Hi friend!
Welcome to the 36th edition of the Teach Outside the Robot newsletter.
Let's skidaddle. 😎
1. A Quote to Think About
"It often happens that two schoolboys can solve difficulties in their work for one another better than the master can... The fellow-pupil can help more than the master because he knows less. The difficulty we want him to explain is one he has recently met. The expert met it so long ago he has forgotten."
- CS Lewis
Especially in the teenage years, a child's peer group becomes as much of a guide as the adults in their life. That's why knowledge of group dynamics is so important - and that's what I want to help you with today! 😎
2. An Insight Worth Considering
To solve gang violence, we need to help our young people create better 'gangs.'
Let me explain.
A couple of weeks ago, there were some disturbing reports that a trend dubbed ‘The Croydon School Wars’ was circulating over TikTok. Posts were placing schools in teams and encouraging schools to meet in public places and assault each other.
A points system was established, with the more violent actions that were recorded gaining more ‘clout’ than others.
Although it started in London, there were real fears that it would spread to other areas in the UK
Again, the topic of gang violence flared up in the media and all the negative stereotyping associated with it, including racial stereotyping.
Interestingly enough, a week ago, broadcaster Louis Theroux released a feature-length documentary called Inside the Manosphere, which looked at why men fall into violence and misogynistic online communities of 'red pillers' and how it influences our young via social media. It is a very sober watch, which shows how easily these charlatans can push our young into violence.
For the record, I am all about accountability. Any youths who are caught doing this violent behaviour should be sanctioned but also offered the chance to be rehabilitated before they get on the ‘school to prison pipeline.’
But we always need to look at the deeper trends in our society to understand what is happening.
A gang must satisfy four needs for members to want to remain in it.
They are:
1) The need to belong
2) The need to feel special
3) The need to be understood
4) The need to belong to something greater than themselves
For various reasons, young people (in particular young men) do not get these needs met in their home and community environments and will gravitate towards gangs for this reason.
Merely greeting it with retribution and punishment will reduce it in the short term but will not address the core issue.
We must create a society where health masculinity can be demonstrated, where there are opportunities to be vulnerable and where they feel they are part of a greater cause.
Modern society, in its pursuit of efficiency, has taken many physical communal spaces and moved them online, away from trusted adult figures and into the hands of toxic influencers and warped social media.
This is why it's so important to build dialogue with our young people and create the same group conditions that can help them grow rather than be radicalised.
3. A Resource to Explore
A couple of years ago, I appeared on a parenting podcast called 'When The Kids Go To Bed', where I touched on a whole range of topics, including what SEMH is, how kids get into gangs, and the best way to emotionally support your children.
If you know any parents who struggle to connect with their kids, this video is for them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdyTJg_pDjc&t=783s
4. The Small Thing That Helped Me This Fortnight
Mario Kart on Nintendo Switch – This is a great family game to play! We were organising tournaments on the weekend, and honestly, it's the best fun we all had in a long time. But be warned, it can get competitive. And also warm up your hands before you play... Hand cramps are not funny at all... 😂
5. A Question to Sit With
I got this from a podcast, and I found this to be a really enlightening thought experiment.
Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to yourself 12 months ago? (pssst - you probably still need to hear this now)
And one more thing…
The second episode of The Maverick School Podcast this week. In this week's show, called "Is This A Crisis Generation? Part 1," I look at the major shifts in society that point to us being a crisis generation and how this is affecting our young people. The research is fascinating, and I had a blast making it for you!
Listen to the second episode here 😎👇🏾
Apple Podcasts
https://lnkd.in/eya7Hpm3
Spotify
https://lnkd.in/eKp84GTJ
Podbean
https://lnkd.in/eg2T-pNS
The next TOTR newsletter comes out on Thursday 2nd April 2026.
See you soon!
Karl
