Schools are supposed to limit using restraint and seclusion to discipline kids – but parents I spoke with say the practice is wildly misused

Interviews with parents of students with disabilities show that children were often physically restrained and secluded at school for nonviolent offenses.

By: Charles Bell, Illinois State University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 20, 2026

Words: 1,399

Last Updated: 3 months, 1 week ago

Body Text Preview

By Charles Bell, Illinois State University

“Jessica,” the adoptive mother of a third grade student, was shocked when she discovered that her daughter had spent over 100 hours locked in a room alone at her North Carolina public school.

School staff locked the child in a room by herself after she flipped markers in the air, lay on the floor and tilted her chair back, Jessica told me in 2024. Jessica’s daughter has a nonverbal …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us