Texas's militarization of schools after Uvalde deepens systemic violence against students.
Original framing: “After Uvalde, Texas Stuffed Schools Full of Cops. They Brutalized Students.” — The Intercept
Research consistently shows that school policing increases racial disparities in disciplinary actions and contributes to the school-to-prison pipeline. Studies also indicate that schools with police presence report higher rates of student trauma and lower academic performance.
Texas’s militarization of schools after Uvalde is not an isolated policy failure but a systemic outcome of historical patterns of state violence, racialized policing, and underinvestment in education.
By centering Indigenous and cross-cultural models of restorative justice, integrating scientific evidence on trauma-informed care, and amplifying marginalized voices, we can reimagine school safety as a community-driven, healing-centered process. The trickster lens reveals the absurdity of using police to prevent school violence, urging us to embrace alternative models that prioritize care over control. Restorative justice, mental health support, and community-led planning offer a path forward that aligns with global best practices and the lived experiences of those most impacted.