When school communities are troubled by violence, or threats of violence, at the hands of young people, educators have an opportunity to learn about aggression and adolescent identity development. A disturbing threat incident provides the point of departure for this principal's reflection on how high school curriculum can better meet the identity needs of young people. The foundational work of Erik Erikson in adolescent identity development anchors these reflections, and the contemporary work of Stuart Twemlow guides the discussion of what violent or potentially violent teens can teach us about curriculum reforms that benefit all students. In an Afterword, Twemlow himself responds, expanding this discussion of how schools offer communities a chance to alter a young person's environment in ways that encourage altruism and discourage violence in our youth and adult populations.