Teaching Without Policing: Surveillance-Free Classrooms

Key Focus Areas

1. Spotting Surveillance in Schools

   • Understand how grading procedures, dress codes, and “hall pass” culture can mirror punitive norms, undermining student trust and agency.

2. Carceral vs. Community Mindsets

   • Examine the differences between surveillance-oriented policies and collaborative, student-centered approaches that emphasize partnership over policing.

3. Building Trust-Based Alternatives

   • Learn concrete strategies—such as participatory class agreements, flexible movement norms, and co-created accountability practices—that respect student autonomy.

Who Should Attend

• Classroom Teachers & Paraeducators
  Interested in dismantling micro-surveillance tactics (e.g., color-coded charts, pass logs) and cultivating a freer, more respectful atmosphere.

• Administrators & Policy Makers
  Seeking to realign institutional policies—like dress codes, attendance tracking, and discipline standards—with student dignity and equity.

• Counselors & Support Staff
  Focused on replacing policing dynamics with restorative, relationship-based frameworks that promote emotional safety and belonging.

• Equity & DEI Teams
  Committed to exposing how surveillance disproportionately targets BIPOC, neurodivergent, and other marginalized students, and adopting equitable alternatives.

Learning Objectives

1. Unpack Carceral Logics

   • Identify how routine school measures—like ID checks, strict hallway passes, or “behavior slips”—replicate punitive controls and reinforce compliance over engagement.

2. Design Liberatory Practices

   • Develop flexible attendance policies, collaborative feedback models, and inclusive behavioral expectations driven by trust, transparency, and mutual respect.

3. Create a Culture of Autonomy & Care

   • Explore steps to build community accountability, prioritize student self-determination, and address challenges without resorting to surveillance or punishment.

Why It Matters

School-based surveillance can erode student confidence, trivialize their freedoms, and deepen systemic inequities—particularly for those already subject to overpolicing outside the classroom. By challenging surveillance mindsets, educators can co-create environments that promote curiosity, authentic engagement, and shared responsibility. Moving from policing to partnership sparks deeper connection, invests students in their learning process, and models democratic values vital for civic life.

Is This Workshop For You?

• Tired of witnessing students shut down or act out under excessive scrutiny?
  We’ll explore methods to replace punitive monitoring with caring observation and empathetic conversation.

• Noticing that rules like dress codes or hall passes feel more about power than safety?
  Learn to co-design agreements that address underlying needs rather than imposing top-down control.

• Seeing how some students—especially those from marginalized backgrounds—are disproportionately policed in everyday school routines?
  Understand how trust-based systems reduce bias and level the playing field for all learners.

• Seeking to align discipline and classroom management with restorative values?
  Discover frameworks that address conflicts and accountability while upholding each student’s dignity and autonomy.

If these questions resonate, Teaching Without Policing: Surveillance-Free Classrooms provides a roadmap to uproot carceral norms and nurture an environment where students experience both freedom and care in every aspect of their education.