The Student Resource Officer program is under the Thames Valley District School Board’s microscope.
A recent report done by an outside organization from the board called for the program to be put on hold for a year while the board decided what to do with the program.
Superintendent Dennis Wright was the one to put the motion associated with the report forward during the last board meeting.
The report had respondents that included students, grads, and parents from all ethnic groups.
The respondents were for the most part positive to the program, but across all groups had negative experiences. This goes double for POC.
“Negative experiences described range from descriptions of school resource officers who were unfriendly, a bad influence, mean, to specific examples of targeting racism and negative treatment that had lasting impact.” Superintendent Wright explained.
Another major point of the survey is that respondents didn’t know the point of the program, calling it “pointless.” Another theme that emerged as the point of the program was “to be an adult ally.”
During the meeting, it was agreed the motion was to be put on hold until the next meeting on October 26th. Due to the newness of the report, more time was needed to “consult and collaborate” on what to do.
Trustee Corrine Rahman was one of the members backing the deferral, citing the lack of voices from students of colour.
“There are many students of colour groups among TVDSB who deserve the opportunity to review the report and give their opinions on it as well as students are the community which will be directly affected, especially POC students.” Rahman said, after putting forward the deferral motion.
“I believe that by deferring this tonight, we allow the opportunity for the public to provide public input on this matter. And I believe it’s important for them to have choice as to the options in front of them.”
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