Gotham Gazette

The Place for New York Policy and politics

school safety

school safety

  • Reimagining Students’ Future Through Holistic School Safety Action

    Senator Monica Martinez, the author, speaks with students


    As an educator and former school administrator responsible for the health, safety, and well-being of children, I can attest there is no greater fear than your students and faculty being in danger. 

    As school shootings and violent threats continue to spike across the nation, school districts are confronted with the unavoidable question of how to best reduce, prevent, and respond to emergency situations, particularly those involving active shooters. Having

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  • Make My School and All Others Police-Free

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    Students rally for police-free schools (photo: Urban Youth Collaborative)


    Every morning, I walk through a metal detector to start my day. I’m one of thousands of students who attend heavily policed schools, where there are more school safety agents than nurses, guidance counselors, and therapists combined. Students of color like me deserve to feel safe and supported, not policed, in our classrooms — but a new proposal to simply transfer school safety agents

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  • Why New York City Must Put Educators and Counselors, Not Cops, in Charge of School Discipline

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    Mayor de Blasio gives remarks on school safety (photo: Rob Bennett/Mayor's Office)


    Amid protests spurred by the police killing of George Floyd, activists from Minneapolis to Chicago to New York City are pushing to reduce the presence of police in schools, and a number of school districts are heeding their call.

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  • Students for School Safety: Solutions Not Suspensions, Counselors Not Cops

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    (photo: Rob Bennett/Mayoral Photography Office)


    Recently, many news outlets have sensationalized the declining use of suspensions in New York City, framing young people negatively and attempting to discredit the progress that has been made. These stories discount the needs of students most impacted by punitive discipline, who have been very clear about the urgency around redefining what school safety really means.

    And while suspensions are down across the city, too many schools still use ineffective tactics, choosing to exclude students

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  • For Safer City Schools, More Counselors, Fewer Cops

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    (photo: Ed Reed/Mayor's Office)


    Our city is facing a tough question: how do we make schools safer?

    New York City schools are on the precipice of returning to ineffective policies and practices like more policing and metal detectors that have harmed the students who are most in need. The city could and should instead take this opportunity to move further towards school culture and climate priorities that are designed to meet the social, emotional, and mental health needs of young people.

    On Tuesday, New York City Council

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  • Positive School Culture, Not Metal Detectors, Keeps Kids Safe

    Gotham Gazette

    (photo: Edwin J. Torres/Mayor's Office)


    Two boys’ lives are obliterated after Abel Cedeno, age 18, used a switchblade to stab Matthew McCree, 15, and another boy who had reportedly been bullying Cedeno during their history class, as classmates looked on. McCree was pronounced dead shortly after. Cedeno was arrested on charges of murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, attempted manslaughter, assault and criminal possession of a weapon. After a brief court appearance Cedeno was held without bail and his lawyer

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