Editorial: February 23, 2024: Brockton's Cry for Help
School safety is at a breaking point.
School safety is at a breaking point.
School safety is at a breaking point.
There is something terribly wrong when elected school officials are pleading for the help of the National Guard to protect children in school – and not because of a specific threat of violence, but because daily life in the hallways has become unsafe.
Last week, four members of the Brockton School Committee made a plea for Governor Maura Healey to deploy the Guard to begin patrolling Brockton High School. The threat, they say, comes in the form of an increase in violence among the 3,600 students, open drug use in school, and dangerous understaffing.
While the Guard IS often deployed in non-military emergencies – think natural disasters or specialized personnel assisting with COVID vaccinations – policing teens in a public school would be a dramatic departure.
And yet, we can’t blame these Brockton officials for calling acute attention to the situation. The committee members say there has been a disturbing increase in incidents related to violence, security concerns, and substance abuse. Teachers similarly describe a chaotic environment – that puts their safety at risk.
The problems at Brockton High School are more complicated than simple policing. The National Guard can’t solve the city’s school budget problems, its staffing shortages, or the revolving door of school principals. Nor can the Guard tackle the economic challenges faced by many Brockton families or resolve acrimonious disputes among city school officials.
But the mayor, the School Committee, the Brockton Police, and the new principal DO have a duty to create a safe environment for students and teachers. Governor Maura Healey and state education leaders have a role to play, too, even if it means temporary state oversight.
The Guard may not be the answer. But this dire call for intervention should be the catalyst for immediate change.