Creating safe schools for all kids

By Ruby Moore and Eric Jacobson


On Wednesday, Georgia’s State Board of Education will hold a public hearing on a provision that would limit the dangerous practices of restraint and seclusion in our public schools. Restraint and seclusion is neither therapeutic nor educational.

Currently, students in Georgia schools can be restrained or secluded for any reason, in any way, at any time. We applaud the Department of Education and the State Board of Education for their leadership and courage to move toward ending these harmful practices.

While this is progress, the proposed rule, as it currently stands, must be strengthened to prevent the tragic deaths of any more schoolchildren.

Seeking to free all students from restraint and seclusion, several organizations have formed a coalition to introduce the “Safe Schools Initiative.”

Together, Georgia Advocacy Office, Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State University, Institute on Human Development and Disability at the University of Georgia, and Parent to Parent of Georgia are working to shift the culture of Georgia public schools so that all students can receive an appropriate education in a safe environment that fosters learning.

One key safeguard is conspicuously absent from the proposed rule: There are no provisions for reporting incidents of restraint, beyond informing parents. In the past, parents did not have to be told, either.

This rule does not apply only to children with behavioral issues or children with developmental disabilities; it affects the lives of all our children who are in the educational system.

Oversight, data collection and analysis are pivotal in identifying schools that need additional support to appropriately maintain a safe educational environment. This information can be used to offer training to schools needing improvement and as an incentive for schools supporting students well without resorting to restraint.

As the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported last year, the use of seclusion and restraints led to the death of 13-year-old Jonathan King, who hung himself in 2004 after being put into a seclusion room at his Gainesville school. The Kings had no idea their child was being locked in a small room for hours on end on a regular basis. In another recent case, a 9-year-old student weighing just 82 pounds was locked in a plywood box and placed along a wall in, of all places, his principal’s office.

Contrary to the beliefs of some professionals and parents who think these practices are necessary to prevent a child from hurting himself or others, we believe the most effective alternative to seclusion and restraints is the use of positive behavioral supports (PBS).

Through PBS, teachers outline clear expectations, demonstrate acceptable actions and reward positive behaviors. This approach is being used in more than 10,000 schools across the nation, including 150 schools in Georgia. PBS is not a panacea, but it’s effective.

Georgia can be at the forefront of states that are ending the practices of seclusion and restraints. We hope others will attend tomorrow’s board of education meeting to urge the adoption of a stronger rule that includes accountability.

Then we can create schools that are safe for children and teachers, provide effect oversight and support and, ultimately, protect our children. We should no longer send our children to school fearing that we may never see them return.

Ruby Moore is executive director of Georgia Advocacy Office. Eric Jacobson is executive director of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities.