Who’s Protecting the Children in the Age of Trump? | The Merrow Report

Who’s Protecting the Children in the Age of Trump? | The Merrow Report:

Who’s Protecting the Children in the Age of Trump?

Incidents of racial and religious bigotry and harassment by students against other students are on the rise in many parts of the country.  As the Education Writers Association reported this week:

After more than a year of polarizing campaign rhetoric about immigrants that led to reports of increased school bullying across the country, many school districts have begun offering additional counseling and support services for students who fear for their futures under the next presidential administration. In Arkansas, a second-grade student from Mexico arrived at school Wednesday with tears in her eyes, asking “Does this mean we’re going to have to get all the stuff out of our house?” Similar stories of worried students have come out of Baltimore, New York City, Los Angeles and elsewhere, even among those who are U.S. citizens. 

Hillary Clinton addressed this recently, saying, “No child should be afraid to go to school because they’re Latino, or African-American, or Muslim, or because they have a disability.”   And on 60 Minutes on Sunday, President-elect Donald Trump told his supporters to ‘stop it,’ a general directive that was not aimed specifically at young people.

But what about educators, the men and women in charge of schools?  How should they respond?   As EWA reported, school districts are offering “additional counseling and support services” to troubled students. That’s the approach in Los Angeles, the nation’s second largest school district.

Here’s what the President of the School Board in Los Angeles wrote to parents:

As students and staff arrive at school today, we know there may be feelings of fear and anxiety, especially within our most vulnerable communities. The District is providing additional supports to those who need it.  With emotions running high, our schools will continue to be the anchors of our neighborhoods. We ask our teachers and school leaders to continue their amazing work of listening to our students and striving together to assure that public education is the great civil rights engine of democracy. As we do every day, we will take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, staff and schools.And the work with our families to fulfill the American Dream continues today.

Providing additional supports apparently means counseling for the victims.  Is that adequate? Is that even leadership?

Not in a million years!  I think it’s namby-pamby Casper Milquetoast behavior masquerading as leadership. Frankly, I think it’s a pathetic abdication of the fundamental responsibility to protect children. The adults’ job isn’t to make students feel better after they have been bullied, harassed or attacked–but to do their utmost Who’s Protecting the Children in the Age of Trump? | The Merrow Report: