?” he said. “We are not doing what we should be doing. We have to take our responsibility.”

Amarillas said he made his decision after a meeting last month with Carmona and parents who volunteer at the school.

In a letter to Carmona, Amarillas said the parents had decided against endorsing the leadership homeroom because “the students did not display a positive demeanor” while in the program.

“Their presence on campus, as a group, as seen by the parents reflected an attitude of intimidation to students and staff while giving a sense of legitimacy to gang affiliation,” according to the letter.