The Trauma of Restraints: Eliminating Ineffective Approaches in the Classroom

It is happening all over the country. A seven-year-old handcuffed during his afterschool program for being hyper in Flint, Michigan. A South Carolina high school student forcibly yanked from her chair and restrained in her classroom. Autistic children confined and sprayed with water in Maryland. Recent media coverage and several “caught on cell phone” videos have given the world a frightening glimpse of the trauma inflicted in the classroom as teachers and others use physical restraint on students.

Unfortunately, these are just a few examples of the use of restraint and seclusion in our schools. It is happening every day. In fact, in 2014, a National Public Radio investigative report found that restraints were used at least 267,000 times each school year in schools throughout the U.S.  Restraints are … click HERE to continue reading