Just outside of Boston, Massachusetts, the Brockton School Committee has lost its way. In a school so overran by drugs and violence, they are now begging Gov. Maura Healey (D-MA) to send in the National Guard. Abuse of staff and fellow students both verbally and physically, drug use, and fights in the hallways have become so prevalent that even local PD has become powerless.
Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan serves as chairman of the committee and has since sent the request on to Gov. Healey. In the letter to the Governor formalizing the request, Claudio Gomes, Ana Oliver, Tony Rodrigues, and Joyce Asack underscored the problem their school district faces.
“Over the past few months, our high school has experienced a disturbing increase in incidents related to violence, security concerns, and substance abuse. The situation has reached a critical point; more recently, we had an alarming 35 teachers absent, underscoring the severity of the challenges we are facing. Instances of students wandering the halls, engaging in altercations, and causing disruptions in classrooms have become alarmingly frequent. These incidents are not only undermining the learning environment but are also jeopardizing the integrity of the statewide testing process.”
Their suggestion behind sending in the National Guard is that they could be used as hall monitors or substitute teachers.
City Councilor Winthrop Farwell, Jr. heard about their suggestions and took to social media to voice his disagreement. Instead of calling in the National Guard, he proposes the committee get a group of teachers together who want change; not just those looking to impress the school board. As he explained, these teachers know the students best and know what will be the most effective.
Placing a request for the National Guard is one of the worst ideas the school could do. These soldiers didn’t sign up to handle a group of high school students who are unruly or to try and police after drug abuse when the cops have already failed. Instead, they signed up to serve our country and to be a positive force in our communities.
