How We Misrepresent the School Security Guard

The school to prison pipeline is a common trope in edreform circles. Both sides, those who favor accountability based reform and those who favor community based reform, use statistics of recidivism and incarceration to their own gain.

An often cited symbol is the school security guard. They are described as brooding figures who will themeselves throw students in cuffs and send them upstate.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. 

We, usually folks far removed from the complexities and challenges of urban education, do not understand the role of the school security guard. They are often the front line of both mental health and student services.

In almost every urban school I have worked with the security guards are deeply intwined in the socio-emotional development and well being of kids. Students often turn to the security gaurds before teachers and counselors.

Security gaurds have shared narrative. They know where the neighborhoods, and the imaginary yet real lines between them. These staff members know the staggering amount of trauma too many students in urban schools have faced.

In many ways, much deeper than skin tone, security gaurds look more like the students than the teachers ever will. Often security gaurds are a multi-generational constant. They are the first contact parents and students have almost every day. Security gaurds are where students turn when the feel threatened, hurt, or betrayed. 

So next time you walk through the metal detectors (that's still a pretty scary symbol) and go to sign in at a school say thanks to the security gaurd and offer to shake her hand.