‘High-Five Fridays’ for Police and Students Are Killed by the Left

A Massachusetts police department has ended a program called “High-Five Fridays” that brought local law enforcement into schools to greet elementary students. Why? Because residents raised concerns that the sight of uniformed police in the halls might scare minority children, undocumented children, or children who have had negative experiences with police.

There’s one problem with this thinking: Ninety percent of Northampton is white, according to the most recent U.S. Census data. Another problem: Kids are getting exactly the wrong message about law enforcement when positive and “hands on” interactions with local police are now being eliminated.

“[Northampton is] white, artsy, and extremely liberal, and while residents would be the first to jump into a Black Lives Matter march,” said one resident.

The program, a trust-building exercise, allowed officers to exchange high fives with elementary school students once a month, on a Friday. The department said it received mass support on social media, but that some people raised concerns at a school committee meeting.

“Here’s the deal on Northampton,” one state resident told LifeZette. “It’s white, artsy, and extremely liberal, and while they [the residents] would be the first to jump into a Black Lives Matter march, forget having law enforcement greet kids and forge positive relationships. If we continue coddling children and ‘protecting’ them from even the potential of fear — then we deserve what we get in the next generation.”

Another person used humor to deal with the counter-productive pushback by some residents.

[lz_ndn video=32026806]

“Some people are afraid of cops on the Pike [Massachusetts Turnpike] and are uncomfortable that they are there,” one commenter posted to Facebook. “PLEASE stop patrolling the Pike so everyone is comfortable! (Sarcasm intended.)”

The police department was diplomatic when articulating the end of the school-based initiative. “Concerns were shared that some kids might respond negatively to a group of uniformed officers at their school,” the police department said in a post on its Facebook page last week. “People were specifically concerned about kids of color, undocumented children, or any children who may have had negative experiences with the police.”

A member of the law enforcement community saw the value of the program.

“As a mother of 2 elementary school students and a retired NPD officer I am advocating that the High 5 Fridays be brought back,” posted Marty Senser Blair. “This was a great way for our kids to interact with the NPD officers in a non-threatening way and establish a rapport that could last for many years. Don’t make more out of it than kids high-fiving police officers to start their school day!!!”

Once again, a few snowflakes railroad a program that would benefit students.

The police chief, Jody Kasper, took questions about the “long-term impacts of the program” at a meeting before it was ultimately scrapped, according to the police department’s Facebook page.

The post said officers enjoyed greeting the students, and that it remains committed to exploring alternative ways to promote positive engagement.

“For a large portion of our population, this program may not seem controversial,” said the Facebook post. “However, we cannot overlook the fact that this program may be received differently by some members of our community.”

Related: Bringing Police and People Together for Good

Once again, a few snowflakes railroad a program that would without a doubt benefit most students — and forge important relationships that would bear fruit for years to come.