Courage Is Contagious, by John Kasich: on Crime

Cops & Kids Plan: put more police on the street

In 1990 the city of New York decided to open a number of "Beacon Schools." The idea was to redesign existing schools to become multi-service centers that would be open afternoons and evenings, every day of the year. The Beacon Schools were part of a "Cops & Kids Plan" that would also put more police on the street.

"It was a sound strategy," Geoff says. "This isn't rocket science. You put more police on the street and you give kids more positive options."

[Now, Geoff's] community center offers a variety of services, including job training and karate services. Tough discipline is basic to the program. The violence outside cannot be allowed in. The school is a beacon for all that is good in the community, and naturally they are resented by the drug dealers who used to control the block.