NYCLU Denounces Bill to Fund Security Officers in Private and Religious Schools with Taxpayer Money

The following statement is attributable to Johanna Miller, advocacy director at the New York Civil Liberties Union:

“We’re extremely disappointed in our city council today for its widespread support of a scheme to divert tens of millions of dollars away from our struggling public school kids.

“The bill being considered today will reach into overstretched city coffers to reimburse schools that already charge tuition to their students. To suggest that these private, sectarian institutions that receive monetary support from their students and private donors should be financially supported by the city as well is not only bad policy, it is an example of unconstitutional government support for religious institutions. In a city as diverse as New York, where many public school kids lack access to working computers, it would be shameful for city leaders to offer precious taxpayer money to private institutions.

“More troubling, this bill comes at a time when members of the Mayor’s Leadership Team on School Climate and Discipline, including the NYCLU, are battling to reduce the presence of police officers in schools, a policy that has lead thousands of New York City kids into courtrooms and jail cells for over fifteen years. The video of a Columbia, South Carolina law enforcement officer throwing a black high school girl to the floor of her classroom is only the most recent example of the danger of excessive policing in schools. Over the past year the Leadership Team has repeatedly asked New York City Council to fund the hiring of much-needed guidance counselors and other necessary support staff for public schools to put an end to harmful practices such as the handcuffing of children in school. And we have received only a fraction of what is needed to keep our schools safe for the city’s 1 million public school kids.”

In response to the late notice of the public hearing, Miller said:

“The City Council’s practice of giving inadequate and untimely notice before so-called public hearings is undemocratic and virtually guarantees participation will be limited solely to professional advocates and lobbyists.”