Police in schools: safety measure or deeper problem? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Sebastián Sclofsky about random drug searches, school resource officers, and why some policies and practices might do more harm than good.

We discuss:

-Why random searches are often ineffective and what the data really shows

-How carceral logic-surveillance, discipline, and punishment-undermines student trust

-The unintended consequences of “zero tolerance” policies and the school-to-prison pipeline

-What safer, more transformative approaches to education might look like

-The bigger picture: capitalism, state violence, and the myths behind the “war on drugs”

If you’re an educator, parent, or anyone concerned about the future of schools, this episode will challenge the way you think about safety, authority, and trust in education.

More on Dr. Sclofsky:

https://www.sebasclofsky.com

email: jsclofsky@csustan.edu

Chapters

0:00 - Introduction & disclaimers

1:10 - Meeting Dr. Sebastian Sclofsky (and how this episode started)

4:30 - The classroom dog search incident

10:05 - Random searches, effectiveness, and false positives

15:45 - The carceral logic in schools: surveillance, control, and punishment

22:20 - Educational trust vs. policing authority

30:15 - Zero tolerance policies and their consequences

36:40 - The role of teachers, administrators, and counselors

44:10 - Why schools resemble prisons: “cells and bells” design

52:30 - Safe environments vs. punitive discipline

1:00:15 - Parents’ perspectives and the illusion of safety

1:08:40 - War on drugs, individual choice, and systemic issues

1:20:55 - Social trust, democracy, and the role of police

1:30:25 - The school-to-prison pipeline explained

1:39:10 - Can police be agents of social justice?

1:47:00 - Public policy, economics, and community engagement

1:55:45 - Closing thoughts: What schools and society should reconsider