Daily Archive for May 21st, 2009

Teases for the US National Public Radio show “Talk of the Nation” (TOTN) say that it will devote a segment of today’s show to seclusion and restraint. TOTN usually features a guest or two who discuss the topic with host Neal Conan and answer questions from listeners who call or send e-mail to the show.

The Web page for TOTN does not indicate the contents of today’s show, so things might change (or I might simply have it wrong). However, it is noted elsewhere on the NPR site:

Teaching Troubled Kids

When it comes to teaching children with behavioral disorders, handcuffs, tape, and isolation are tools of discipline used in some classrooms. NPR reporter Joe Shapiro reported on these disciplinary methods for Morning Edition earlier this week. Shapiro will continue the discussion in our second hour and take a look at how teachers discipline students with learning disabilities.

If TOTN does devote a segment to seclusion and restraint, I shall be listening and, perhaps, participating. I hope others will, too. And I hope that Mr. Conan and Mr. Shapiro help parents and educators acquire balanced, sensible, humane perspectives on the use of behavior modification procedures. The live segment of the show is recorded from 2:00-4:00 PM, Eastern US time.