In April a Dialogue with our School Resource Officer was shared with students in Vienna Austria as well as teachers in Italy. This “town hall meeting” on a global scale was a learning opportunity for all as we discussed the connections between SDG 4 Quality Education and SDG 16 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions.
What is the Global Classroom Project?
The Global Classroom Project is a county initiative across all levels of education to promote justice based education through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Students in any curriculum and at any level have the chance to engage in problem solving while building international communities of learning with their partner schools across the globe. At Mt. View we have established three partnerships. We have a longstanding 3 year partnership developed by Mr. Mike Hardy’s Government Mt. View students and Mr. Joel Alba’s World Geography students at the International Christian School in Vienna, Austria. This year we are developing two new partnerships with schools in Italy and Barbados.
Who is our School Resource Officer? What is the job of an SRO?
Fairfax County Police Officer Brad Wrobel is our SRO. We have a School Resource Officer at Mountain View because it is part of our quality public education to create good relationships in the community and a sense of safety and trust with police. When I see a police officer at my school or at other schools, I know that the students who are at school are safe, because they make sure that everything is okay, we can talk to them and trust them. I know this because our SRO Brad Wrobel came to my classroom. I see him everyday helping students and greeting students.
A dialogue with our school Police Officer. What Questions did we ask?
When we spoke to our SRO, we invited students and teachers from our partner schools in Europe to join us. The Geography students at ICSV; International Christian School of Vienna and some teachers in Italy joined us live for a video meeting in our classroom.
QUESTIONS on RIGHTS, JUSTICE and the purpose of our SRO 2025
Why do we have police officers in the school and in another country they don’t have police officers in the school?
How do you see the presence of police in schools as a way to achieve quality education for all?
What do you understand about education as a form of protection and justice?
How is your work and your relationship with the students?.
What is the most difficult thing you have done as a police officer?
Why did you decide to become a police officer in school?
What’s your most dangerous situation at school and in public?
Have you worked at other schools, and what do you think about this one?
What advice do you have for students who want to be police officers?
What is the best part of your job?
Are there any rules or laws that students often don’t understand?
When do you want to retire ?
Do you like your job? Is it hard?
How many DUIs have you given out? Can you explain the laws about the modifications on cars and the tinting of windows?
Do you think that being a police officer is a risk that you take even knowing that outside in the streets there are bad people that can hurt you?
One student missed the opportunity to speak with Officer Wrobel and so he asked a member of our security team, Mr. Paul
Paul is a former NYC police officer
He is a former FCPD police officer
He is a military veteran
What are the most challenging thing s about being a police officer?
Mr. Paul said that the most challenging thing is dealing with domestic disputes because people feel threatened when police show up at their homes and it usually requires that at least one family member is arrested for their protection.
https://mtviewmirror.com/school-resource-officers-are-essential/
A previous publication on SROs at Mt. View November 2021