Washington lawmakers mostly mum on 'isolation room' policy
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LONGVIEW, Wash. – Just a few days after a Longview elementary school removed a controversial isolation room, state lawmakers and school district officials met Wednesday but the issue wasn't even discussed.
KATU broke the story more than a week ago after a parent, questioning its use, sent it photographs of the isolation room at Mint Valley Elementary Room that looked like a padded box.
The school used the room for four years as a place for special education children to calm down without harming themselves or others. It was only used with a parent's approval.
After the meeting, held annually to discuss possible future legislation, state Sen. Brian Hatfield, who represents Longview, said he didn't believe state lawmakers have any place intervening in the isolation room policy. He feels the issue should be decided by local school districts.
The state of Oregon has taken a different approach. As of this past summer, Oregon law limits the situations in which isolation rooms can be used and can only be used as a last resort in situations where children are at risk of hurting themselves or others. Washington state provides regulations but does not limit use to that situation.
The Longview School District is investigating complaints from parents, accusing staff of using the rooms to discipline students who were never authorized to go into the room. The district is also discussing for the first time the specific changes it could make as it plans to rebuild another isolation room.
"We're studying experts, specialists who advise on this type of structure," said district spokeswoman Sandy Catt. "Perhaps it might be larger. Have additional observation into it. I just don't know specifically what those plans will look like. It could have a larger viewing portal."
There is no timeline on when that new isolation room will be built. The investigation into Longview schools is ongoing and could last for several weeks.
KATU News contacted half a dozen state lawmakers representing southwest Washington Wednesday, some of whom were at the meeting, but none of them would comment on the issue.
In the old days you just beat them with a paddle and then told the parents so they could beat him again when he got home. That's the way it was when I went to elementary school (briefly) in Mississippi. To hear the old folks, though, times were way better then. Mostly 'cause you sent the white kids to the expensive schools and crammed 60 first graders and two teachers into a classroom at the "public" school. I saw, line 'em ALL up and flog 'em. HAIL SPARTA!
There excerpting there right to remain silent? and then having individual Schools decide.
Well, All I can say is I know why I voted NO.
It has nothing to do rather I Am for or against Funding School.
What I am dead against is anything that raises the taxes on properties and people losing there homes because of the raising taxes. And then still having the schools complain about them not having enough money, where in Hell are they putting it all?
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So we have raised monies for schools and we still hear of complaints it is not enough I have voted for schools for the last 3 years and finally "The straw that broke the camels back with schools crying for more"..I finally aid enough! "People and Housing to me is more important then Schools asking for more then schools not being responsible for what is given them."
@lee986321 WTF does that have to do with isolation rooms, Lee?
 @Playanekes You can ignore lee, quite often, none of it makes sense.
What's the difference here - between children in public schools and zoo animals in publicly paid for zoos?Â
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Ah, not one thing. Turns out - we tax payers pay for both of them. Animals in zoo "cells" - Â where animals are locked up and separated out from others. Imprisoned for years and years and years against their will. And children in public schools in Washington State - locked up, isolated, held against their will. For perhaps years and years and years - at least that is how it is justified with public tax dollars in Longview, Washington.
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Explain to the tax payers and parents again - why Washington Lawmakers don't "care" to take a minute or two out of their day - Â to opine about it all. Or to take up the issue on the floor of the Washington Legislature - and champion for all end to imprisoned, incarcerated children being held against their will - in locked isolated JAIL CELLS inside of public "schools".Â
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@englishdaisy actually, this might blow the minds of those prone to hysteria, but, autistic kids frequently LIKE places to chill out, they're not confined to the isolation room for "years and years" and the parents can take them out and send them to private school if they wish. Maybe, just maybe, the state is allowing the parents and teachers to figure it out for themselves instead of letting the Big Nanny State come in and sort it all out for them like a union boss or a fake-conservative would try to do.
Really - "lawmakers" - who are clueless as to the ethics of their positions as public servants- just want to keep on keeping on with all of their hypocritical status quo - only "engaging" in serious issues at their discretion? Â Too busy overspending and misappropriating public dollars as usual? Can't stop and appropriately opine on this critical public education "ethics" issue like this.Â
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Really - elected leaders? Didn't "think" you would be REQUIRED to step up and take this issue on - where children are imprisoned in locked, windowless confined spaces inside of public schools - where children are supposed to be taught and mentored to and safely and affirmatively encouraged - not locked up and isolated in padded jail cells from all others - like zoo animals.Â
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Of course they are....TORTURING CHILDREN is a VERY SERIOUS CRIME...
Everyone is so up in arms about the use of this isolation room but I bet many if not most of the complainers are also the people who don't want their taxes raised to provide adequate funding to educate ALL kids, not just the average and above, and provide teachers with the necessary training and resources to help deal with acting-out kids who by law have to be in mainstream classes unless they can't succeed in these settings. I dare any one of the critics to work in a regular education class with a severely autistic child or one with severe emotional difficulties and have the time needed to individualize the education they need while trying to education the other 28 or something so called normal kids in class. Don't want isolation rooms! Adequately fund school!!!!
@peckishpete  These children should not be with the general population. Teachers already have their hands full with the rest of the classs and it is not fair to the children when they miss out on an education because a teacher is expected to deal with an out of control child. Don't get me wrong, all children deserve an education, but some do not belong in the regular classroom. Furthermore, I find it most frustrating that our educational curriculum has been dumbed down so that all can pass their classes. Have you seen what is coming out of our public schools?
 @peckishpete And that right there puts the lie to the comment from first responder in this thread.
The touchy-feely Libtards strike again!! This thing works for some kids, but not for Libtards kids that do not even know what it is for, nor do the Libtards!! 'I am offended' is all it takes these days for a gubmint agency to cave on a necessary tool!! I am actually ashamed of KATU for portraying this in a bad light and for the Longview School District for caving in on this necessary tool!!!
@boned "libtards." It's weird seeing people telling me to "grow up" for making a "tard" reference suddenly so utterly quiet when it's used against liberals. Which, by the way, is all of you,. You're ALL a bunch of liberals flower-sniffing thumb-suckers. Those kids should be in an agoge learning military skills right now and if they can't cut muster they and all of their classmates should be publicly flogged until they can cooperate as a class. Everything else is fairy-panty liberalism which is why my first grade girl got in (minor) trouble for punching out a third grade boy who called her "butt cheek." He got to impress his friends by letting them see him cry after getting socked by a six-year-old girl. I told the nuns "She's going to make an awesome Marine..."
@boned I have often been called a Libtard on this board but I thoroughly agree with you on this point. I hate goodie-two-shoers and self-righteous people who criticize without ever walking in the shoes of those they criticize. And that goes double for the lady who called in this story to KATU in the first place. Her punishment should be to put her in front of a class of 30 odd 3rd graders that contain a couple of autistic kids and other with severe emotional difficulties who can blow up at any time and see how she deals with the situation.
@peckishpete  BRAVO
@wondering -- When they can't cope with a regular class they go to a class called a skip room - the above people only are familar with part of the routines. I am so grateful to the lady who blew the whistle. Thank you they were and probably are being abused. Heaven forbid these children that see the others locked up learn how to parent this way and lock up their own children and they get locked upfor doing what they were taught. If the school can lock up children why can't everyone else. I think all the people for these rooms are probably the ones useing them and don't know what to do without them. Like get better educated. There are a lot more Autistic kids coming and we have to deal with it instead of sweeping them into the rooms. Oh and for their own good. Not.