Parent wants others to be aware of seclusion rooms in school

you proved your point. getting the teacher fired and taking legal action is terrible of you. To ruin someones reputation and waste money over something so stupid. I really do not see where your child was emotionally abused. I get upset over some of the things my kids teachers do but after talking to the teacher I realize that it wasn't that bad. Sometimes children make it worse than it is. I'm not saying he was not upset, and I'm not saying the teacher could have worded it different but to get her fired is a mean and selfish thing to do. Did you ever consider she has her own family to support. You need to remember do unto others as you would have them do to you.

It's true the IEP teacher was wrong for assuming your child could deal with the same punishment as her daily students do, you should never threaten a child certainly not a small child whom you have no information about. I am sure her threats of a trip to the "BLUE ROOM" are common practice in her classroom of emotionally charged children. His primary teacher probably could have picked a better spot for the child to take a moment to gather himself rather than putting him in a class with a teacher with whom your he was not familiar and who is already overwhelmed with emotional children. But would it not be better to try and have the Board of Education require the IEP teacher to take a leave or probation period or even more training in dealing with children who have suffered the lose of a parent or loved one rather than have her fired. I am sure she did not mean to scare your son and had she known his situation she probably would have been even compassionate but she did not know his complete history, but she did what she is required to do with the type of children she deals with daily and his teacher thought that he was not stable enough at that moment to stay in the regular class so the IEP teacher must have assumed he had issues or he would not have been taken out of his main class. I would be angry if anyone made my son afraid for one second but no teacher is perfect and if the IEP teacher must be held accountable to such an extreme as to be fired than it would only be fair to hold his primary teacher just as responsible for putting him in a classroom that is not commonly used for children in the regular classes. I am glad someone is letting parents know about these rooms I had only seen rooms like that in mental institutions. But the bottom line is this teacher was hired to teach a very special group of children and for a short period of time his teacher decided that she could not control his crying and that it was so disturbing to an entire classroom that she thought it would be better for everyone if she completely removed him and that this class was best suited for him. He was put in her class and she was doing what she has been trained to do . Seems like all the adults dropped the ball but that's life and there is not one perfect teacher, parent or school anywhere. Don"t damage more lives ,do the right thing and try to change the rules or educate people don't punish a teacher for doing what she was trained to do for her IEP students. It's a sad day when people can sue for things that could be settled just by talking, passing new laws or EDUCATION. It sounds like your son has been through alot and my heart goes out to him I have a son in first grade and he is a special needs child I also have a daughter that attended CBS when she was 5 and was locked out of the school for more then 15 minutes alone outside and scared to death it took me more than a month to get her to stop crying when I dropped her off ,she was so afraid and I was P#*$ed . But I knew the teacher made a mistake and my child was not physically hurt she apologized and it was over. I hope it works out for all involved and more parents shoud be so concerned about there children.. Good Luck to you.....

I'd been out of town and am now catching up. Plus, I wanted some time to think about this.

I've mentioned before that we should prepare kids for their futures as adults. And teaching them early on what to expect as punishment is among those steps.

Frankly, I think this needs to be in place for ALL students.

As an adult, when you reach a certain point in your actions, punishment will take place.

Believe it or not, even adults face being "sent home" or even "expelled" from certain places for their actions. They receive "warnings", "suspension", and other methods of punishment that can actually be translated to versions enforced on children.

While I also believe that certain actions in schools require a major response, such as an official arrest by police officers, sometimes, the actions of the child come close but do not actually cross the line.

A "seculsion room", or a "jail", may be sufficient for older students.

A time out is required as punishment for some elementary school children, which is sometimes in a corner of the classroom. But there are times when the need to segregate the child entirely, but still maintain security and control over that child may be required. Requiring authorization to use the room might help, such as conferring with a principal or disciplinary officer.

In addition, it seems an interesting note that while Parents may not confine their child to even a large walk in closet with a light without facing retaliation by child and family services (and I've haven't done this because I don't have a large enough closet), I'm surprised that the government agency has not had words in regards to this action in the school. If it is bad for Parents to do such a thing, why wouldn't it be bad for the schools. I'd say if you lock your child in a well ventilated room/closet, with appropriate lighting and child services comes knocking due to a complaint, you, the Parent, should have justification for filing harassment charges against them and the "complainer" because it's apparently a legal form of punishment according to a government agency, the school system/board.

BTW, I'm laughing at all the "I was punished using form x, and I turned out ok so it must not be a bad thing and must, in fact, be the ultimate solution to punishment". Why? Simple: We aren't clones. Not everyone reacts the same way to every single similar situation. Time for reality.

Andrew

Thanks to the supporters. This issue doesn't end with this news story and legal actions are in the works. I know that I'm doing the right thing here. I must say that I love CBES and always boasted it as one of the best schools. My sons teacher is a saint in my book and is not the staff member responsible for acting unprofessionally that day. Furthermore I do not want this to seem like an attack on the this school because it is an issue with New Hanover county schools system as a whole. I personally dont know what that room is for nor should I considering my children do not have behavior issues. I know that room is not to be used for any child without written consent from the parent. (I don't agree with it but I think the IEP parents have the right to make that decision) I am VERY concerned with the fact that the room is not being used properly and unfortunately one bad egg ruins the bunch. And CBES has a bad egg in its basket. But since I was swept under the table about my personel concern, what was I supposed to do? Nothing, and allow this misuse of this room to continue? How many students(not IEP or IBS)have been sent to the special needs teacher for being disruptive in their classroom? I'll tell you...3 that I know of so far,other than my child, from first hand conversations with them. I wonder why we don't know about it but the students call it "The Blue Room".

in reagrds to the following comment..["When a child spits, kicks, tries to climb out of windows, hits, breaks furniture, urinates on themselves, deficates property and comes after you with scissors....what are you supposed to do?" ]... hey a child who has these problems should be in a special school should they not be? If this is a mainstream school for gosh sakes the kids should not be mixed. If my child had special needs with these problems I would live in a county that provides the correct care. And if my child does not have these problems I would not want them in the same school as a child that spits or comes at you with a scissor. Use common sense. Get the correct ed. for your child. Move if you must. YES , move it is an option.

