Brockton High School Chaos: Officials Call for National Guard Intervention Amid Student Unrest

Most of us were high schoolers at one time and chewing gum was the most common problem. There were a few fights, but they happened so rarely that the news was passed around in the halls between classes. You might be like me and think that no punishment at school could be worse than the punishment I would receive when I returned home.

Welcome to the public school of 2024. It’s a completely different school than when you and I were there.

In Brockton Massachusetts, a suburban city of Boston, the Brockton High School Committee has asked the Massachusetts National Guard for help in overseeing students.

In a letter sent by some members of the High School Committee to Brockton’s Mayor Robert Sullivan, the request was made. The letter asked that the Guard troops be present to “take actions to prevent tragedy at school.” The letter continues by saying:

“Aware of the severity of the situation, I am formally asking that you contact Governor Healey to request the deployment of the National Guard to restore order, ensure the safety of everyone on the school grounds, and implement measures to tackle the root causes of our issues. We recognize the seriousness of this request and the need for collaboration between state and local authorities. The National Guard’s expertise in community support and crisis management can provide a crucial temporary intervention. This allows for a comprehensive long-term solution that is developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders.”

Brockton High School’s teachers were invited to an emergency safety meeting a few weeks ago. Several teachers, many of whom were in tears, spoke about the violence that has taken place in the school. One teacher told the audience that students don’t face consequences for their actions.

Another said, “This needs to be urgent in your mind. We have to make changes. We have to make them now.” The most heart-wrenching statement came from a teacher who said tearfully:

“I suffer from PTSD and anxiety, and this year, sadly, has killed me. This last month I was one of the teachers who was called out at least twice a week due to my inability to do my job.”

Brockton Massachusetts high school students are not alone in intimidating, threatening, and harming other students and teachers. The violent behavior begins long before high school.

Edyte is an elementary teacher at Kent Elementary School in Washington. She has seen students as young as five years old scratch, spit, and kick six adults. This child had experienced trauma at home. However, this was not the case for older students. Parsons claims that she can identify warning signs of students who are about to be violent. Parsons has said that in her 10 years of teaching, she has seen desks pushed or tipped by students and been kicked and hit.

Teachers are suffering a lot from the violence, and things don’t look like they will improve. The American Psychological Association surveyed 15,000 teachers, administrators, and staff from pre-K-12 schools between March 2020 and June 2021. They asked them about their experiences of violence by students, as well as violence from parents. One-third of the teachers reported that they were harassed verbally or through cyberbullying. They also said that they had been intimidated and sexually harassed. 29 percent of those surveyed said that they were involved in an incident with a parent and 14 percent reported being victims of physical violence by a student.

Some people do not think that National Guard troops at a high school are a good idea. Mayor Sullivan and Councilor Winthrop Farwell, Jr. are against the idea. He said, “That isn’t the National Guard’s role, and uniformed troops in a classroom present a horrible image.”

Massachusetts Governor’s office has released a statement. The office of Massachusetts Gov.

Our administration is committed to ensuring schools are supportive and safe environments for students, teachers, and staff. We are aware that there are concerns about Brockton High School, and we are in contact with local officials.

Brockton High School teachers are feeling “dangerously high levels of mental and emotional exhaustion” due to their feelings of being unheard and unsupported.

Unfortunately, these teachers, who care about their students and teaching, have found that their profession is now far more dangerous than simply telling Johnny to spit his gum out.