'Body sox' used for restraint against Florida 4-year-olds

The trouble with kids today is that the parents don't discipline them when they do misbehave. Todays parents are raising nothing but bratty kids who whine, hit and kick when they don't get their way. They have never been told no and can't handle it when they are. Parents should go back to parenting. If they did there wouldn't be as many unruly kids in the classrooms. I say that any more the teachers have to be the parents because the parents sure aren't. So to those of you who let your child hit, kick, scream and bite you without giving them something to think about should be ashamed of yourselves. To those of you who are raising your kids to be respectful of others. Congratulations your doing a great job.

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NUT!!! What is happening to our teachers? I think someone ought to be looking at them. Imagine the uproar if some cop did this to a prisoner. Why is it there is not as much noise when a teacher does it to a kid? Where is the ACLU on this?

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To put a child in something like this to restrain them when upset or misbehaving is abuse, pure and simple. This would absolutely put me in hysterical shock - it would be considered assault if an adult was restrained like this. Also, I have to wonder what kind of germs are in there - I mean, do they wash and sanitize it after each use. Can you imagine what's in there from an upset, crying child - or one with a cold and sniffles?!! These should not be in any school for any reason -

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Whatever happened to the good old days, when you were bad in school and you got your butt beat with a wooden paddle! Not just by the teacher, but also by your parents when you got home and found out what how bad you were in school. This country is becoming way too "soft" these days.

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Possibly coming-across as devil's advocate here, but has anyone considered the possibility that the child DOES have sensory processing problems and is on an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) which specifies that "sensory strategies will be used to assist in helping the child with his sensory needs." The specific strategies surely SHOULD have been outlined in the IEP, but oftentimes it is written, and signed and accepted by the parent and the rest of the school IEP team members (school psychologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, special needs teacher, and regular ed teacher) without being so specific, which allows the team to use any variety of approved, proven strategies. (I am an exceptional needs preschool teacher myself, so I know this for a fact...)

Maybe the father is interpreting that this was done as punishment because the child told him it was (4 year olds can say the DARNDEST things....).

All I'm saying is, it's important to realize this summary of the "story" is just that ~ a story, and only one side is being heard, that of an angry parent, who might be misunderstanding what really happened. We haven't heard from the teacher or the schoolboard, or the instructional assistant in the classroom (or anyone else who may have witnessed the actual occurrance).

I, personally, have never used one, nor have I ever seen one in use in my district, but I DO know that children with sensory processing needs display the need for input in ways that "typical" individuals simply cannot comprehend. The need to crawl under the table, or lie under a bean bag chair, even when other children might start lying on top of it while s/he's under there.... We think, "Oh, no! He's gonna suffocate under there (or freak out, etc.)...", but the child is actually craving that "in-put"....

Just remember to be mature when you read something like this.... and remember that there's two sides to every story.... and this is America, where you're innocent until proven guilty. This could happen to any of us in any number of situations.... someone witnesses or hears about something we did or said and misconstrues it entirely, or is uneducated as to what it's all about, etc.

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They need to bring back the paddle.All this high tech stuff doesnt do anything less or more then the paddle did.Anything can be misused and certain guide lines need to be used.

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As a nursing student, we are taught that restraining a person, even for their own safety, to save their lives is a very delicate issue involving a Doctors order and carefull documentation, and constant professional observation of the client. Kids in our country don't seem to have the same rights. This scares the beegeebers outa me. It seems like it could be a fun toy, however, bet some parent eventually will sue because their kid fell and hurt themselves while using it.

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I AM VERY CLAUSTROPHOBIC AND IF EVER THIS WAS DONE TO ME OR ONE OF MY 9 GRANDCHILDREN ONCE I WAS RELEASED I'D HAVE TO TAKE SOMEONE OUT OF COMMISSION FOR A WHILE.

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As one who suffers from claustrophobia, I can't imagine anything more terrifying. If the child doesn't have calustrophobia, he may after being in this ridiculous restraint! What a horror! Let the teacher spend some time in it first.

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The "sock" in my opinion is not the way to go. However, I do feel the frustration coming from teachers. I "was" a secondary education major. After my 3rd year of college (some substitute teaching and student teaching under my belt), I decided that teaching was not for me. Why? The behaviors of these unruly students and realizing exactly how much parents just don't care! These days, parents let their children behave like animals, and then back them up when they should be disciplined. Parents, please learn a lesson here and for crying out loud start being parents! School Board - My suggestion - Boot Camp!

