Category: Technology Author : Kim LaCapria Posted: January 13, 2012
Tags : middletown connecticut, restraint and seclusion rooms, restraint and seclusion rooms connecticut, restraint and seclusion schools, scream rooms, scream rooms connecticut, scream rooms legal, special needs
Middletown, Connecticut- What’s in a name?
When it comes to special needs students, apparently quite a bit. So-called “scream rooms” are getting a bit of attention in Connecticut, and administrators in schools across the state admit that the practice is widespread and in line with state laws. So what’s the problem with scream rooms?
It seems that like many other loaded words used colloquially by children in reference to practices or diagnoses of their fellow students who face challenges, the official nomenclature for the practice and the space within the school is not accurately being conveyed. “Scream room” conjures up some very One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Imagery, giving one the impression that careless and overwhelmed teachers are hauling special needs children to a dank basement and allowing them to- as the name implies- scream. Also controversial is the practice of locking a distraught child in a “timeout room” to calm down while they scream.
The issue was foregrounded earlier this week when, at a Board of Education meeting earlier this week, parents of students at Farm Hill Elementary School in Middletown, Connecticut took administrators and board members to task for the scream room practice, which they believe disrupts learning in other classrooms. At the meeting, the older sister of a student described conditions that could be traumatic to a child, saying of her little sister:
“She can hear the kids screaming at the top of their lungs as she’s trying to read… When she asks the teachers what’s going on, they never give her any answers. They just say, ‘ignore it.’”
Parents also witnessed behavior on the part of the district that sounds- to be mild- worrying. Farm Hill PTA President Apryl Dudley told the Board of Education in a letter:
“Three parents called me after they witnessed two staff members holding a door shut from one of these rooms with a child on the other side as they kicked and screamed uncontrollably. My fear is that a child is going to get severely hurt.”
Dudley continued:
“There is something unsettling, knowing that a child is hitting their head against walls and urinating everywhere, then only to be let out and put back in classrooms with our children.”
(It should be noted that while the experience sounds undoubtedly traumatic for Ms. Dudley’s snowflakes, it is undeniably more so for the actual child who has been locked in a windowless room to urinate on themselves.) While the practice appears to conform to state laws, as many as three separate investigations have been launched- by the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, the Office of the Child Advocate and an unconfirmed Department of Children and Families investigation.
Do you think special needs children should be locked in restraint and seclusion rooms, or as the kids call them, “scream rooms?”
Jan 13, 2012
No! they should not, they had thease 20 yrs ago when I was in kindergarten and still remember how traumatic they were, to be locked in for 2 hrs at a time.
Jan 13, 2012
No, it is inhumane. But, as long as there is "mainstreaming", there has to be a way for these kids to get what they need. It appears to be hard on everyone when some kids are screaming and urinating on themselves and others are trying to learn to read. You have to begin to question where the line for mainstreaming ends and consideration for more special schools where EVERY teacher is prepared to assist with this behavior begins.
Jan 13, 2012
Its understandable that they don't want the disabled children disturbing the others while throwing a tantrum. I have a neighbor who works with disabled children at our local elementary, and she has told me that they have had to do this many times. Because the disabled child will start lashing out, biting, shoving, and hurting other kids while throwing a fit. Now, its not to say that "scream room" is an appropriate name because it can lead to disturbing thoughts, but perhaps it can be "the time out room." As for other children hearing the kids scream, they do make sound proof doors you know.
Jan 13, 2012
Isn't that what sensory activities, we supervise children and outdoor play for. Maybe we need to shut off the TV's and game systems and send the kids outside to run around the yard or block.
Jan 13, 2012
Why is everyone so worried about the other students learning be disrupted? What about the poor children being lockedup? The fact that they are special needs is very scary. I have a nephew who has down syndrome and he acts out some times but never would we lock him up to screamv aand urinate on homself. This is not the dark ages! These school are horrific and need to be severly punished for treating kds this way.
