Moving the Herd

If there is one thing true of middle school it is that most of them operate with a "herd "mentality. That is to say that there is very little they are willing to do or say as individuals, but rather are easily swayed by the students around them, or the "herd". You can see this play itself out in all sorts of ways, whether it be in the way they dress, behave, and even talk. Being effected by the herd has often been referred to as peer pressure. Peer pressure should never be underestimated at this age, it is a very powerful weapon that is used by the enemy to cause these students to stumble. I have watched and even had students say to me that they want to break this cycle but are not sure how, and find it nearly impossible. If this is true, and I believe it is, what can we do about it. I think we can use this "herd mentality" to our advantage, If peer pressure can be a force for negative behavior then why can't we use it as a force for positive behavior. Don't get me wrong there is value in breaking the chain of letting others influence your actions, but at this age there are very few that can or are even willing to try to break it. Can we give students the opportunities and help them recognize that just like they can join with those making bad decisions that there is an equal opportunity to join with those that make good ones. No middle School student wants to stand alone, and we need to stop asking them to. Why is it that they can make bad decisions as a group but we ask them to make good ones alone? There are some kids making good decisions and the more that join with them the easier it will be to join for others. I am is no way claiming that this is the solution to all the problems they are facing, but I have seen examples where when a small group of students have their hearts changed by God and it can become very contagious and others students are attracted to it like magnets. This is peer pressure at its finest, and the result is one that can be very positive for middle school students.