Dads on Duty

Southwood High School located in Shreveport, Louisiana is not just any other high school. This school has a bit of a fighting problem where it saw 23 students arrested in just one week due to fighting.

Luckily, fathers who have children in this school decided to take matters into their own hands. The result of this was the creation of a group called "Dads on Duty". The group consists of about 40 Dads who are taking shifts spending time at the school in the hopes of deterring fights. They are said to greet students in the morning and help maintain a positive environment for learning, rather than fighting.

"The students say it's working" and the numbers prove it. There hasn't been a single incident on campus since the dads showed up." Although none of the dads have any relevant experience in school counseling or criminal justice they do however have experience being fathers and raising children. "We're dads. We decided the best people who can take care of our kids are who? Are us," Michael LaFitte, who started Dads on Duty, said"

If any student comes in with a negative attitude or a desire to fight, they first have to walk through a wall of dads who are there to ensure that no negative energy enters the school. The reaction by the students has been positive due to the reduction in fights as well as the joyous attitude the father's bring. They like to crack "dad jokes" to lighten up the mood and the students love it. However, the dads do know when to be serious and they can be quite an intimidating presence when need be.

As for the future of "Dads on Duty", they plan to keep going to Southwood indefinitely. "Because not everybody has a father figure at home " or a male, period, in their life. So just to be here makes a big difference," the dads said. Their desire is to spread this group to all schools in Louisiana and then eventually the country! These dads are stepping up to the plate and making a difference in their community. Are you up for the challenge?

Full Article Here: Dads spend time in Louisiana high school after 23 students were arrested in string of violence - CBS News