Mississippi's second largest school district is putting on hold a new policy intended to limit the use of physical restraint and seclusion of school children. Community activists say the proposed new rules are still too weak.
Late Tuesday night, the Jackson Public School board pulled a new set of rules following complaints.
Pam Dollar is the parent of a now grown autistic son.
She says she regrets allowing her son to by routinely physically restrained as a form of discipline.
“I was depending on that time on the advice of educators and the people who were supposed to be the experts. And I trusted them,”
Dollar was among the people who asked JPS to take more time to review the new policy.
Board president Otha Burton agreed to delay a decision until after the new year.
“At the end of the day, we want what you want. And we want what is best for the children. And that is good policy. Good administration. Good education,” Burton said.
The JPS decision arose from a lawsuit accusing the district of handcuffing students to railings, desks and other objects.
However, Mississippi is just one of five states that does not have a comprehensive policy governing the use of restraints.
A fact, activists statewide say leads to rampant abuse of the practice, especially among children with disabilities.
