Police and metal detectors in schools: Student perspectives

Nia Morgan and Anahi Ortiz Fierros of Urban Youth Collaborative describe how police and metal detectors humiliate and traumatize students. The story of the “fork in the backpack” illustrates the system’s absurdity. And while NYC school arrests are down overall, Black and Latinx students are arrested at much higher rates than white students. NYS legislature considers Solutions Not Suspensions Act. Campaigns for police-free schools are taking place around the country.

Overview

00:00-01:02 Intros

01:02-01:29 The Urban Youth Collaborative

01:29-02:39 90% of school arrests, summons, juvenile reports are of Black and Latinx students

02:39-03:48 UYC’s shift from improved interactions to elimination of police from schools

03:48-06:14 Examples of student experiences with police

06:14-07:40 Differences in how police and school staff treat students

07:40-09:55 NYC’s new budget will not bring necessary change

09:55-13:01 Campaigns around the country for police-free schools; Salem OR school board member wears blackface throughout meeting on BLM

13:01-13:44 Toronto as a model

13:44-16:24 Solutions Not Suspension Act in NYS legislature; opposed by teachers union

16:24-20:05 What’s needed in school culture; staff professional development to create safe schools; NYC commitment to restorative practices expansion but now not in budget

20:05-23:31 Effects of metal detectors in schools; student stories of incidents including a fork in a backpack and art supplies in a bag

23:31-25:42 Traumatic effects of police in schools; policing just doesn’t work

25:42-27:30 Outro

Transcript

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