The school-to-prison pipeline is in regards to the increasing issue of education and public safety policies that lead children toward incarceration. The use of “zero tolerance” policies criminalize minor disciplinary actions that result in probation, arrests, and juvenile detention. The school-to-prison pipeline takes place in mostly affects african-americans, poc, disabled individuals, etc. The education system is rooted in institutional racism and affects BIPOC in ways white people/children would not understand or experience.
Back in January, a 16 year old black girl, Taylor Bracey was body slammed by a police officer at her school. The excuse from the police officer is that “she fought a student ” However, that isn’t the case and wouldn’t make it right anyways. The truth is she was having a verbal altercation with another student and the police officer came over and brutalized her because he looked at a young black girl as a threat to others. She has suffered memory loss and was knocked unconscious but the police officer has still not been arrested. The creation of zero tolerance policies overuse suspension and expulsion twice as much to african-americans and people of color. Suspending BIPOC students will cause damaging effects towards their education because they missed so much school. They are more likely to drop out of school, fail to secure a job, and possibly end up down the prison line. Additionally, some public schools are set up to fail with the "No Child Left Behind Act". This act encourages students, especially BIPOC to drop out, especially students who aren't academically doing well, to boost test scores. By over-policing BIPOC children, they become a statistic and have been stolen opportunities from them due to racism.
This is a pressing issue in America that goes unnoticed and is being silenced. These kids are not a threat to their schools. However, the education system loves to convince people of that. There are a few solutions that could help. Instead of hiring more police officers, increase the number of social workers. BIPOC are never seen as children, but targets and their suffering needs to end.
Sources:
How to start ending to school-to-prison pipeline
Hi Alexis, I think this is a very important topic and am eager to work on it. I hope I can do it justice. Are there any good resources on it that you would recommend?
ReplyDeleteThere should be some listed at the bottom of the post. Can you see them? If not, let me know and I will list them in the comments.
ReplyDeleteI see them, thanks. Not exactly sure how I missed them before.
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