Teaching tool or restraining device?

[twilight_sailing]

A therapy okayed by the Pinellas County School District to calm kids is being questioned by parents.

It's called a Body Sock, but some parents call it a restraining device.

The district said body sox are good teaching tools. The family said it's a restraining device used to discipline their son.

Body sox are designed to help kids explore their three-dimensional space, according to web sites about the device.
"I don't like it at all," said Patrick Holt, the boy's father. "I don't think it should be used on anybody."
http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2006/12/13/206561.html?title=Controversial+therapy

[Ezlivin]

1. They make great Xmas gifts! Bush needs one very badly!

All that puppet lacks is a sock.

[mike_c]

2. fine if it's used voluntarily....

Even a chair is perceived as a restraint if it's imposed involuntarily.

[whistle]

3. Brought to us by the Jeb Bush legacy of child welfare abuse

[SmokingJacket]

4. Only on specifically diagnosed kids with parents' consent.

And then, only if the alternative is Tasering.

Otherwise, too much risk of misuse.

[gollygee]

5. That would scare my daughter to death

it covers their faces? No way. My daughter would be frightened beyond belief.

[progdonkey]

6. I always thought the old plastic-bag-over-the-mouth method was the most effective...

:sarcasm:

[mongo]

7. ON a 4yo?

WTF is wrong with these people?

Great way to give the kid claustraphobia...

[n2doc]

8. Freakin' sick

Put the Principal in one for a day and let's see how much he likes it.

[zbdent]

9. The article doesn't explain how it is supposed to teach

the kid about his "three-dimensional space" ...

:wtf:

[tenshi816]

12. I wondered that too.

It's possible to teach children about three-dimensional space without putting them into big sacks.

[Corgigal]

10. If they did that to my kid

I'm going to jail that day. I hope DU would start a thread to assist with bail money.

Thankfully I moved out of Florida.

[recoveringrepublican]

11. This is where I live...Have never heard of it. Will be checking out my son's school. nt

[novalib]

13. Abu Gharib

It looks very much like what the thugs at Abu Gharib used on prisoners there!!!!!

[elehhhhna]

14. just crucify them and get it over with

[nomo]

15. For sale now: brightly colored plastic slabs

For use with the exciting new game of waterboarding!

[Blue Diadem]

16. How in the world could that calm a child?

I would think it would frighten them or aggitate them even more. Plus I would worry about the child's ability to move around and possibly hurt themselves if they're using the device to calm them.

If the body socks were used as play, that might be different.

edited to add:

I just looked at the webpage selling them..they're intended for sensory play.

http://stars4kidz.com/Sensory_Play-c38.html

[AndyTiedye]

17. Another Teacher Who Regards the Inability to SIT PERFECTLY STILL FOR HOURS as a Behavior Problem

Surely it is not legal for teachers to administer "therapy"!
They do not have the training. This teacher just proved it.

Though even without any training, if you put a kid in one of these to "calm" him,
and he gets really upset and tries to climb out, that should be a clue that your
"therapy" is not working. The fact that you presented it to the kids in a context
that implies that it is a form of punishment pretty well guarantees that the kids
will react negatively to it.

What was this all about anyway? Was she trying to make the kid sit perfectly still?
Why are so many teachers obsessed with that? Sitting still is bad for you!

[n2doc]

18. So they can get obese!

Besides, statues are MUCH easier to teach:sarcasm: