This archive report was first published on 12 June 2020.
Published on June 12, 2020, a growing debate has emerged about the role of police officers in schools. While some argue that they provide a sense of security, others claim that their presence can be counterproductive, particularly for students of color and those with disabilities.
According to a 2018 report from the Urban Institute, by the 2013-14 school year, two-thirds of high school students, 45 percent of middle schoolers, and 19 percent of elementary school students attended a school with a police officer. Majority black and Hispanic schools are more likely to have officers on campus than majority white schools.
Joshua Omolola, an 18-year-old student and member of the Board of Education in Prince George's County, Maryland, has been at the forefront of this debate. He argues that the millions spent annually on school policing should be reallocated to mental health services to treat the root causes of student behavioral problems.
“The message to the districts has to be, ‘Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water,’” said John Canady, a school safety expert, emphasizing the importance of finding a balance between safety and education.
However, with significant budget cuts brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, some students, educators, and policymakers are advocating for a different approach. They suggest hiring psychologists to provide counseling and nurses to advise students on drugs and alcohol, rather than training police officers to handle these tasks.
