Do you think it is OK to "cuff" an uncontrollable child at school?

1. 85

   TIMETRAVELER2posted 8 years ago

   Do you think it is OK to "cuff" an uncontrollable child at school?
   
   As a former teacher, I have seen many young children cuffed and taken away by the police.  People do not realize that even very young children can be extremely violent and dangerous.  Not all are as innocent as we would like to believe.  I have had colleagues bitten, knocked into walls and hit by flying furniture...all because kids were labeled "disabled".  Personally, I don't see a problem with this because I have seen what can happen if violent kids aren't restrained.  What think you?
   
   

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2. 60

   LoisRyan13903posted 8 years ago

   My daughter is Autistic but never had to be cuffed.  That is because she is classified as a functional Autistic (Asperger's) who may be able to lead a normal life as she approaches adulthood.  But there are more severe cases of Autistic children where they may have to be restrained because of being violent,  There are even seminars special ed teachers attend that deal with restraining.  Maybe somebody who doesn't have an autistic child may think restraining in cruel,  The teachers/aids just have to be trained in the proper techniques so the child does not get harmed.

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Legally, teachers are only supposed to touch a child to defend themselves.  Violent kids are not just those who are disabled, and dangers go far beyond the child, himself.  Violent kids can maim and/or  kill...anybody who gets in their way.

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3. 82

   peachpurpleposted 8 years ago

   Are you referring to rebellious teens? Here they aren't cuff but sacked from school.

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   1. 85

      TIMETRAVELER2posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      No.  I am talking about very young children who are violent and become uncontrollable in the classroom.  There was just an item on the news recently about this that has led to a lawsuit from an ADHD child's behavior.

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4. 38

   ChristinSposted 8 years ago

   Boy, this is a tough one isn't it? On one hand, you don't want to make it a routine procedure to manhandle kids, but on the other hand, teachers and other students have the right to remain safe in the learning environment. 
   
   I think if a child has a habit of becoming violent, they need to be in a school that is designed for them, with people who are properly trained in working with those kids. 
   
   If a child is violent and a risk to harming themselves and others around them, restraint is probably the best way to ensure that no one is harmed.  My problem would be what leads up to the child reacting violently?  Are they being provoked by other kids, is the teacher maybe not knowing how to handle that child? Are the parents not doing their job at home?
   
   So many factors play in and it's one of those grey areas for sure.  Is it always appropriate? obviously not.  Is it sometimes? Certainly.

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, it is a grey area.  However the Individuals With Disabilities Act requires that special needs kids must be taught with other students and not segregated, even when they are violent.  The dangers are tremendous to others.

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5. 97

   chef-de-jourposted 8 years ago

   Violent and aggressive students should always know where they stand with regards to rules and regulations in a school. Consequences should be made known before lessons begin. There are always exceptions but if guidelines are followed to the letter there should be protocols in place to deal with any incident.
   I think that violent children should always be restrained if they are in danger of self harm or of harming others. it's a common sense last resort. But they should know this prior to stepping into a classroom. As should the parents.
   I have worked with aggressive students in the past here in the UK, some of them on the autistic spectrum it has to be said, others with learning difficulties.
   Preparation and prior knowledge was always a priority. I would read reports and talk one to one with parents and educators, meet with support staff to produce a package of care and strategies - that's before the individual even steps into the classroom.
   
   Knowing the triggers was always key so we could help prevent aggression surfacing but even then some students were unpredictable and caused mayhem from time to time!
   I was always keen to tell support staff before class what to do just in case of trouble. I had a set of  written guide lines which basically stated that, should Bob Smith kick off suddenly and there was potential harm to others then the class should be evacuated immediately and only myself and one support staff member remain.
   If Bob Smith was in danger of self harming then two members of staff would step in to physically restrain him.
   There were incidents where we had to do just this but thankfully over 10 years nothing serious ever arose. I never had to use cuffs or ropes or anything like that.

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Most schools in the US require staffers to provide parents and children with discipline guidelines and consequences.  I have seen many restrained and taken away, and always for good cause.

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   Borsiaposted 8 years ago

   I have no problem with physical restraint of uncontrollable children regardless of their mental capabilities.
   I worked with "special" children when I studied psychology and I have seen a "child" pick up a full size student desk and throw it across a room hitting a teacher and knocking her out. I've seen one do serious damage to another child. Teachers and public schools aren't equipped or trained to deal with these things, nor should they be.
   America's PC syndrome is a detriment to education. Placing the mentally challenged, or worse, child in with everyone else only slows the path for everyone else. In most cases there is really nothing gained by the "special" child often it is detrimental for everyone concerned save maybe the family that gets a day care service.
   Under no circumstances should a known violent child be placed in a regular classroom.

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   1. 85

      TIMETRAVELER2posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Agree, agree and agree.  My sentiments exactly!  Thanks for this one.

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