Being a mom of a two year old I have yet to enter this domain, but having been in the place of a student and a teacher I can somewhat relate.

First I don't think "seclusion rooms" are the answer in regards to disciplining a child at school. When I was a student in school, the norm was to be sent to the hallway to sit and think or to sit in a secluded area of the classroom. The next step was the principals office and parents were notified one way or another. As we got older after school detention was incorporated and even in-school suspension. Sometimes acting out in elem. school resulted in loss of certain privelages, like recess.

Second, I interned for a neighboring elem. school as part of a project during my senior year in HS. I saw how some students had unruly behavior toward the teacher. It is frustrating when a teacher is trying to teach 30 students on average.

Thirdly, I believe discipline starts at home. The Bible stated "spare the rod, spoil the child." I for one think that so many parents do not properly discipline kids. There is a fine line between abuse and discipline but parents need to learn to raise kids with respect and teach right from wrong. I do with my child. I refuse to let my child run amok. That is why you have so many kids going out and shooting up schools, beating on others and joining gangs. Because parents are afraid of teaching their kids and setting good examples. Some parents are so lazy and just let the TV raise their kids or someone else. Kids need a parent who will love them and bring them up properly. It is sad that so much of society is wasted because parents don't do their job at home. It is called not giving in to every whim and tantrum. Do I give in every time my 2 yo cries when I say "no"? No I stick it out and let him throw his fit bc I know that 2 minutes later he will forget all about it and move on. If he does something wrong he gets told that it is a no. After that he gets a time out or a spanking, depending upon the situation. Kids need love and guidance, mixed with proper discipline, not seclusion rooms.

I don’t know about these seclusion rooms. I do know that the New Hanover County School System was pathetic to say the best when I went through it. I am now doing well so please do not even think about saying that I was a problem student. Too many teachers served as chair warmers at the most. Yes pathetic all the way through grade 12. The main reason that I have done good is because of my parents. OK go ahead and unload on me. I do not care.

I, too, was an IBS Teacher in NHCS. I also did not receive any training on when/how to use the room. One clarification though, House Bill 1032 (2006) requires that school districts inform all parents yearly about seclusion and restraint in accordance with NC Public School Law. This enacted bill also requires that all public school staff are trained on appropriate/inappropriate uses for such. Has this not happened?

The use of the room for regular ed students who do not have IEP's is definitely not appropriate. However, when you are trying to defend yourself and other students from physically being attacked by another student this seclusion would defintely work better than having to physically restrain a student. This why they can't hurt themselves or anyone else.

If parents had their rights they could disapline their children the way they need to be disaplined and then the teachers wouldnt have to worry with sitting with a child when they are misbehaving. I say parects stand up for their rights to disapline their children and it would make the teachers jobs a whole lot easier. And Im not say beat the child for every little thing they do there is a difference in disapline and abuse. I got the belt every time I got in trouble at school, and trust me it was not often, I had respect for all teachers and adults. these kids now days have no respect shoot they dont even know the meaning af respect and they walk around shouting give respect and Ill show respect to the adults. that is just wrong if I even thought about sayin that to an adult I was getting the acros my butt. The society is scream disapline in school but they want allow the parents disapline the kids and that is where they need to be gettin the main disapline.

Whiney no parenting parents should teach their kids how to act at home, then these rooms wouldnt be necessary. You obviously havent seen how bad kids are nowadays...and the fact that they arent paddled or humiliated in front of other kids doesnt help.

You all sound like such bleeding heart sympathists...that think its always society or someone else to blame for your kids misfortunes or acts. PUNISH your children parents...TEACH them how to act and how NOT to act and like I said, things like this wont be needed. SPANK them. RESTRICT them. Youre their parents, not their friends.

Youre plain crazy if you think this room is medieval or like a prison. Its more to embarrass the kids and make sure they cant hurt themselves when throwing their little tantrums, to get what they want...because Ill bet it works at home on you Moms and Dads.

Remember how stupid kids felt sitting in the corner when you were growing up? or having their names written on the board? Well, thanks to modern day people such as yourselves, thats not allowed anymore. YOU ALL have single handedly taken away all the ways to punish kids that have worked so well for the past 80 years.

Thanks NO parenting Parents. THANKS!

so, put the kid in "the hole" instead of calling the parent. i would be outraged too. this is the kind of treatment schools were allowed to get away with back in the 50's when teachers hit kids.this is not a mental institution. could someone at the school stay with the child and calm him down until a parent or guardian came to get him? i applaud that parent for filing a complaint.

I have worked in education for the past 17 years and I find this information very fortunate for teachers and students. Being as all of educators discipline rights have been taken away it is important to know that rooms like this do exist.
Students who display harmful or violent behavior sometimes need to be in a controlled environment. It is a safety issue for students and staff. I am glad that this type of environment exists. Parents need to walk a mile in our shoes before they are so quick to judge.

I am outraged to see our public schools are allowing such a room to exist. I think this is the most ridiculous form of punishment yet. We wonder why our kids do not want to go to school. The fear of being placed in a padded dungeon for a small child has got to be horrific. Any employee of the school system that thinks this is appropriate for any child should be fired. I think all parents should visit the school and ask if they have one of these rooms and if so we should all contact the school board and have them and whoever is involved with them removed asap!