SANTA ANA : PAL Classes Encourage Self-Esteem

It wasn’t just a typical day at school for Rigo Donan.

Instead of learning about reading, writing and arithmetic in his regular classroom at Grant Elementary School, the fifth-grader spent most of Wednesday learning about self-esteem, resolving conflicts and avoiding gangs.

Rigo, who aspires to be a professional baseball player, said the day’s lessons made an impression on him.

“I’ve learned that you can become someone important,” he said as he ran his fingers through his spiky hair. “I learned that gangs aren’t good and that you should stay in school.”

Rigo was one of 200 fourth- and fifth-graders selected to participate in a daylong session at McFadden Intermediate School as part of the Peer Assistance Leadership program, known as PAL. The program teaches pupils to be positive role models for others.

In addition to the classroom workshops, the students also participated in outdoor games and activities, including a version of the television game show “Family Feud” using questions taken from the day’s lessons.

“I’d like to see every school have a PAL program, from the elementary level to high school,” said Herschel Hill, a teacher at Hoover Elementary School who has been instrumental in setting up most of the PAL clubs operating at 22 of the district’s 41 schools.

“I want to see some of the kids in this district become shining examples who can help other kids on their campus become better students,” Hill said.

PAL clubs’ purposes are to promote self-esteem, organize activities and attempt to keep children from becoming involved in gangs, which are a problem affecting many schools in the Santa Ana Unified School District.

“The key is having a good attitude about yourself in spite of the people around you or what goes on around you,” said teacher Davette Bogart, who conducted a session on self-esteem.

Alec Esparaza of the Orange County Department of Education Operation Safe School program told of his experiences as a former gang member during one of the sessions. He urged the students not to makes the mistakes he did.

“When I was in a gang, I wasn’t thinking about what would happen to my family,” he said. “My sister was the victim of a drive-by shooting because of me. She survived, but she has a scar on her leg for the rest of her life.”

After the presentation, Esparaza said it is important to try to reach students while they are still young.

“They are so vulnerable and open to anything,” he said. “They are going to try anything that sounds fun. Our task is to make sure we instill some awareness that dispels the myth that gangs are worthy family.”