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And the government says that spanking on the bottom is a horrible thing. Give me a break! Can you imagine what kind of damage this could cause??? Why dont they just go lock them in a closet, it would be about the same. If anyone uses this on a child they are cruel and should be put in one when they are "out of control". I am sure they would really think it was great therapy. This should be banned. It is just another way to "not" to have to deal with the problem at hand. Stick em in a bag and walk away. I really worry about the future of this country. Part of our children are being drugged to make sure we dont have to deal with them and part is ignored anyway. We need to stop and listen to what are children are really saying, look beyond the anger and find out where it is coming from. If we paid half as much attention to our children as we did our jobs, friends and computers they would be in better shape. Any parent who allows this type of restraint should be shot.

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I READ COMMENTS ABOUT PARENTS TEACHING KIDS RESPECT AT HOME FIRST THEN THE TEACHER WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY BOUT IT WHILE DOING THEIR REAL JOB, HOW DO YOU DO THAT WHEN BOTH PARENTS ARE WORK'N 2 JOBS TO PAY THE BILLS. WHY DOES IT TAKE 2 JOBS IN A HOUSE TO PAY ALL THE BILLS. I WATCH FAMILY'S IN MY NIGHBORHOOD LIVE AND MOST PARENTS ARE NOT HOME FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS IN AFTERNOON WHEN THE KIDS ARE '' HOME ALONE ''. KIDS BEEN BORED AT SCHOOL, ALL DAY, THEN COME HOME TO SOME FREEDOM AND GET DISRUPTIVE CAUSE THEIRS NO ONE TO GUIDE THEM. THEN THEY GO BACK TO SCHOOL NEXT DAY AND GET PUT IN BODY SOC CUASE THEY STILL PUMPED UP AND NOTHING TO SPEND ENERGY ON. IF PARENTS ARE NOT HOME , WHAT DO WE EXPECT. WHEN I GET HOME FROM WORK, THE PETS I HAVE STILL EXPECT A LOT FROM ME AND I AM EXHAUSTED FROM WORK'N ALL DAY. KIDS WITH TONS OF ENERGY MIGHT NEED TO CHANGE THEIR DIET AND LIVE NORMAL........ I UNDERSTAND TODAYS NORMAL IS ENERGY DRINKS AND VITAMINS .................WHAT ARE WE COMPLAINING ABOUT??????

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and weren't the other kids, that were distracted by this child's unruly behavior, more focused on the flailing child in the body sox than on what the teacher was teaching? What happened to a butt-whipping. The school called me two years ago about my daughter. I told them to whip her. They did. I haven't received a phone call since. They ever put her in one of these I'm whipping their azzes.
Teacher aren't sufficiently trained in restraints and dealing with unruly children and making such decisions. These things would probably be fun for a willing child, but an unwilling child that is already upset to be forced into one. All we hear about is that teachers need another raise, all the while the quality of education never raises.

