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Seclusion, Restraint,
and
Discipline Issues
Click here for information
related to discipline (including suspensions, expulsions, and problem
solving) from Bridges4Kids.
TV, No Homework Can Turn Suspensions Into Vacations - This was
Kymber and Shawnte Andre-Sanders's punishment early this month: The
Prince William County sisters spent the day in their pajamas,
luxuriating in front of the television, contemplating 50 Cent's song
"Window Shopper," T.G.I. Friday's chicken-sandwich commercial and,
occasionally, such CNN news flashes as "Elvis Foils Robbers."
MO
Keeping Suspended Students in School - Schools try to reduce
“official hooky.” Out-of-school suspensions can cost St. Louis-area
students tens of thousands of days a year - stealing valuable
instructional time from students as well as state dollars from school
districts' pockets.
Physical Restraint in School - The current emphasis on
educating children in the least restrictive environment has resulted
in the use of physical restraint procedures across all educational
placement settings, including public schools. Since its initial use,
restraint has been controversial. Professionals who use physical
restraint claim that it is necessary to safely manage dangerous
behaviors. Child advocates, however, argue that far too many children
suffer injury and death from the very staff charged with helping them.
The authors review research literature, legislation, and court
decisions on topics related to the use of restraint in schools and
identify position statements and recommended practices from nationally
recognized professional organizations and advocacy groups.
Recommendations are given for research, policy, and procedures for the
use and practice of physical restraint in schools.
Study:
Aggressive Discipline Can Backfire - An Australian study of
4,000 students and 600 teachers found that the best-behaved classes
had teachers who used positive rewards and inclusive decision-making,
rather than yelling and punishment. Researchers warn that difficult
students often discern that teachers don't like them, which only leads
them to misbehave more.
The Special Ed Advocate:
Focus on Discipline - Includes: Discipline - still a hot topic;
Can school suspend or expel a child with LD/ADHD? Functional
behavioral assessments; Discipline caselaw; Free publication - IEP
Team's Introduction to Behavior Assessments & Intervention Plans and
more; and Why Johnny Doesn't Behave - 20 Tips from Experts. [July 17,
2004]
New Zero Tolerance Study (PDF; size=285k) shows decrease in
suspensions, increase in school achievement In the wake of the
Columbine high school shooting five years ago (April 20) and other
school shootings, many schools across the country toughened up their
schools' zero tolerance policies, resulting in more youth suspended,
expelled and referred to juvenile court with the harshest impact
falling on youth of color. As a follow up to the February, 2003,
Building Blocks study that illustrated the disproportionate impact of
zero tolerance policies on Kentucky's students of color, this new
study, "Northern Lights" released on April 22 shows that this trend
can be reversed. This report highlights that out-of-school suspensions
can be significantly decreased (over 50%) without compromising
academic achievement. In fact, the report shows major increases in
school achievement during this same period of time.
TX
Parents and Advocates Say Too Many Schools Use Cops to Manage
Classrooms - Since the 1997 version of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was released, educators and school
officials have been calling police more often to handle "behavior
problems" involving students with disabilities.
U.S.
Connecticut and Michigan Will Help Develop Alternatives To Restraint
- Three years ago, the Hartford Courant ran an investigative
series into the restraint-related deaths of adults and children -- as
young as 6 years of age -- in institutions housing people with mental
illness and developmental disabilities. The team of reporters found
that 142 such deaths occurred nationwide during the previous 10 years.
Behavior Problems Feed Childhood Obesity - Study finds
overweight kids twice as likely to misbehave.
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