Shock Treatments on Children

**THL** · 16 Jun 06,, 01:00

Report: Shock therapy hurts kids at school

ALBANY, New York (AP) -- A state report on a Massachusetts school for the disabled said electric shocks were administered to students - sometimes as they bathed - for offenses as minor as nagging, swearing and sloppy appearance.

"Various injuries to students have been reported" at the Judge Rotenberg Center, according to the report released Wednesday by the New York Education Department.

The school in Canton, Massachusetts, receives $50 million a year from New York state to care for and educate about 150 youths because there is no space available in New York for the intensive treatment.

The education department said in a written statement the school must "cease certain interventions that threaten the health and safety of students at the school. Failure to do so would affect its approval to serve New York state students."

The center's attorney, Michael Flammia, called the allegations "absolutely not true" and said the state ignored its own November report that determined the center was doing an excellent job. He alleged the most recent evaluation was biased and prompted by a parent's lawsuit.

Education Department spokesman Alan Ray disputed Flammia's characterization of the earlier report, saying that it found compliance only in a limited number of areas.

The Rotenberg Center provides an intensive, 24-hour program that begins with a typical school setting, but about half the residents require the "aversive therapy" of electric shock, according to Rotenberg staff. The center describes the one- to two-second shocks as similar to a bee sting.

For years, the state has contracted with the facility, where autistic and other disabled students wear backpack-like devices that shock them when they misbehave.

Some New York parents said electric shock helped improve their children's behavior. Some of the youths had repeatedly bitten themselves or slammed their heads against walls so violently there was a concern they could blind themselves.

"It all comes down to a philosophical opposition to this form of treatment," Flammia said.

Shock Therapy

I thought shock therapy went out a long time ago. I am apalled to learn that these kids wear shock inducing backpacks. Why not run out to Petco and just get some shock collars or choke chains?

**Confed999** · 16 Jun 06,, 02:13

Originally Posted by TopHatsLiberal

I am apalled to learn that these kids wear shock inducing backpacks.

Probably better than them beating their heads so much they could cause themselves to go blind though...

**THL** · 16 Jun 06,, 02:49

Originally Posted by Confed999

Probably better than them beating their heads so much they could cause themselves to go blind though...

These people never heard of padding or helmets? C'Mon....shocking backpacks? That's horrible.

**Confed999** · 16 Jun 06,, 03:00

Originally Posted by TopHatsLiberal

These people never heard of padding or helmets?

That won't get them to stop though.

Originally Posted by TopHatsLiberal

C'Mon....shocking backpacks? That's horrible.

I would think there's a better way too, but I'm no expert.

**bonehead** · 16 Jun 06,, 17:42

Shocking disabled people while bathing?!. I am no expert, but that is an exellent way to kill. I don't know about the rest of you guys, but if someone shocked me there definately would be some swearing involved.

I know of a program for kids who had behavioral problems and a doggy chock collar is just what they need as these kids know right from wrong, but think they do not have to follow the rules and try to get away with everything they can even when they know they can't.

**dalem** · 16 Jun 06,, 19:52

Can we shock normal kids? Annoying batch of little b@stards, the lot.

-dale

**THL** · 16 Jun 06,, 20:15

Originally Posted by dalem

Can we shock normal kids? Annoying batch of little b@stards, the lot.

-dale

I second the motion.

There should be some sort of shock gun that can be quietly aimed at peoples children in the mall or in the store that instantly stops the whining and their ability to push the cart (which they should never have their grimy little sticky nasty fingers on anyway).

**dalem** · 16 Jun 06,, 20:35

In Daletopia THL will be appointed to the position of Minister of Moms.

-dale

**THL** · 16 Jun 06,, 20:50

Originally Posted by dalem

In Daletopia THL will be appointed to the position of Minister of Moms.

-dale

Yea!! I get a crown, and even better, a stun gun!!

Woo Hoo!!

**dalem** · 16 Jun 06,, 20:57

Originally Posted by TopHatsLiberal

Yea!! I get a crown, and even better, a stun gun!!

Woo Hoo!!

The badge of office is a tiara, I believe. But it is glittery.

-dale

**gunnut** · 16 Jun 06,, 21:36

I have a feeling that this report doesn't tell the whole story.

"Disabled" could mean someone with a "learning disability," meaning they are very hyper and aggressive.

I saw a program on one of them news shows about a school like this on the east coast, which could very well be this school. The subject of the show was a big kid, late teens, probably 6' and very well built. He was shocked whenever he made an aggressive or threatening move toward anyone. It's the only way to make him learn how not to harm others.

**bonehead** · 16 Jun 06,, 23:52

Poor Tophatter. A year ago she was cracking the whip, six months ago it was attack by kittens, and now she has a stun gun. That relationship is not going stale.

**troung** · 17 Jun 06,, 00:27

sometimes as they bathed - for offenses as minor as nagging, swearing and sloppy appearance.

Shocking someone while wet? For cussing? Sloppy dress? Complaining?

Seems like the people who run the place probably need to get hit with a stun belt a couple times.

The school in Canton, Massachusetts, receives $50 million a year from New York state to care for and educate about 150 youths because there is no space available in New York for the intensive treatment.

That's all I had to hear... public funding...

**THL** · 17 Jun 06,, 01:08

Originally Posted by gunnut

I have a feeling that this report doesn't tell the whole story.

"Disabled" could mean someone with a "learning disability," meaning they are very hyper and aggressive.

I saw a program on one of them news shows about a school like this on the east coast, which could very well be this school. The subject of the show was a big kid, late teens, probably 6' and very well built. He was shocked whenever he made an aggressive or threatening move toward anyone. It's the only way to make him learn how not to harm others.

Ya know, I will be the first one to stand up and promote mandatory spankings for out of control mis-behaving children. I will admit to smacking Kenzie back on the rare occasions that she has smacked me first. I will even own up to turning the lock on her bedroom door around so that when I was having trouble getting her to stay in bed, I could close and lock her door until she decided to go to sleep. (I will even say that I am currently about to physically pick her up and take her into her room and put her pajamas on her myself if I have to tell her to do it one...more...time...

)...........

But shocking children to get them to behave and not to be aggressive? How is using an electric current going to help this child become less aggressive? And what is the plan for when this 16 year old turns 18? Is some member of this sadistic hospital going to follow him around as an adult with a remote controlled zapper?

"He did not let that woman go through the door first"....bzzzzt

"He looked crossly at that other man that just pulled out in front of him".....bzzzzt

"He told some child in the movie theatre to shut the hell up"....bzzzt