Lacey Teachers to Receive Training for New Physical Restraint Policy
A newly adopted policy, which will allow trained teachers to use physical restraint against a student when necessary, will be implemented by September
The Lacey Township School District has adopted a physical restraint policy that will allow trained teachers to use force against a student when “reasonable and necessary.”
Strauss Esmay Associates, a company that develops policies for more than 200 New Jersey school districts, issued a policy alert indicating that Lacey needed the state-mandated regulation, Board of Education President Jack Martenak said.
“On occasion, during an emergency, a situation may arise making it necessary to temporarily restrain a pupil,” the policy states. “An emergency is defined as a situation in which the pupil’s behavior poses a threat of imminent, serious physical harm to the pupil or others or imminent, serious property destruction.”
Force can be used to “quell a disturbance” that is threatening to others, to obtain possession of a weapon or other dangerous objects, for self-defense or for the protection of persons or property, the policy says.
Physical restraint includes holding a person or restricting his or her movements but such actions can only be used by trained employees and should only be used when other means of intervention were unsuccessful.
“A group of teachers will be trained,” Martenak said. “Primarily teachers dealing with at-risk students.”
Another group of teachers will be trained so there is additional help when necessary, he said. An employee from student services will get the training and then train staff.
Costs associated with training are currently unknown, Martenak said. But it could cost the district for the initial training of one person.
Superintendent Dr. Sandra Brower said in-house training would be used whenever possible but did not comment on implementation and cost.
“We don’t have all the details yet,” Martenak said. “We need to plan.”
The school district is aiming to implement the policy, which was adopted in February, by September.
RDinLacey
9:12 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
Physical restraint techniques are meant to keep people safe, and when performed by trained individuals who use it properly, does not physically harm the individual being restrained. We use this at my job, so I thought before everyone who may not be familiar with this started freaking out, I would explain it. Hope this is helpful.
DevilsFan609
11:36 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
As an aide in a school that uses it, I can say it does not hurt, bruise, or cause any damage to the student. We go through an extensive multiday training and have to get recertified every year. This safe crisis management can save the students from other students as well as doing harm to themselves. It's a good thing to have implemented into the school.
Jim
6:58 am on Friday, March 30, 2012
Makes sense.
GB Shore
8:05 am on Friday, March 30, 2012
....and what happens when a "trained personnel" is not around if something occurs? Please don't tell me that there always will be. I don't necessarily disagree with training but all this is because of our BS litigious society....I see NO reason a teacher or school personnel can't grab a kid and restrain them if a fight breaks out. There were never ANY issues when I was growing up. Obviously, you can't punch a kid but grabbing them and restraining them? I am 50 and if my parents got called, the last thing my parents were thinking was "how can I make money by suing?". They would have been embarrassed and probably would have APOLOGIZED to the teacher for my bad behavior. That is the problem today....parents think their Johnny and Mary are saints and their first reaction to something like this (not always but I am sure majorily) is incorrect. Again, this is all about liability and lawsuits. This is so ridiculous. Why should teachers have to worry about a lwsuit when some kid or kids are fighting. It is insane....How about some common friggin sense here....
DC
1:02 pm on Friday, March 30, 2012
GB Shore: You are absolutely correct. We live in a litigious society and 20 years ago, teachers didn't hesitate to restrain students who were fighting.
Joe Stewart
10:28 am on Friday, March 30, 2012
Maybe we should make boot camp a requirement for our teachers...lol
FinchMaster
5:35 pm on Friday, March 30, 2012
I seriously do not envy the person that needs to be restrained by Mr. Hagofsky or Mr. Dickhaus. Lol
William J Moss
9:45 pm on Saturday, March 31, 2012
This may be needed now that there is no more smoking in the rest rooms