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SOCIETY OF STUDENTS


Nearly forty gangs claim the Boyle Heights neighborhood in East LA as home turf. Beginning in elementary school, students who work hard are ridiculed by their peers and labeled a 'school girl' or a 'school boy'. The district's one high school has more than 5,000 students and a graduation rate of 58%.

Can one more gang, this one started by a teacher, counteract the
negative influences? Four years ago teacher Janis Hiura and her class created SOS -Society of Students--at Breed Street Elementary, in the heart of Boyle Heights. Using unique lingo and rituals, SOS tries to give its 1st through 5th grade members the skills they need to survive in the community and in school.

We take a look at this remarkable gang of kids.


produced by Tira Grey
student receiving an award
girl in an assembly
teacher and students
VIEWER COMMENTS
"Excellent report on an excellent program. My sister who teaches elementary school in a very poor rural area in Southern Illinois was very excited to learn more about this program."- Doug Caldwell, Kirkwood, MO

"I would like to find out more about Janis Hiura's SOS program in Boyle Heights and how it might be replicated in other schools."
-Amanda Mecke, CT

"This was a facinating story and I would very much like to know more about the approach that Janis Hiura is using. Thank you for this inspiring story." -Susan Onofrio, Huntingtown, MD

"This report on SOS at Breeden Elementary made me hopeful that programs like this can change the culture of the kids and the schools. I'd like to know if the program is spreading to other schools and if there will be a report on the support it is getting now and how it is spreading, if it is. As a lawyer and mediator I am wondering if the students are being taught some form of Alternative Dispute Resolution and, if so, how that is going." -Rona Feit, Washington, D.C.
Original Airdate: April 4, 2005
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