Local school officials later confirmed that at least two boxes had been built and used by staff in November and December of 2025. That disclosure sent more shockwaves through this region of small Upstate New York towns just south of the U.S.-Canada border, which includes the sprawling St. Regis Mohawk Reservation.

Officials with New York state's education department have now quietly issued an official order requiring sweeping reforms in the district.

According to the report obtained by NPR, the state's investigation found at least five elementary-age students with disabilities were confined in a "wooden box for a timeout."

"They were subjected to seclusion when they were placed in 'stations' with the door held shut," states the May 8 order. The report, which offers no details about the children's ages or ethnicity, found that "station" was the district's euphemism for "a wooden box." It also concludes that parents of children held in the boxes weren't notified, a violation of state regulations.

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[–] 1 point 5 months ago

There won’t be and “sweeping reforms” that are enforced.

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  • [–] [S] 3 points 5 months ago

    NPR, you're looking like your old self. Good to see.

    On the article, what the actual fuck? This isn't from old timey times, this is from December of last year.

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  • 8 comments in c/landback@slrpnk.net view that post
    [–] 27 points 5 months ago*

    I clicked before I read the title fully and, like you, I thought this was from 1860 or something. What the fuck.

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  • [–] 16 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (4 children)

    What the actual hell?? I saw this article earlier and thought it was like... a historical thing that happened. Not LAST YEAR. What the fuck

    EDIT: this was in New York. Everyone loves to act like New England is so progressive but what the fuck is this?? Also - the staff members who built the fucking boxes have not been fired. Those motherfuckers should never be allowed to work with children again.

    EDIT 2: Here is a link to their Board of Education and the corresponding email address.

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  • [–] 8 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    It took until 2025 for Oklahoma to pass legislation prohibiting teachers from hitting kids with disabilities. Still allowed to hit other children, they just finally came around to the idea that you can't paddle the autism out of a kid.

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  • [–] 7 points 5 months ago*

    Re: your edit #1, this is far upstate NY, near the Canadian town of Cornwall. I've visited a bit west of there, in Jefferson County, New York (south of Gananoque, Ontario) and by golly it was chockful of MAGA signs. NY is more than the NYC, Albany and Buffalo metro areas, but since most people live there, that's what tends to dictate state policy. Despicable behaviour like that in the article towards Indigenous residents tends to happen at the fringes, unfortunately making it easy to miss from afar.

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  • [–] 16 points 5 months ago

    When existence of the boxes was first revealed in a social media post in December, the school district responded by placing staff members on administrative leave and removing the wooden crates, while initially describing them as "calming stations."

    While the state report has not yet been made public, Stanley confirmed that it includes a long list of violations that require correction, including "the use of seclusion" and "improper physical restraints."

    Some parents told NPR they don't believe these reforms go far enough. Herne noted the district has yet to issue a formal apology. She also said the state education department isn't requiring dismissal of "ten to twelve" staff and faculty members involved in approving, constructing and using the wooden boxes.

    this is absolutely devastating, the pattern of colonisation never changes 💔

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  • [–] 5 points 5 months ago