Children forced into cell-like school seclusion rooms
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US
I worked in Social Services - Residential Treatment for youth for over 7 years. Quiet rooms or seclusion rooms are used regularly for the most violent youth. Holds are also applied when necessary. Training and strict rules are followed. When a child is secluded, the child is not have their shoes taken and a proper search is preformed. When in seclusion the child is constantly supervised (and I mean at all times and documented). An emergency specialist is immediately called to make sure the child is doing okay. In addition, approval is required for any seclusion over an hour. I am not defending seclusion rooms but it is sadly necessary for violent children with severe mental health problems. Tragedies like the one reported are rare but with the conditions of most places like treatment centers and alternative schools. It is surprising there are not more. After my time in "treatment" centers I would rather dig ditches. I advise any parent to avoid it if they can.
I wrote this and it was quoted recently, check out the post:
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/Americas/2008/December/Parents-Sue-School-for-Son-s-Suicide.html
Damn, that's real interesting... I suppose I could see how those rooms may be necessary. But I can also see how they'd be damaging. Hell, it might be a lot better than beating them. This is tough though; I lack experience and I just don't know enough.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty lame how that the article hints at a causal relationship between the time spent in the room and the boy's suicide. At least I don't think it explicitly claimed there is a causal relation. The fact that they are even suing the school is almost enough evidence to suggest the parents are making that connection. As grim and eerie as those rooms appear, I'm sure there may be some other significant factors.
You are right Nader it does seem to make the correlation and it seems that the case the parents have can only be negligence not the practice of seclusion rooms though the article wants to sensationalize it without explaining the practice. Seclusion is a common practice but it is very regulated and supervised (at least in my experience).
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