ThreeSixty -

By Julia Wang, Eden Prairie High School

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For sixth graders at Northeast Middle School in Minneapolis, recurring reports about the climbing murder rate in their own city were a call to action. A group of young problem solvers are delving into the issue — by interviewing convicted murders in jail.

Through an academic program called Future Problem Solving, 28 students have committed to tackling the city’s homicide rates, which have been rising over the past six years.

Starting last fall, they interviewed a psychologist and a Minneapolis police officer, as well as convicted killers through a video conference.

But they’re also bringing a unique perspective to the issue by relating it to their own school environment. As part of their project, they’re seeking to prevent future violence in their generation by reducing school bullying.

On April 4, the team took first place in the junior division at the state’s Future Problem Solving competition.

Despite those honors, the task wasn’t easy, given the troubling subject matter.

“What they found most distressing was that the youngest person in Minneapolis murdered last year was an infant,” said Kimberlee Adams, one of two coaches for the team. “They had never looked at murder in that aspect before.”

In a report they submitted for the competition, the students described how the murders were affecting them personally: “We have a friend who was threatened by a gang when he was walking home. Some kids bring threats of murder to school with them. Some of us think it’s hard to pay attention in class because we’re thinking of violence.”

One of the students felt the topic was especially important because his own father was killed in a homicide.

The students chose to tackle the issue of murder after brainstorming about 40 possible subjects. In the past years, other schools across the country have addressed such issues as littering, energy conservation and domestic abuse.

But despite the suggestions of their coaches, the Northeast kids kept returning to the issue of homicides.

Even as general crime in Minneapolis is decreasing, murder rates have been steadily rising, said Lt. Amelia Huffman, a spokeswoman with the Minneapolis Police Department. In 2006, there were 60 killings in Minneapolis. As of June 21, 2007, there have been 25.

Those were daunting statistics to Adams, the problem-solving coach. “My initial feelings were that there was no way that they could solve this problem,” said Adams, who suggested cleaning up the playground or recycling items in their building.

Her students’ convictions eventually won her over. “I’ve seen the research that they’ve done,” she said. “I’m in total support of helping them work with the community.”

At Northeast Middle School, 76.4 percent of the student body is considered to be economically disadvantaged, compared to the statewide average of 29.9 percent, according to the school’s Web site.

Starting in 1982, the Future Problem Solving Program in Minnesota has taught students about a systematic approach to solving problems. The program was founded in 1974 by E. Paul Torrance, a psychologist and a University of Minnesota alum. The program’s main focus is to encourage students to improve their society by implementing critical-thinking skills.

Cheryl Whitesitt, the state Future Problem Solving director, said she was pleased by the Northeast Middle School team’s project.

“I am proud, amazed, and impressed that such a young group of people would take on such a huge challenge,” Whitesitt said.

Still, the students’ work is far from over. Even though they took state honors for identifying problems associated with the city’s homicides, they still have to finish the hard part: coming up with probable solutions.

Starting this fall, the students will continue their work. Their last step would be to put their solutions into practice. The local police department would work with the students to look at their plan. At the state competition next April, they’ll have a chance to qualify for nationals.