I’m not speaking from theory; I’ve lived it.

As a young man, I made decisions driven by anger, impulse, and a lack of emotional control. Those choices cost me years of my life and placed me in a system millions still cycle through, one that too often disciplines rather than teaches.

Today, I work with youth walking that same path, and I see how quickly emotions escalate into life-altering consequences. It is frustrating to watch young lives derail simply because they were never taught how to manage their emotions. The truth is, most of this can be prevented if we teach emotional control from an early age.

Research supports this. Teaching emotional regulation reduces behavioral issues and improves academic performance. According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, students in these programs can see up to a 27% increase in academic performance. Schools that implement emotional health programs also report fewer disciplinary incidents and suspensions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Despite this, these skills are rarely prioritized in our education system.

We already use Aggression Replacement Training (ART) to correct behavior in juvenile justice settings—after the damage is done. It’s time we teach these skills earlier, before lives are lost, futures are disrupted, and children enter the system at all.

Make Aggression Replacement Training (ART) mandatory in all K–12 schools.

If we act now, we can equip the next generation with the tools to manage conflict, make better decisions, and build stronger communities.

Sign this petition and be part of the change.