Blair stabbing raises questions about police in schools – The Tide

On Monday, Nov. 8, a scholar at Montgomery Blair Excessive College was stabbed by a classmate within the college’s car parking zone. The attacker has since been charged with tried second-degree homicide, first-degree assault, and reckless endangerment. 

The next day a relative of the suspected scholar was tipped off by Montgomery County Police that had been already on campus for a observe up.  Throughout a search, they had been discovered to have a weapon and had been then taken into police custody. 

In response, interim Montgomery County Public Colleges Superintendent Monifa McKnight despatched out an e-mail to Blair college students and fogeys studying: ”In latest weeks, there have been a number of severe incidents on college grounds, together with some which have concerned weapons. Let me be clear: We is not going to tolerate weapons of any kind on college grounds. Anybody discovered to be in possession of a weapon at a college, on college property, or at a school-sponsored occasion will probably be referred to the police. College students may even face severe disciplinary motion from college.” 

The injured scholar was launched from the hospital a couple of days after the incident. They suffered lacerations to their neck and torso. 

After the 2 incidents, Blair college officers requested uniformed law enforcement officials to remain within the college to help the varsity safety officers. Blair Principal Renay Johnson despatched out an e-mail to oldsters. “Out of an abundance of warning, Montgomery County Police are on campus to help college safety efforts in guaranteeing a secure atmosphere,” Johnson stated.  

Earlier this 12 months, Montgomery County Public Colleges eliminated police from faculties, as a part of a nationwide motion for police reforms, spurred by the extremely publicized killing of George Floyd. The start of this college 12 months marked the primary time in twenty years the place police weren’t current in class buildings. 

Instead of law enforcement officials, faculties all through the county have carried out College Useful resource Officers, often known as “SROs,” in a equally contentious coverage.

In Could, the Montgomery County Council authorised funding for the retention of 23 college law enforcement officials, however fairly than patrolling faculties, these officers would keep a presence within the surrounding areas. The council additionally added $750,000 to the price range to coach center college workers and directors in restorative justice.

This motion nonetheless raised complaints from scholar and activist teams, such because the Montgomery County Defund and Make investments coalition. In a public email, the coalition argued that “the… initiative appears designed to construct a case for the Neighborhood Useful resource Officer (CRO) mannequin— which merely repurposes College Useful resource Officers into one other dangerous position.”

The day of the stabbing Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Montgomery County Lodge 35, “This social experiment to strive one thing totally different with college security has failed. There was by no means a plan in place on hold faculties secure from eradicating law enforcement officials. Residents must demand adjustments and to return law enforcement officials instantly.” 

The incidents at Blair increase questions in regards to the county’s elimination of law enforcement officials from college buildings.

 In a YouGov ballot of greater than 9,000 US adults, 45% really feel that having law enforcement officials on campus makes faculties safer for college students, 29% assume it doesn’t have a major influence on security, and 14% stated this makes faculties much less secure.

“I don’t assume that the police ought to be in faculties as a result of the police that generally come to highschool aren’t being educated a lot particularly to work with college students or children,” freshman Mia Kee stated. “They had been educated to work with adults so a few of the issues they do are usually not serving to in the way in which it could work for adults. Nevertheless I do assume there ought to be a sure form of new safety officers which might be educated particularly on work with college students.”

“I don’t assume faculties are doing sufficient for varsity security,” Richard Montgomery dad or mum Laura Ann stated. “They eliminated the police presence however then didn’t put in every other sources that actually assist tackle issues as they come up. There additionally doesn’t appear to be any accountability when there are incidents in faculties.”