Jan 13, 2012
I do not agree with locking children in rooms. How does that solve anything except to traumatize that child and the ones listening as this child is screaming! If you want to use a time out room…fine, but don't lock them in there alone. I think an adult should be present to discourage them hurting themselves. These adults should be trained how to deal with children who have disabbilities and their behaviors, including what to do when they are trying to harm themselves and others.
Jan 13, 2012
This is a terrible practice for the "convenience" of the scoolpersonnel, not for the good of any of thechildren. These are humans-not animals. Our children-all ourchildren need eduction and care-not imprisonment!
Jan 13, 2012
I have an autistic daughter, who when her sensory gets high she will holler, scream and fall to the floor, she usually doesn't hurt anyone else, however if I ever found out these were used in her school, there would be H E L L to pay. I saw a student one day who just refused to go into the classroom, didn't kick, scream or anything two teachers grabbed her by arm and pretty much dragged her down the hallway. Let me tell you I went right to the Principles office and demanded something be done. This crap doesn't belong in schools. There are programs to train these teachers to properly deal with the students.
Jan 13, 2012
That's crazy! No! How can they live with themselves? Locking a child up does not cure the illness they did not ask for, bring on themselves, or know how to control. Aren't we better than this in this day & age?
Jan 13, 2012
I've worked with individuals with disabilities and this is horrific! There are better ways to deal with them. Absolutely appauling
Jan 13, 2012
Unfortunately mainstreaming special needs children into already overwhelmed schools calls for some kind of solution to disruptive behavior. I have heard of pink rooms (because the color is calming) being used as "cool down" rooms. The kids go in screaming and out of control and may leave when they can control themselves again just as many parents have used "time out"s. The idea that the children are being put there for extensive periods etc. is frightening though. As with a parental "time out" if a child can not calm down after 10-20 minutes someone should be finding out why and trying to help further. It is interesting how many people want to criticize and regulate public schools and yet teachers are valued/ paid so little for raising our future for 8 hours out of the day. If American schools were not having to cut so many special needs programs and "non-essential" personnel perhaps a staff psychologist could come up with a better solution?
Jan 13, 2012
Absolutely not! There is a reason why they use solitary confinement as a way to punish and break adults in prisons and interment camps. Children with special needs are not criminals, they are children. Further more these schools get paid for every IEP created for these kids to accommodate their individual needs so they can learn how to function in a "normal" world. How is locking them in a room teaching them to function or educating them in any way? Rather then being lazy and not dealing with it perhaps these teachers need to invest their time and the states money into educating themselves on how to work with children. Either that or find a new line of work.
Jan 13, 2012
Last time I checked, forcing a human into a room they don't wish to be in and locking them in, was referred to as entrapment. Which, by the way, is illegal.
Jan 13, 2012
That is something I do not agree with at all, Children with special needs… do people understand that young children and adults cannot help there actions to reactions at times Sensory overlaod is real it's not made up this is there life this is where teaches at our schools should be trained how to handle a situation in a positive manner if my daughter came hom and told me she was locked up in a room because of her disability because she yelled at a student because she couldn't handle the noise level I would be in the office not the teacher not the princeable but above she belongs in a regular school with other children with and with out special needs. Were in 2012 now people lets try to understand that working with our young children and adults should be so much easier yes it's not a easy job everyone is different some worse then others but just look at yourself would you want to be handle that way alone, scared, in a room not knowing when you would be let out..really now I'm sure you wouldn't like it.Take that person out and walk and talk and try to calm her/him down that's why they should have teachers one on one with each person so they will get to know them and what helps them the best so that child/adult doesn't feel so different and they can feel safe.
Jan 13, 2012
Can we lock you in a pretty padded Sound proof "Time Out" room when your upset and hold you there till after you've soiled yourself?
Jan 13, 2012
Shana Green – If I was a threat to other peoples children, and could do bodily harm to them, yes, please, lock me in a room. p.s. not all the children soil themselves, its only happened every once in a while, just like all young children. They're just using that to dramatize the issue more so than it is.
