BOSTON, MA – Another violent incident has occurred at a Boston Public School, sparking renewed calls for increased safety measures. On Tuesday morning, a 15-year-old girl stabbed a 14-year-old girl at Jeremiah E. Burke High School. The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was promptly taken to the hospital by EMS.
The school was placed on lockdown, and the alleged assailant was apprehended. This incident follows a previous shooting at the school in October 2022, highlighting a pattern of violence within Boston Public Schools.
This issue is not exclusive to the Burke High School, as other schools in the district have also experienced gun-related incidents. Last year, a 14-year-old boy was arrested for bringing a loaded gun to the UP Academy Charter School of Boston, and in 2022, a teacher and student were shot outside TechBoston while preparing to board a bus.
Despite these disturbing events, Boston Police Officers have not been reinstated in city schools. There have been ongoing calls for their return, but these pleas have gone unanswered.
City officials have commended school staff for their immediate response to violent incidents, emphasizing the importance of established safety protocols. However, there remains a pressing need for preventative measures to address the root cause of the problem.
While metal detectors are in place at Jeremiah E. Burke High School, they have proven to be ineffective in deterring violent encounters. This was evident when the principal of another Dorchester school was brutally attacked in 2022.
Leaders in the community have expressed frustration with the lack of action to address the safety concerns in Boston schools. Rev. Eugene Rivers described a “crisis of public safety” in the schools, while Boston City Councilor Brian Worrell expressed heartbreak over the level of violence and trauma experienced by students.
It’s imperative that steps be taken to reinstate Boston Police Officers in city schools and implement comprehensive measures that prioritize the safety and well-being of students and staff. The recent incident at Jeremiah E. Burke High School serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent need for proactive intervention to prevent future tragedies.