How to Teach for Black Lives at a time when 1.7 million students go to school with cops, but no counselor.
A new report from the ACLU, using the most recent federal data collected by the U.S. Department of Education in 2015-16, found that:
- 1.7 million students are in schools with police but no counselors.
- 3 million students are in schools with police but no nurses.
- 6 million students are in schools with police but no school psychologists.
- 10 million students are in schools with police but no social workers.
These numbers are sickening, literally, when you consider the negative impact on health this has on students without access to proper mental and physical health care–in addition to the trauma caused by police in the schools. The report goes on to explain how students of color are the most over policed, writing,
The use of police in schools has its roots in the fear and animus of desegregation. Students of color are more likely to go to a school with a law enforcement officer, more likely to be referred to law enforcement, and more likely to be arrested at school. Research also demonstrates that students who attend schools with high percentages of Black students and students from low-income families are more likely face security measures like metal detectors, random “contraband” sweeps, security guards, and security cameras, even when controlling for the level of misconduct in schools or violence in school neighborhoods.
In the midst of these upside down–and racist–priorities, Teaching for Black Lives, the new book from Rethinking Schools, is helping to transform the conversation about race and education. The book features teaching activities to engage students in discussions CONTINUE READING: How to Teach for Black Lives at a time when 1.7 million students go to school with cops, but no counselor. – I AM AN EDUCATOR
