UN Accuses Massachusetts Special Education School of Torture

he parents could'nt control these kids. What's a mental hospital to do? Use baby gloves? Let the kids do what they want? You have to learn some how.

Conveniently the article leaves out the testimonials from students that proclaim the treatments work. These 17-18 year old students had been on drugs and now find that they don't need them anymore.

I'm not saying that support or disapprove of this school but according to its own previous students, the therapy works. The only reason the shock therapy was stopped in mental institutions was because it was distasteful and since it involved pain, it was deemed inhumane.

Shame on you for not listing some of the "many alternative therapies" out there that don't involve pain.

I'm sure glad my children don't get to dictate whether or not I punish them for misbehaving.

I'm sure that these patients do, in fact, scream, "No!" when they are subjected to this form of punishment. That doesn't mean it is not for their own good.

In this particular aspect, these children are no different than preschoolers being raised in a home. I'm just as sure as you are that, if he could, that boy who used to bite himself would thank his teachers for ending his self-destructive behavior.

Will you volunteer to take one or two of these children into your home 24/7 and apply some of the alternative therapies you spoke of?

I totally agree. I have a daughter with autism, and although she's not near this severe the first thing the doctor wanted to do was put her on a bunch of medicine. I said no, I wanted to try therapy first and guess what? It's made a huge difference! Night and day! In the end, we did elect to try a minimum dose of anti-depressant to help with her depression but all her other disorders (including her autism) we are handling through therapy. I wonder how many mentally challenged people could be helped by someone spending time with them one on one, adressing the problems with therapy. I know not all could be helped by this, but I'm sure there are some that could live a totally different life if somebody would take the time. Thank you!

This is what I know. I was married to someone who had doctors who suggested (or demanded) that he have ECT (shock therapy) to "boost" the anti-depressant meds he was on. Yes, he was suicidal at the time because of severe depression but the side effects were HORRID!!! It ruined him as a father and husband and destroyed our family. It did not cure his ailments, but made him much - much worse. He also forget everything and screwed up his short term memory. I am now the single parent of children who don't remember their father (when he was a good father!) and he doesn't remember what it was like to be "better'. I would not suggest ECT treatments to my worst enemy and I really - really - mean it. If someone suggests it for someone you love, I hope you do whatever it takes to keep them from having it done. Meds may not work right away (and you may have to try different doses) but it is much better than losing the good part of the person you are trying to protect while trying to get rid of the bad. Please do your research first.

@jenndfw, What are the other therapies you mention that don't rely on pain? I'm not disagreeing with you; I would just like to know.

did you not read the article? these kids and young adults are not capable of being talked to and have their behavior corrected by a smak on the hand, until you live with, deal with ,and try and handle a severly disabled person who is big enough to do you harm and doesnt understand that, then shut the hell up and keep your so called parenting skills for normal children out of this discussion, you are stupid!!!!

Let me make this clear before I start: I don't agree with this treatment in a school. I belive shock therapy should only be used in a mental institution and when every other option has been exhausted.

With that said:
The children that this is being used on are often times unable to be reasoned with. ESPECIALLY in the moment these shocks are being used. I agree that this is worse than spanking, but I don't think another alternative to the shocks would be speaking rationally to the child.

Also, just because we are in America doesn't mean that international law isn't applicable here. We are not above international law, and it would be wrong for us to ignore a leading expert on torture. That is elitest BS. Would you say that it's wrong that America sticks its nose into other countries' business on issues of torture? I'm going to guess not.

and how many teenagers have you survived? Nothing like one with ODD. I would not send any kind of person there. I agree, anyone watch One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest?

Excuse me, but if you had read the article correctly, it states that the school has used these forms of "discipline" for YEARS. If I'm not mistaken, Obama has only been President for LESS than 2 yrs. So this school apparently had the green light on torture during the Bush administration as well (gee, big shocker there). And, by the way, for any of you who DON'T know much about autism ... yes, they DO feel pain far more acutely and for things that don't pain other people ... for instance, hugs, touches, sounds from toys, motors, equipment, etc. Which usually causes them to be overstimulated, overwhelmed and makes them feel trapped, but without a way to communicate their feelings and needs and pain. As grandmother to a little girl with PDD (autism spectrum disorder) and spending the past 6 years around the disabled community, I have seen hundreds of kids with disabilities who are unable to control themselves. Their parents and closest teachers and caregivers have the most control over them, especially in one-on-one situations. That's why they have Special Ed.

Maybe the U.N. has become involved because the United States now has the distinction (thanks to Bush) of being on the list of countries that torture. It apparently wasn't restricted to "war" and "enemy combatant" situations.

Wow Kate....all the way from the left wing to the right wing in two paragraphs! Impressive!

Sondra, I respectfully beg to disagree. International law is not, in any way, binding on us! I am a citizen of the United States of America, I am subject to the laws set forth by our constitution. Not International law!

Kate,,, Have you seen the kids of today? Most have no respect for authority, they have filthy language skills, they treat their parents like trash, and all of this is because they are NOT SPANKED! Maybe you are too young to remember, but my generation does,,, we would never have gotten away with any of this kind of behavior, and we grew up great!
That said, I can't honestly say that I totally agree with this shocking therapy, I would have to hear alot more than was in this article, as well as hear from the children themselves.
I will say I totally agree with you re: the U.N.,,,, It is long past time for us to get out of that disfunctional group of wanna-be-world-bosses!