Scott Garrett tops himself, votes for child abuse in school

by: Hopeful

Sat Mar 06, 2010 at 07:48:01 PM EST

In a move to provide the first comprehensive protections for children against abusive disciplinary actions by schools, the House on Wednesday easily approved a bill to restrict the use of forcible restraint and seclusion, in which children are held down, drugged or isolated in a locked room to control their behavior.

and, no, it's not an imaginary problem:

The legislation stems in part from a government report last year that found evidence that hundreds of children - from preschool age to high school - had been traumatized or physically harmed by being held down or locked alone in rooms, some even tied to chairs. Many had developmental problems or were in special needs programs; many others were in regular classes. Some children have died, apparently because of overly aggressive discipline, according to numerous reports over the last decade.

Our other New Jersey Republicans rightly broke with their party to support the bill, but Garrett is a right-wing fanatic. Down With Tyranny and Digby have more on this shameful vote.