Seclusion rooms already a thing of the past here

As the Alberta government pushes to ensure the practice is eradicated, regional school divisions already use alternative methods to deal with behavioural issues

It’s unlikely Medicine Hat and region’s schools will be affected by Education Minister David Eggen’s push to end the practice of seclusion as a form of discipline for misbehaving students.

The Medicine Hat Public School Division, Catholic Board of Education and Prairie Rose School Division all use alternatives and do not engage in the practice.

Claire Petersen, a psychologist with MHPSD, says it’s important to work on building kids’ social skills rather than simply punishing misbehaviour.

MHPSD offers a variety of rooms for its students who need to take a break, but they’re designed to integrate rather than isolate, whether it’s a calming space in the classroom or a “just-right” room designed by occupational therapists.

Petersen says MHPSD parents are always welcome to come to their child’s school to see what these spaces look like.

“We’ve got spaces that any student can access ... and then the support staff on top of that that would help regulate (behaviour) and work with the students,” said Petersen.

“Our goal is always to provide all of our students with a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment.”

The school board has protocols in place to deal with extraordinary situations.

“We come together as a group if the supports or strategies we’re using aren’t being effective, (then look at) why aren’t they being effective and what can we try alternatively,” she said.

Hugh Lehr, the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education associate superintendent for learning services, says seclusion rooms are a relic of a past era.

“We’ve learned a long time ago that it’s not a positive experience for anyone,” said Lehr. “It does not change or modify students’ behaviour, so we do not support the use of seclusion room practice in our division.”

Like MHPSD, the MHCBE is focused on a more holistic, proactive approach to dealing with difficult students.

“While we do have spaces in the schools, they’re not to be used for discipline or punishment in any way,” said Lehr.

The MHCBE also uses “justright” rooms, as well as sensory rooms that offer a variety of stimuli, with the goal of getting students back into the classroom as soon as possible.

“We’re not taking kids; kids are going because they’re learning that space is a tool for them,” Lehr said. “Sometimes the more we intervene, the worse we make it.”

PRSD superintendent Roger Clarke also opposes the use of seclusion rooms as a disciplinary measure, opting instead for sensory rooms in nearly all its schools.

“Those are supervised rooms. They’re not seclusion rooms where we put children by themselves,” said Clarke.

“When we have a student who’s escalated from a behavioural perspective, how do we help that student get to a place where they’re self-regulating, and can be in a class with their peers and function well?”

In an Oct. 25 news release, Eggen said he was “disturbed” as a parent and former teacher over the use of seclusion rooms in schools across Alberta.

“Seclusion or isolation should only ever be used as a last resort in a crisis situation,” said Eggen. “These rooms should never be used to confine, punish or humiliate students.”