Jan 13, 2012
So the fact that it only happens every now and then makes it ok? Really?
Jan 13, 2012
What I am saying is kids have accidents all the time. They are using the fact that children have accidents to dramatize the story, making seem as if these people are doing a horrendous thing. When in all actuality, they are keeping other peoples children safe.
Jan 13, 2012
there is a school in michigan with padded rooms just for children like this,, I know my son was put in it for he has ADHD, and would fly off handle,, the teachers have helpers,, the child is placed there for 5 minutes or more , depends on child,, they also have clean clothes at school for this,, my son is now an adult , remembers this and refuses any help from anyone ,, even me ,, he would rather be homeless and is , then have anyone tell him what to do,, or lock him in a home, room, or any other place,, as for the normal children,, they are worse then the staff and schools doing this,, they make fun, make jokes, and abuse these children, any child with a handicap in school is up for abuse no matter what ,, and the law lets this happen,,
Jan 13, 2012
Why stop with locking them away by themselves? why not put them in straight jackets and throw cold water on them? Education has just stepped back about 200 years. If a child cannot control him/herself in the classroom, they should not be IN the classroom. I understand the purpose and benefits of "mainstreaming" , but in trying to help educate everyone, everyone is suffering.
Jan 13, 2012
What else can they do when a child is out of control? Give them drugs? Lose their minds (and begin abusing)?
Jan 13, 2012
It's a vicious cycle; why don't some of our out-of-work geniuses out there try to wrap their heads around it?
Jan 13, 2012
Shana Green What do you suggest then? Don't criticize if you have no proposed solutions.
Jan 13, 2012
I agree with Ashtyn.
Jan 13, 2012
That would indeed be ideal, and yet I wonder how many people out there would support the referendum to raise the taxes to pay for the additional staff that would require. The problem it is that educating our children is not the priority it should be in our culture. Rather schools are viewed as some daycare right that should solve all problems (including those issues such as diet/discipline which ought to be learned at home) and further are expected to do so with little to no funding/ or staff support.
Jan 13, 2012
Diane Johnsen- Parman
I guess I foolishly assumed there was staff hired to deal with special needs. I was thinking that they would need additional training. Unfortunately law makers feel that education is one of the areas that need to be cut to save money. The children of today are going to end up being a product of society which isn't looking very good at this point. I agree that parents need to take a more active role in their children's schooling. They should be taking care of their dietary and discipline needs at home. Too many parents have become complacent with their childrens educational needs and do expect too much from schools and teachers. Especially with teachers being understaffed and underpaid. Wishful thinking I guess!
Jan 13, 2012
These practices are illegal in many states for good reason. There are many ethical and humane treatments for problem behavior (modern applied behavior analysis (ABA) being foremost) that do not include or promote the traumatization of children and adults with special needs. This is disgusting.
Jan 13, 2012
that's just retarded.
Jan 13, 2012
That's extremely troubling and disturbing. Something needs to be done to stop the practice.
Jan 13, 2012
I've worked in Special Education for the last 15 years. I just retired in April of 2010 and have never seen or done anything like discribed in this letter to this newspaper. There is special training that is offered in the school distriect where I worked called 'CPI' training. It is taught by the behavior specialist and is very effective when used properly. The main thing is for at least 1 person to keep their head on straight and have some semblence of control over the situation. It's just cruelty to put a child in a room, box, whatever and let them scream because they are upset or out of control. That is not how you teach a child how to behave or get through the rough times and any body who supports this kind of behavior control are out of their mind.
Jan 13, 2012
Yuck.
Jan 14, 2012
isolation is the worst form of torture
Jan 14, 2012
Have you ever been attacked by a student suffering from severe autism that out weighs you by 50 pounds? Have you been bitten, pinched, scratched spit on and wacked with an object? Have you seen a student go after another student and been the one to try and protect that other student. Sometimes you need a time out room when you work in special ed.
