Counselors, Not Cops: Creating Safe and Supportive Environments in America’s Schools

1. Calling in counselors is no different than calling in the police. Rather than having a school to prison pipeline, there will be a school to mental institutions, mind altering drug addiction pipeline. The true issue, the message youth are sending will continue to be ignored.

   The true issue dates back to the decision in Brown v The Board of Education. There was what the plaintiffs wanted versus what the NAACP dictated. The plaintiffs wanted enforcement of Plessy v. Ferguson. They wanted the enforcement of the "equal" in that decision. The NAACP wanted integration. As results, tens of thousands of Black educators lost their jobs. They were replaced as is per usual with oppression by another oppressed group, women. The current issue began here.

   In order to correctly understand the current school violence, we have to exam current racism in America on the whole to see the similarities. Who is calling the police and reporting violence in the schools? The answer is found in the response to who is calling the police on innocent Black people for no reasons other putting feet on a chair, going apartment buildings where they live, waiting on AAA to come and start their cars, accidentally mowing their lawns…the list of crime of being Black in America is extensive. The same calling of police has been happening in the schools attended by Black and Brown people.

   I was fortunate to attend meetings of a local group working to have more Black and Brown educators in local schools, especially Black male educators. What was surprised me and was unexpected was told by a high school student who attended the meeting with her father. She spoke to the white teachers that were present. She stated that we, Black students only act that way towards you. We do not act that way when the educators are our own. These so called violent action by Black students called in by white staff were to hopefully cause the white staff to leave their schools. Many Black and Brown students had faced oppression, racism, poor education, stereotyping, unwarranted excessive punishment and other ills from the white staff. They too, long before we the Black parents realized wanted more Black and Brown educators. That was the message the students were sending.

   Counseling is being used as historically religion has been used to medicate, sedate and control the oppressed. Black and Brown students desire and education and not medication, a life altering records or institutionalization. I agree with the young Black men speaking here.

2. In the last week three videos have been released showing students attacking teachers. Those students should be expelled from school. A silly circle discussion isn't going to keep teachers safe from violence.

3. Informative piece. However, I see it a little bit differently. I’d bet the second an active shooter walks into one of those schools they’ll be calling the cops reeaaal fast, crying, screaming, and praying all the while they’re regretting some of their progressively left decisions. Those “safe spaces” ain’t got nothing on the protection a uniformed officer brings. And I’m not too fond of the ilk of our boys and girls in blue… not even close. Yet I digress because shit’s becoming insanely hard in order to get a word in edgewise… so ✌️ out…

4. Your doing God's work…congratulations and don't stop..

5. How about good parents who do their job? It's not the governments job to raise your kids and teach them respect and manners. Why is this necessary?

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