When it is decided that a school may use solitary confinement and even electroshock to control a student in America, you might be shocked yourself. But, when corporal punishment is used on Autistic and otherwise mentally impaired, the proper emote is outrage. Forgive me if I am wrong. But, I, myself, am infuriated.
Locked Away: Seclusion Rooms in Ohio Schools
In 2012, after accounts of inappropriate restraint and seclusion of Columbus students made news, the Ohio Department of Education restarted a 2009 task force that had drafted a state policy on the use of seclusion and restraint. The department says a new draft policy will be completed in August 2012.
Seclusion rooms can be crucial tools to keep students who may quickly spin out of control and become violent safe. Many educators say seclusion rooms should be used only when children are at risk of hurting themselves or others.
UN Calls For Investigation of Autism School’s Electric Shock Treatment
Juan Mendez, the United Nation’s special rapporteur on torture, is calling for an investigation of the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center (JREC), a school in Canton, Massachusetts that has the highly dubious distinction of being the “only one in the world” to administer electric shocks on autistic children and others with emotional-behavioral conditions or mental retardation, all in the name of “therapy.”
[Corporal Punishment Map Here] (Looks Exactly Like An Election Map)
I just had no idea. Honestly, I thought there were only a few states with this kind of punishment remaining. I now know that I was naive to think we were past it.
Unfortunately, there is so much more after the ornate orange calligraphy.
Please visit the stories listed for greater detail.
[WARNING: Some videos and photos are graphic and... sad.]
Schools critics open new front in seclusion-room fight
Federal law requires the department to investigate claims that special-needs students’ rights to an appropriate public education were violated and issue findings within 60 days. If the department finds that Columbus school employees misused seclusion to the extent that children weren’t being taught as they should have been, it could force changes to district practices.
Disabilities Rights Center
The DRC is working to minimize the need for restraints in various settings, including public and private schools. If restraints are to be used at all, they must only be used in true emergency situations. Our research thus far has revealed that many public school systems in the state do not even have a written policy on restraint and seclusion. Children are unnecessarily being restrained and often, their emotional and physical well-being is placed in jeopardy due to the restraints.
Teacher Beats Student In School Lobby: Mom Seeking Answers After Seeing Shocking Video
[VIDEO]
My God, I’m still shaking after watching this video, of a 116-lb, 15-year-old student being tackled and thrown across tables, chairs and repeatedly slammed to the floor by a hulking, 300 lb teacher for walking into his Brooklyn school without being properly cleared for entry. [...]
Think Before You Watch...
Closer To New Seclusion Room Policy
[Video]
Only 30 states have laws regarding the use of restraint or seclusion rooms. And critics said Ohio school districts are using seclusion rooms the wrong way.
"Districts aren't using it really to try and enable the child to manage the behavior on their own. They are simply using it to get the kids out of the way," said attorney Aimee Gilman.
ACLU Lens: New York Times Highlights Data Showing Harsh Discipline for Minority Students and Students with Disabilities
In a story published this morning, The New York Times provided a glimpse into this data, which shows that African-American students face harsher discipline measures than other groups. Overall, African-American students were 3 1/2 times as likely to be suspended or expelled than their white peers, the Times revealed. And research suggests African-American students are often punished more severely for the same infractions.
Seclusion Rooms Only Part of the Story
According to him and his mother, Wendy Ernst, Robert was put on an individualized education program (IEP) since pre-school, but wasn’t diagnosed with Asperger’s until fifth grade. During the intervening years is when, according to the family, Robert was shut in a seclusion room and physically restrained on several occasions by teachers and aids at the Fiske and Estabrook elementary schools.
Noyes Family Claims Arizona School Locked Son In Padded 'Scream Room' And Ignored His Severe Allergies
The complaint, obtained by Courthouse News Service, charges school officials with assault and battery, false imprisonment, gross negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress on their son.The couple is seeking compensation for their son's medical treatment and transportation costs to send him to a school outside his district as well as general damages.
Founder of electric shock autism treatment school forced to quit
The founder of a controversial school that treats severely autistic and emotionally disturbed children by shocking them into submission with the use of electrodes has been forced to quit the institution and serve five years' probation.
Falmouth schools adopt new policies on use of physical restraint
Among other things, the board voted 7-0 to approve policies governing the use of physical restraint and seclusion of students, despite concerns voiced by several board members.
The Maine Department of Education recently revised its policies for restraint and seclusion, and public schools are required to comply with the revised policies.
Opposition Mounts To School Seclusion Rooms
[Video]
Parents and rights groups are speaking up against a practice of putting young students in so-called seclusion rooms.
Just when you think we are past calling Electroshock a "therapy," you find out we aren't. The UN is rightly calling this treatment of the ill TORTURE.
When a kid doesn't do what you want, lay hands, lock in box, or give a shock... And we call ourselves moral. When I see a child in pain, or a teacher beating a child, it's just the border of tears. The helpless should never be harmed. It seems so plain, so true, that we couldn't do it. But, not only do we, it is legal.
Cowen Thorne (SaA)