@jballen5 Dr. Mike Robinson: Should armed SRO officers be removed from schools?
Jason B. Allen: SRO's should be removed from schools. Schools need full-time nurses, more counselors for each grade level, Family Engagement coordinators not only through Title I but also for bilingual families and more importantly more Special Education and Reading Teachers. School districts can find better ways to have resource officers support the external property of schools during lunch hours and dismissal.
Dr. Mike Robinson: If they are removed what does security look like for schools? What role will teachers have as it relates to safety, will they be expected to do more?
Jason B. Allen: Discipline needs to be handled differently as most public school district behavior, discipline, and attendance policies are biased against children of color. If we worked more cooperatively and collaboratively with families and communities, we can implement better social justice and SEL programs.
Dr. Mike Robinson: To what extent can School Resource Officers add or subtract for a school culture?
Jason B. Allen: I have witnessed SRO's slam Black boys into the ground, push Black girls against lockers, pat Latino male students down for having too many bags when they were simply carrying soccer equipment. They have biases against children of color and create a more tense, divisive school culture based on fear.
Dr. Mike Robinson: How do you respond to the claims that SROs are more likely to arrest students of color rather than having those students be disciplined by school administrators?
Jason B. Allen: The reality is they are more likely to do this and push our children of color into the school to prison pipeline.
Dr. Mike Robinson: What do you say to schools that utilize SROs in the discipline process?
Jason B. Allen: I believe that these schools are doing a disservice to the communities they are serving. Schools that are utilizing SRO's in discipline and don't have a counselor for each grade level, male teachers of color, or a strong family engagement program aren't actively seeking solutions but an easy way out of having to engage children of color. Moreover, the district is probably getting some kickback for the number of students of color suspended and placed in the juvenile system.
Dr. Mike Robinson: What are the roles of SROs in schools?
Jason B. Allen: I believe SRO's should be used only to protect students, staff, and teachers from external forces that may bring harm to the school including school shootings, gang wars, etc. If schools build strong correction action programs as opposed to discipline programs with cops, then the role of SRO's wouldn't be so heavily sought after by those who don't want to truly empower or educate children of color.
Bio
Jason B. Allen is a Special Education teacher in Georgia. He is a member of the Association of American Educators (AAE) and an AAE Foundation Advocacy Fellow. Jason has worked in Education for over fifteen (15) years as a teacher and leader servicing students, families and communities. He uses he platform to empower Black boys and male educators to advocate for social justice. As an education advocate and blogger, Jason actively speaks and writes on ways to improve how we’re educating Black boys and recruiting more Black male teachers in schools.
Jason B. Allen: SRO's should be removed from schools. Schools need full-time nurses, more counselors for each grade level, Family Engagement coordinators not only through Title I but also for bilingual families and more importantly more Special Education and Reading Teachers. School districts can find better ways to have resource officers support the external property of schools during lunch hours and dismissal.
Dr. Mike Robinson: If they are removed what does security look like for schools? What role will teachers have as it relates to safety, will they be expected to do more?
Jason B. Allen: Discipline needs to be handled differently as most public school district behavior, discipline, and attendance policies are biased against children of color. If we worked more cooperatively and collaboratively with families and communities, we can implement better social justice and SEL programs.
Dr. Mike Robinson: To what extent can School Resource Officers add or subtract for a school culture?
Jason B. Allen: I have witnessed SRO's slam Black boys into the ground, push Black girls against lockers, pat Latino male students down for having too many bags when they were simply carrying soccer equipment. They have biases against children of color and create a more tense, divisive school culture based on fear.
Dr. Mike Robinson: How do you respond to the claims that SROs are more likely to arrest students of color rather than having those students be disciplined by school administrators?
Jason B. Allen: The reality is they are more likely to do this and push our children of color into the school to prison pipeline.
Dr. Mike Robinson: What do you say to schools that utilize SROs in the discipline process?
Jason B. Allen: I believe that these schools are doing a disservice to the communities they are serving. Schools that are utilizing SRO's in discipline and don't have a counselor for each grade level, male teachers of color, or a strong family engagement program aren't actively seeking solutions but an easy way out of having to engage children of color. Moreover, the district is probably getting some kickback for the number of students of color suspended and placed in the juvenile system.
Dr. Mike Robinson: What are the roles of SROs in schools?
Jason B. Allen: I believe SRO's should be used only to protect students, staff, and teachers from external forces that may bring harm to the school including school shootings, gang wars, etc. If schools build strong correction action programs as opposed to discipline programs with cops, then the role of SRO's wouldn't be so heavily sought after by those who don't want to truly empower or educate children of color.
Bio
Jason B. Allen is a Special Education teacher in Georgia. He is a member of the Association of American Educators (AAE) and an AAE Foundation Advocacy Fellow. Jason has worked in Education for over fifteen (15) years as a teacher and leader servicing students, families and communities. He uses he platform to empower Black boys and male educators to advocate for social justice. As an education advocate and blogger, Jason actively speaks and writes on ways to improve how we’re educating Black boys and recruiting more Black male teachers in schools.