The Mission of Counselors Not Cops:
We stand for the equitable treatment of all students in Memphis schools and the end to the School to Prison Pipeline, which disproportionately impacts Black and Brown youth. To make this happen, we are fighting for the reallocation of funds from the Sheriff's Department and School Resource Officers towards counselors, mental health support, and restorative justice practices.
Call to action:
1. SEND A LETTER TODAY:
We need as many letters as possible to go to Shelby County School Board members! We want to let them know you want the Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) between Shelby County Sheriffs' Office and Shelby County Schools to end! Click below to send a letter today!
We need as many letters as possible to go to Shelby County School Board members! We want to let them know you want the Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) between Shelby County Sheriffs' Office and Shelby County Schools to end! Click below to send a letter today!
2. SHARE YOUR WHY for supporting Counselors Not Cops: and checkout the why behind others in the Testimonial Section below.
Testimonials:
Listen to WHY Memphians supporting Counselors Not Cops.
Listen To why Youth Support Counselors Not Cops |
Listen To why Teachers Support Counselors Not CopsListen To why CounselOrs & Health Professionals Support Counselors Not Cops |
Listen To why Parents Support Counselors Not CopsListen To why Community & Church Leaders Support Counselors Not Cops |
Why we're asking for counselors, not cops:
The term "school resource officer" (SRO) can include police officers, sheriff’s deputies, private security, and district-employed security. SCS mostly uses district-employed SROs and a few deputies. Although these officers cannot use guns on school property, they do carry pepper spray.
During the 2019-2020 school year, 18 SROs were deputies paid for by the Sheriff’s Office. For that year, the district allowed for up to 36 deputies. $5.1 million is spent on about 130 in-house SROS. This is included in the $14 million budget that the district has allocated toward security measures.
During the 2019-2020 school year, 18 SROs were deputies paid for by the Sheriff’s Office. For that year, the district allowed for up to 36 deputies. $5.1 million is spent on about 130 in-house SROS. This is included in the $14 million budget that the district has allocated toward security measures.
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According to the School Social Work Association of America, social work services should also be provided at a ratio of 250 students to one social worker.
Shelby County's average ratio is 414 students to one social worker. The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) recommends a ratio of 500-700 students per school psychologist. Shelby County's average ratio is 3,475 students to one psychologist. School psychologists are usually the staff most qualified to assess a student’s safety risk to themselves and others Several states, along with the American Nurses Association, recommend a ratio of one school nurse to 750 students in healthy student populations. Shelby County's average ratio is 1,207 students to one nurse. This is worse than Tennessee's average. |
(Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, 2015-2016 Civil Rights Data Collection)
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