Massachusetts School Officials Request NG For Help

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A high school in Massachusetts has requested the presence of the National Guard to help control the unruly and violent behavior of its students. This is quite a departure from the days when the biggest problem in high school was chewing gum in class.

According to reports, Brockton High School has become a warzone, with teachers and staff fearing for their safety. Several teachers have reportedly been physically assaulted, and one devastated teacher even confessed to suffering from PTSD and anxiety due to the daily chaos.

Teacher Cliff Canavan tried to break up a fight between students in Dec. 2022 and ended up breaking his arm instead.

“We flipped over the [tackle sled]. The student was on one side, I was on the other and the steel hit me in the arm and broke both forearm bones,” Canavan said.

“We are outmatched,” Canavan said. “There are several fights every day throughout the school. Some of them are not too bad, some of them are quite horrific.”

But what is causing this alarming increase in violence among students? Some point to a lack of consequences for bad behavior, with students feeling emboldened to act out knowing they won’t face any serious repercussions. Others blame state regulations, such as the so-called “Chapter 222” law, which apparently makes it nearly impossible for administrators to discipline students.

The situation has become so dire that four members of the Brockton School Committee have written to the mayor, begging for the National Guard to be deployed. Their letter states that they fear for the safety of all individuals on the premises and want measures put in place to address the root causes of the problem.

As reported by Red State, Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan stated in the letter,

“Recognizing the gravity of the situation, we are formally requesting that you reach out to Governor Healey and request the deployment of the National Guard to assist in restoring order, ensuring the safety of all individuals on the school premises, and implementing measures to address the root causes of the issues we are facing. We understand the gravity of this request and the importance of collaboration between local and state authorities. The National Guard’s expertise in crisis management and community support can offer a vital temporary intervention, allowing for a comprehensive, long-term solution to be developed in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.”

But not everyone is on board with this drastic solution. Some have expressed their opposition, stating that soldiers in a school would give off a “terrible image.” What have we come to as a nation when our high schools look like war zones, with uniformed soldiers roaming the hallways?