Editorial: Enough talk, put Boston Police back in schools

You can’t put out a fire by talking about it. When it comes to safety in Boston Public Schools, however, talk wins over action every time.

Not for the first time, a staff member from the Henderson K-12 Inclusion School was hospitalized after being assaulted by a student.

As the Herald reported, Interim Head of School Stephanie Sibley wrote to parents: “This morning, a student engaged in a physical assault of a staff member which multiple students witnessed,” began the letter. “The staff member sustained injuries as a result of the incident.”

A BPS spokesperson said the staff member was injured after attempting to deescalate an altercation between two students.

Both school staff and BPS safety services “quickly assisted with de-escalating the incident,” Sibley said.

This harkens back to the 2021 assault of Henderson Principal Patricia Lampron, who was knocked unconscious by a student. ,

Henderson isn’t the only Boston Public School visited by violence – stories have filled Herald pages for months about shootings and assaults.

Nearly all of these incidents end with officials, particularly Mayor Michelle Wu, acknowledging the “tragic situation” with vague plans to put “accountability measures” in place.

“These are children who need support and services and they’re connected to adults who also need some accountability,” Wu has said.

The need to return Boston Police to our schools? That’s been at the discussion stage for far too long.

When BPD Commissioner Michael Cox joined Wu last month in announcing a summer safety strategy for the city, Wu noted the “The goal is to make the 2023 summer to be the most fun and active, joyful and healthy summer. Our goal is to make spaces for people to gather safely and in community in as many places as possible with as few barriers as possible.”

Boston’s schools should be one of the spaces children, teachers and staff should be able to gather safely. Unless the BPS takes the same sorts of measures in making sure schools are kept safe with the help of Boston Police, there will be more letters going out to parents about assaults – or worse.

Community engagement mustn’t stop at school doors, we need Boston Police on the premises to ensure that student squabbles don’t escalate into brawls resulting in injury to themselves or others.

Conventional progressive wisdom calls for as few badges as possible, particularly in schools. Wu’s campaign education plan called for “Ending the criminalization of students.”

As for students, teachers and staff being the victims of criminal violence in school? That’s something to talk, and talk, and talk about.

Boston School Superintendent Mary Skipper and Wu recently announced a “generational change” in their plans to move the John D. O’Bryant and Madison High schools. They are clearly not afraid of taking big steps.

The next big step should be to reinstate Boston Police officers in city schools ASAP. The school year is almost over, but when students return in the fall, they and their parents need to be assured of a safe learning environment.

The time for talk is over.