CONCERNS ABOUT the increase in police officers permanently stationed in UK schools have been raised by a new report into racism in secondary schools.
Under the Safer Schools Partnership initiative thousands of schools across the country have dedicated police officers attached to them for the safety and security of pupils and staff and to enable early intervention and help forge good relationships between pupils and the police.
Detrimental impact
However a report by written by the University of Manchester’s Dr Remi Joseph-Salisbury has found that the increasing presence of school-based police officers will have a detrimental impact upon black and ethnic minority (BME) pupils.
The report, Race and Racism in English Secondary Schools, comes at a time when Black Lives Matter protests have reignited conversations about racism and the role of the police in society.
Research for the report drew on interviews with teachers from across Greater Manchester, and explores the nature of race and racism in secondary schools.
Teachers quoted in the report explain how they try to ensure that school is a ‘safe space’ for all of their students, but warn that the presence of police officers in secondary schools can undermine and disrupt the safeguarding ethos, particularly for BME students from already over-policed areas.
We urgently need a national conversation about the future of our schools, and we must really question whether police officers stationed in schools should even be part of that future.
Dr Remi Joseph-Salisbury
The report also warns about the dangers of minor disciplinary issues among students quickly escalating into criminal issues, creating a ‘school-to-prison’ pipeline through which students are funnelled directly from schools into prisons.
It also recommends that efforts are made to increase the number of teachers from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds, and that ‘racial literacy’ should be considered a key competency for the teaching profession – that is to say, anti-racism should be placed at the heart of the way we think about teaching.
National conversation
The report’s author Dr Remi Joseph-Salisbury, said: “We urgently need a national conversation about the future of our schools, and we must really question whether police officers stationed in schools should even be part of that future.
“School policies need to be reviewed in consultation with anti-racist organisations, in order to ensure that policies do not discriminate against black and minority Ethnic students. The report shows us how the transformation of education is key to tackling racism in society.”
Dr Zubaida Haque, Interim Director of The Runnymede Trust said: “Children deserve to be protected and not over-policed – schools are supposed to be safe places for children, where they are seen and heard, and above all, where they are protected and safeguarded.”
She added: “We should be thinking of more pastoral support and early protection for children struggling with behavioural and discipline issues, or truanting. What we should not be doing is treating children as criminals.”
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6 Comments
Because it is African-skinned pupils more reports will be commissioned; rather than policy changes to protect African-skinned pupils being criminalised.
Police in school causes more harm than good. Funds should be spent on Pastoral Care and Counselling support it is being spent elsewhere and could address some many issues. Recognising that ACES form part of behaviour and attitude and working with that make positive change is huge. Unfortunately, biases are often there if a child already has a reputation, schools are not very forgiving and even though the mantra is often a fresh start, that is not necessarily the case.
Schools as institutions have massive issues with bias. They should be recognizing, acknowledging and working on their own biases before they start doing that work with young people. Like within the police it needs to start from the top, if the person at the top is showing exceptional and progressive behaviour and expects that from their staff that should filter down. One of the difficulties for Black, Asian Minority Ethnic people especially men trying to get into certain higher level/teaching posts is also an issue and part of the institutional bias that continues, which I have seen for myself.
Teacher training needs a massive overhaul, this has been needed for years within SEN where the training is less than half a day and NONE at on dealing with behaviour management and emotional health and how to do that in a nurturing way and not criminalizing behaviour.
I wholeheartedly agree, the time for silence has long since passed.
This article presents the study as a UK one but it is actually England only. https://www.runnymedetrust.org/uploads/publications/pdfs/Runnymede%20Secondary%20Schools%20report%20FINAL.pdf
There are pressing issues particularly for Black boys who may have undiagnosed autism. Research shows Black boys are more likely to diagnosed with behavioral or conduct disorders. When autism is diagnosed it’s usually very late with the severe life long consequences. I will be having an article published on this issue soon. You can find an outline of the issues
here https://akomahealingharts.com/2019/09/20/are-zero-tolerance-policies-in-education-resulting-in-the-pipeline-to-prison-for-african-caribbean-autistic-boys/
Its actually worst than just having police in school many of the schools also heavily linked to the Judiciary. I have been studying youth and crime for many years. I have noticed a strong correlationbetween conviction rates and schools which work with the judicial system. Many innocent black youths innocently convicted. I