As youth, parents, educators, organizers, researchers, advocates and community leaders, we see the grave consequences of a culture of zero-tolerance, punishment, criminalization and removal in our schools every day. Harsh, discriminatory discipline and policing practices mean many youth are pushed out of school, funneled into the criminal justice system, and denied the opportunity to reach their full potential. This is particularly true for Black students and other students of color, students with disabilities, LGBTQ+ students, and other marginalized students. 

The pandemic has made clear what we have always known: students’ academic development is intertwined with their social and emotional growth and mental health needs. Schools must create safe and supportive environments where all students can thrive, and yet students enter school buildings every day facing the prospect of being paddled, arrested, locked in a closet, or handcuffed. We cannot continue to allow this to happen. 

In order to build true community and safety in school we urgently need to address these basic contradictions that we find in our schools: We cannot foster safety if we continue to allow students to be physically abused by school staff in the form of corporal punishment. Schools will not be welcoming, supportive environments for all as long as police patrol the halls and view young people as threats. Students cannot develop trusting relationships with adults that seclude and restrain them rather than meeting their needs.