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This is completely unacceptable. The teacher in this instance was not a trained mental health professional and therefore could not possibly be prepared to deal with what could have happened. Without knowing this child's mental health history and what the dynamics are in his home, this could have been a total disaster. I have worked in mental health (as a social worker for adults with HIV) for many years and I have to say there are often things going on with these kids and the teachers have no knowledge of it. What if that kid has been molested or otherwise physically abused by his parents? This teacher would have now compounded the problem by taking away the one safe place in his life. While he may be a disruption, even a dangerous one, there is no way that this is an acceptable form of discipline. While I agree that many parents do not hold their children accountable (I am not one of them)teachers today are not willing to do the classroom management that goes along with the territory. A parent should not be expected to rush in and pick up the disruptive kid. We pay taxes for the schools to have a social worker or psychologist on staff, utilize these resources. I guarantee that if these resourses are appropriately utilized, not only will situations like these be avoided, we'll catch more abuse in the home before it has a chance to completely ruin a child. Children are often too afraid or lack the verbal skills to explain their feelings and acting out is the logical manifestation of thier feelings. There can be valuable clues in this behaviour. I'm not suggesting that this should fall entirely on the teacher, not at all. This is what we have principals, deans, social workers and psychologists for. Approving this method of classroom discipline is a pandora's box for sure. Remember that teachers are people just like the rest of us and can be abusive and inappropriate (as we constantly see on the news) just like anyone else. I am a parent of a 7-yr old boy who could have easily been the victim of this "therapeutic" method. His 2nd grade teacher was very punitive and controlling and I could definitely see her using this approach to further control and intimidate children. She had beaten the meek children into submission within the first month of school with her constant berating and public humiliation tactics. Children like my son, who has a strong personality, but who has never been characterized as disruptive or disrespectful, were then targeted for the rest of the year. These concerns have been raised with the school administration, but because of the tenure system, it's very difficult to have her removed in the absence of physical abuse. This woman was so controlling and horrible that I had to put my son in counselling to reverse the effects of her "disciplinary tactics." Here we are half way through 3rd grade and I finally have my confident, pleasant, school-loving son back. So, before we start playing violins for what these teachers have to put up with, think about how much authority and control you really want them to have over your child. Teachers are dealing with a lot more in terms of hard to manage kids, but this goes back to the parent and the solution to that is to hold those parents accountable. In my estimation, a parent who doesn't hold their kids responsible is abusive. They are setting the kid up for failure and they are condemning the rest of us to deal with the mayhem that will surely result. I really didn't mean to right a novel. Clearly, this issue stirs emotions.

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Shoot the son-of-a-bich and his parents and get on with class!

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i can't see why teacher's these days don't make a punishement tailored fit for the child. i'd be pissed, too, if someone put my kid in one of those things to calm him/her down, EVER! these SHOULD NOT be used in a school setting. and i doubt it worked to calm the kid down. and if it did, it was only b/c the kid was trying to figure out a way to get out of the damned thing, so it can REALLY let the teacher know a thing or two. heh......and i want to know what happened to sending the kid to the principal's office? of course, these days with too many parents wanting to be their kids friend and not parent, the fear of punishement by an adult has lost its luster, but if ppl started to lay down the law, ANYWHERE AND EVERWHERE (hell, i was about to beat a kid acting up in the baby gap store yesterday!), then kids wouldn't be so prone to act up ANYWEHRE AND EVERYWHERE. and it would make parents set up to the parenting plate. NO parent wants to be made fool of, esp by some stranger. there is NOTHING wrong with spanking your child if it comes to that. but ppl need to start figuring out how to make tailor made punishements to fit the child and the bad behavior. b/c what we got now isn't working!

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My goodness, send these young children to the principle's office, keep him/her in for recess, but don't put them in some kind of thing that looks like a big sack.

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I believe the parent should first be made aware of the fact that this type of device may be used on the child. But, I do believe this harness could be used for children that are extremely hyper, in order to avoid the child inflicting pain on themselves or others, if they become to agressive, but I don't believe it should be used as a form of punishment. I have a ADHD child, and believe me there are times when the only way you can stop him from doing any type of harm, is to physically manage him.

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I agree totally with CJ. In taking every effective means of discipline out of the classroom, parents have left teachers with few alternatives. You can't touch children, you can't frighten them, you can't humiliate them, you simply can't do anything that really gets their attention, and they absolutely don't listen. When I went top work in 1968, children were much more disciplined and behavior problems were few and far between. After I left graduate school three years later, they started to become unmanageable. They have gotten worse over the years, so much so that even kindergarten kids are out of control. I stayed out of public school for nearly 20 years after being priced out of the budget because of my degree. When I went back, nothing was the same. I could not get a grip on the kids and I lost my job. I work better with adult students populations, but children need the most help. I'm good with Adult Basic Education, and I'll just patch up all the cracks left by the undisciplined public school system. Trust me - I'll always have a job. Public schools are in disaray, students aren't learning much, they're dropping out in big numbers, and they need the Community College system to help them out. I'm 60 now, but if I live and nothing happens, I could work until I'm 90. One of my co-workers was a teacher in 1958 at an elementary school where I was a student. She's 80-something now and has no intention of quitting. She's also comfortably retired and doesn't need the money.

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while I am not sure that I agree with this.... what do you expect? We have taken the paddle out of school and any other form of discipline out of schools. Most students have no respect and teachers and staff have no where to turn to....

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