Students want police in schools

Re TDSB ends program with police in schools, Nov. 23 Schools are youth communities. Some have larger populations than Canadian towns. They require most of the amenities that are essential in the wider communities of which they are part, including policing. The visible meeting of these needs is not just service delivery, it is also good education.

However, in response to a tiny percentage of students stating, in response to a survey, that they feel surveilled or threatened by the presence of a Toronto police officer in school corridors, the school board removes this essential, educational presence.

Grow up, kids. Healthy, functional communities are policed, openly and preventively.

Shame on Black Lives Matter, et al. Your knee-jerk activism is misplaced, myopic and anti-social. Most of all, shame on the school board trustees. Andrew Orkin, Toronto Whatever happened to the adage “majority rules?” Although 89 per cent of those polled in schools were in favour of continuing the school resource officer (SRO) program, it is the mere 11 per cent not in favour whose votes counted.

This boggles the mind. Police are there to not only make schools a safer place for children, teachers and other staff, but also to create a bond with students.

As for the 11 per cent who feel intimidated by the officers, it raises two questions. First, are some officers not suited to this position? And second, is it possible their fear is a fear of getting caught at something they have done or are planning to do?

The next time there is an incident that could have been thwarted by a police presence, or might not have occurred at all, our brilliant trustees will do an about-face and welcome back the constabulary with open arms. Dee C. Burns, East York