We Didn’t Need Police In Schools. We Had Teachers

Our teachers were badasses who kept us in line

I’m 56 years old. I went through school in the 1970s and 1980s and I loved my time there.

You hear a lot about police in schools. Some jurisdictions in Canada are giving or have given it a try.

Why put police in schools

At schools, officers do both proactive and reactive policing. Examples of their activities include walking areas of the school where students congregate, monitoring social media, participating in extra-curricular sports, and responding to both criminal (drugs, robberies) and non-criminal (trespassing, liquor infractions, fighting, suicide attempts) calls for service at the school and in the school’s catchment area. (newsroom.carleton.ca study)

This study cites 5 benefits of having police in schools.

1. Students feel safer.
2. Because they feel safer, they can focus on their studies.
3. Students’ mental health is improved.
4. Crime and bullying are reduced.
5. Relationships are built between police and young citizens.

Not needed in my day

Let me tell you two stories.

1. I was in grade 3. After school one day, Mark and I spotted a couple of girls in our class and began to harass them. I had one of those noisy toy guns that I shot off in their ears. The next school day we were called to the office, questioned, and caned. This was in Botswana.
2. We moved to Kenya. I was in grade 7. I forget what it was that I wanted to get out of, but I wrote a letter and forged my dad’s signature. The teacher figured it out and sent me to the office where I was caned. I got punished at home as well.

In the first story, the girls felt confident that if they told a teacher about what happened to them, being bullied, the correct punishment would be meted out. They probably told their parents who advised them to tell a teacher, knowing that we would be in class as well.

In the second story, bad behaviour was punished. You may disagree with the punishment but it was effective, especially since the indiscretion got to my parents as well.

Why is there unruly behaviour in schools

I don’t know. There are diverse reasons for this. Ghada Sadaka wrote a nice piece about this that you can read here.

Nowadays, the corporal punishment I received would be unacceptable. When I look at some of the strategies that Ghada lists, I laugh at the thought that my teachers would be that patient.

1. Keep your distance = stay safe
2. Stand sideways= less intimidating= hip in, head out
3. Listen= don’t talk too much
4. Tone of voice= assertive, gentle and direct
5. Change of face= ask for/accept help

In spite of my stories above, I was a good kid. Some kids acted up more than I did and none of the above strategies were utilized. I’m not convinced they would have worked. I’m not sure they’re working now.

Discipline starts at home

I was more afraid of my parents than my teachers. I don’t mean that I lived in fear of my parents. They were the best parents a boy could ask for. I was afraid of disappointing them, of letting them down. Getting punished at school did that.

Sometimes they let me know by telling me, and other times it was a backhand. There was a punishment from both.

Is that happening today? Are there consequences for bad behaviour from both the school and the home? If it just happens at school but not at home, is that effective?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not talking about a return to corporal punishment. If my kids were caned at school, someone would be hearing from me ‘tout suite’.

But parents are the parents. I believe it’s really up to the parents to parent their kids and that includes consistent discipline.

Of course, not all situations are ideal with family breakups, single parents who have to work, mental illness, etc.

But the fact that we need cops in schools is a sad statement on where we are as a society. Our schools used to be safer. I wonder if it’s possible for us to get back there.

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