Jan 14, 2012
I drove a school van for special needs children. I give these teachers all the credit in the world. But to lock the kids up till they calm down is not right no matter the reason. I have sat there, at a school for autistic children and a rather big boy was beyond control as some of them were coming to their bus's. It took 4 adults to subdue him. but once they got him to sit, right there on the grass, one of the teachers sat next to him and talked to him. he finally settled down and then was able to be taken home. Yes, it was a special needs school and they new what they were doing. Two of the 4 teachers stood by the boy til he was able to stand up and go back in to get his things. The other children of course were upset but they understood what was going on. They said they knew he would be ok and get to go home too. We need some of these same teachers in all schools that have special needs children. I was pleased and relieved to see this handled so well. Yes, all children should be taught about the children with special needs. Some will still make fun of them but if done right I am willing to bet it is better than a "scream room". Please, these kids are great kids too. Let's help them all we can. You know if your child was a special needs child, you would want that too.
Jan 14, 2012
Ashtyn-I am a behavior analyst, I work with children with special needs specifically those with Autism, to lock a HUMAN BEING in a room ALONE while they are having a tantrum/melt down is unethical. The child needs to be supervised to make sure that they are not hurting themselves i.e. banging their heads against the wall. What you are SUPPOSED to do is if a child has a developmental disability an IEP (individualized education plan) needs to be created that will list all the of child's problem behaviors, the function (why they occur i.e., for attention, access to a tangible, escape from a demand etc) and how to handle it i.e. if the child is screaming for attention you ignore the screaming and prompt them to tap your shoulder and then reinforce the appropriate behavior. If they have a severe tantrum and are endangering others then what you do is you remove the OTHER children from the room, leave ONE adult in the room with the child, remove all items that the child can hurt themselves with and then just block the child from hurting themselves until the tantrum is over, THAT is what you're supposed to do, NOT lock a CHILD in a room ALONE so they can hurt themselves. Also, the "Scream rooms" no matter what they are called are ineffective because you are not TEACHING A NEW BEHAVIOR, you are merely putting the child at risk of hurting themselves. You need to teach a skill deficit in order to decrease a problem behavior. And that Ashtyn, Stacey, and Dani is HOW YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO HANDLE THE SITUATION. I am NOT talking out of my butt, this is based on OVER 50 YEARS of experimental research. Just because someone has a mental disability DOES NOT MAKE THEM LESS HUMAN AND THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE SAYING WHEN YOU LOCK THEM IN A ROOM ALONE.
Jan 14, 2012
Pat Erickson I have worked in the field for years, I have been hit, punched, slapped, kicked, bit, my hair pulled out, and hit in the stomach while pregnant and I have NEVER locked a child in a room alone to hurt themselves. A supervised time out is one thing a scream room is something completely different. The problem is schools don't want to allocate the time/money to hire and train professionals in ABA to help these children..the superintendants and administrators would rather keep their cushy salary and in some cases over the top benefits.
Jan 14, 2012
Stacey-See me comments above about applied behavior analysis (ABA) this is the most effective treatment for ANY developmental (and many physical) disabilities that is EFFECTIVE and starts working QUICKLY
Jan 14, 2012
I do not feel disruptive students, regardless of the cause of such disruptive condition (eg. behavioral, medical, mental, etc.) should be in the general student population or school system, PERIOD. I do not feel public educational systems are the place for these children to be dealt with. It is not beneficial to the special needs student, general student population, teachers, public school system or the taxpayers funding our public education.
Jan 14, 2012
Maybe these kids should not be in school. Some times they are a danger to the other students that are trying to learn. I saw one of these kids be very disruptive and very rude to teachers and other students. Why are teachers expected to be baby sitters and or body guards? Some times I wish I had my own scream room. Venting is good.
Jan 14, 2012
Pamela Lapham I looked but couldn't find. Would you cut and paste into a message? Many thanks!
Jan 14, 2012
Pamela Lapham — I found it. Thanks.
Jan 18, 2012
This is awful </3 I feel bad for all the kids at these schools