'Isolation box:' Abuse or therapy for Longview school kids?

[nonnieyrissa]

LONGVIEW, Wash. – Longview Public School administrators call it an "isolation booth" and photos of it are creating a Facebook firestorm.

Some parents say they're worried kids are being abused when they're locked inside it at school.

The isolation booth has been at Mint Valley Elementary School for the past four years. That's because the school hosts a special education program for disabled students with behavioral issues. The booth is used to calm some of them down when they're at risk of hurting themselves or others.

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Isola...?tab=video&c=y
http://www.buzzfeed.com/jtes/isolati...-elementary-sc

[JoeBentley]

Are isolation booths a recognized therapy for dealing with equivalent behavioral issues outside of a school setting?

[Auntie Witch]

Originally Posted by JoeBentley

Are isolation booths a recognized therapy for dealing with equivalent behavioral issues outside of a school setting?

It's still a school setting, kind of, but I toured a residential facility for children and adolescents that had them installed.

[nonnieyrissa]

A.W. I replied to you on FB, but here it is again...

I just posted this too(here and on Snopes)! The comment I left was nearly identical to your's, except coming from the parent on an ASD child rather than the teacher. I think it would depend on the child. My oldest would probably go in there willingly when overstimulated. I can see how it would not work for some children, whose parents would be upset if there child was placed in isolation if there were specific reasons that using such a tool could exasperate their anxiety leading to emotional trauma... BUT only 8 or 9 children utilize it, and their parents had to give permission for the school to utilize this method. I would hope that the parents of any child that knew this would have a negative impact on said child would NOT issue permission, and if they did, well it really leaves them in no position to criticize the use.

What does bother me, if true, are the allegations that one child was tied spread eagle while crying and begging no repeatedly, in front of the other children. The accusations that same child that reported that also claimed that children were picked up and deposited roughly, and just roughly dropped onto the floor, and parents and grandparents that are claiming that their children had also been placed in the booth without their permission, some who are not disabled. The allegations that children were often placed in the booth for minor behaviors like talking in class and tapping a pencil on their desk(something that some autistic children use as a tool to block out over stimulation. The problem is every single one of these claims came from children and the principal denies the claims that were brought up in the news clips I saw. Many claims were not even brought up in the clips, so at this point I am not even sure that I believe most of them...

http://uprisingradio.org/home/2012/1...or-punishment/

[hoitoider]

Originally Posted by JoeBentley

Are isolation booths a recognized therapy for dealing with equivalent behavioral issues outside of a school setting?

Ever seen a chain gang movie? Pretty sure there was one in Cool Hand Luke.

[Lainie]

Columbus City Schools just instituted formal guidelines for the use of isolation rooms, following reports that they were inappropriately being used for punishment.

[GenYus234]

Not sure if you are being sarcastic or not, but punishment was the reason for "the box" in Cool Hand Luke.

[Chloe]

You know what would be a good idea? If the teachers at the school dealing with disabled students with behavioral issues, who have to be trained in appropriate holds to manage such students, were encouraged to have weapons on their person.

[GenYus234]

They should have a rhino in each classroom. The worse a student behaves, the closer they have to get to the rhino.

[musicgeek]

Oh, great. Now I suppose I'll have to have mandatory rhino safety training as well.

[Alarm]

Originally Posted by GenYus234

They should have a rhino in each classroom. The worse a student behaves, the closer they have to get to the rhino.

Those better be big classrooms, because everyone's going to be close to the rhino if they aren't!

I'm just saying...
Rhino's aren't small critters.

[crocoduck_hunter]

What if they used a baby rhino?

[Canuckistan]

That's adorable! I want one that never becomes a big rhino!

[Alarm]

Originally Posted by Canuckistan

That's adorable! I want one that never becomes a big rhino!

Aren't those procedures considered abuse?

You're perpetuating the problem!

[Horse Chestnut]

That baby rhino is running! Put'm in the isolation room until he calms down.

[GenYus234]

It is okay, he's at recess.

[Hero_Mike]

So the rhino is the new elephant in the room?

[smittykins]

♫I want a baby rhi-i-no for Christmas...♫


(ok, not really...)

[NorthernLite]

Originally Posted by Canuckistan

That's adorable! I want one that never becomes a big rhino!

No problem. We'll just contact the folks who bonsai kittens.

[me, no really]

Do you think they could do me a giraffe? Because I've always wanted one of them but need a way to fit it into the house (although baby rhinos are cute too)