INNISFAIL - The province’s decision to ban seclusion rooms in schools won’t impact Chinook’s Edge School Division since the jurisdiction doesn’t operate the controversial units, says superintendent Kurt Sacher.
“We don’t anticipate it (the ban) having any impact on us in the jurisdiction,” said Sacher.
Used in some schools to isolate students who are having behaviour problems, the rooms will no longer be allowed effective September 2019. The rooms have been the subject of recent parent complaints.
Rather than seclusion rooms, Chinook’s Edge makes use of empty classrooms where students having difficulties can be moved until they are OK to return to class, he said.
“We have quiet areas where we would have a student who is really struggling with self-regulation, just not managing their behaviour very well,” he said. “And they would always be under adult supervision and never left alone and certainly not in a locked room.
“They would be under supervision in the quiet area where they would get a little more time to regulate themselves, to just get a handle on their emotions.”
Chinook’s Edge schools don’t have dedicated “quiet areas” set aside for the purpose, he said.
“Most schools just kind of ad lib with what is available in their facility,” he said. “It varies across the division.”
Minister of Education David Eggen said last week: “We can and must do better for our kids. That is why I am making the move to ban the use of seclusion rooms in Alberta through a ministerial order. This means that all seclusion rooms must be decommissioned by the 2019-2020 school year.”
On March 1, Eggen issued a ministerial order banning the rooms effective Sept. 1.
“As a parent and a former teacher, I’ve been disturbed by some of the incidents I’ve heard about involving seclusion rooms," said Eggen. "Our government believes schools must be safe and caring places for all students to learn, especially the most vulnerable.
"I want to thank the members of the working group I appointed to advise me on this issue. They made it clear that new guidelines alone were not sufficient to limit the use of these rooms and their advocacy helped shape the decision to sign the order.”
The order permits school boards to apply to the minister for exemptions, but only if they can demonstrate support from parents, he said.
The student advocacy group Inclusion Alberta has come out in support of the decision to ban seclusion rooms.
“Following the alarming results of the survey Inclusion Alberta conducted and the lawsuit launched by Marcy Oakes and Warren Henschel on behalf of their son, Alberta Education has finally committed to banning seclusion rooms and ensuring an enforceable mechanism is in place to hold school authorities accountable,” said Inclusion Alberta president Barb McIntyre.
“We applaud the minister for listening to the voices of parents and students and showing the leadership required,” she said. “He is to be commended for taking action on behalf of students who often are perceived to have no voice.
“This is a day to be celebrated as it will no longer be possible for young children to be locked in solitary confinement when at school, or for their parents to be filled with worry when they send their children to school.”
Inclusion Alberta CEO Trish Bowman added: “We are thrilled with the announcement of this very necessary and welcome decision. We know more remains to be done including increasing positive approaches and training for teachers and school personnel, but Alberta is leading the country on this issue.”
