Want to isolate, physically restrain and zap your kids when they step out of line but those annoying social workers just won't get off your back? No problem! Send your mentally disabled, emotionally disturbed kids to a private, but government-funded facility. Thanks to Dr. Israel's PR work with local government, his staff of wannabe teachers will abuse your kids for you and the government will thank them for it.

• Staff shock kids for "nagging, swearing, and failing to maintain a neat appearance" and once threatened to shock a girl who sneezed and then asked for a tissue.
• Some students must "earn" meals by not displaying certain behaviors. Otherwise they are "made to throw a predetermined caloric portion of their food into the garbage."
• When students enter and leave the school each day, "almost all" are wearing some type of restraints, such as handcuffs or leg shackles.
• "Students may be restrained"—on a four-point restraint board or chair—"for extensive periods of time (e.g. hours or intermittently for days)."
• Some students are shocked while strapped to the restraint board.
• A "majority" of employees "serving as classroom teachers" are "not certified teachers."
• Rotenberg's marketing reps bestow presents on prospective families—"e.g. a gift bag for the family, basketball for the student."
• Although the center has described its shock device as "approved" by the FDA in its promotional materials, it "has not been approved."
• The facility collects "comprehensive data" on behaviors it seeks to eliminate, but "there was no evidence of the collection of data on replacement or positive behaviors."
• The facility makes no assessment of the "possible collateral effects of punishment such as depression, anxiety, and/or social withdrawal."

Brought to you by School of Shock Primary Sources.

According to this article, Rotenberg centers must get probate court approval to shock students. Is restraining/isolating/shocking mentally and/or emotionally troubled students an acceptable disciplinary tool? If yes, why can't parents do the same?

This seems just downright sick to me. Who in the world thinks this is ok?

I realize kids can be troublesome, but a backpack to carry around that shocks them? Wow. That's absurd. Maybe a restraint here and there (surely not all the time) and a few drugs to help them cope... and even that seems like a last resort to me.

This quote says it all:


I guess this sums it up. Years of shock treatment- he's still messed up. Not good news for whatever state Rob lives in.

Then you have this paragraph:


I dunno. This is where it gets sticky. Do some kids need shock therapy? Is it a whole lot different than other forms of discipline? (i.e. spanking?)

However- the rest of the article paints a pretty grim picture. I can't imagine what terrible parents think this is ok?

Some people probably need aggressive treatment. But is this is the answer for most of the people there? Wow.