Why getting back to ‘normal’ doesn’t have to involve police in schools

  Since COVID-19 forced many of America’s schools to teach kids remotely, parents and elected officials have been rightly concerned about when things will get back to normal.

  But there are certain aspects of education where a return to a pre-pandemic “normal” may not be in the best interests of America’s students.

  I believe that stationing large numbers of police officers inside public schools is one reality ripe for reform. I say this not only as a scholar of the politics of education but as former deputy chancellor of New York City’s public schools. I served right before New York City’s mayor at the time – Rudolph Giuliani – moved to have the police department take over school security for the city’s school system.

Rhonda Brownstein: Report highlights racial disparities in school discipline – once again

  Suspensions are just one of the ways schools are meting out shockingly cruel punishments for minor school infractions.

  With each new study, it becomes even clearer that harsh school discipline policies are not only outrageously discriminatory toward African-American children but highly destructive to our country.