Is it Time to Change Time Out Procedures?

Introduction

Time out is a widely used discipline measure to correct misbehavior--usually the type that interfers with the learning process. Time out strategies work by removing a student from a classroom and placing him in isolation. It is used as a temporary measure to calm the student, while at the same time allowing the teacher to regain control. Most students do not like being removed from the regular activities of the classroom, and their removal is a reminder to them that their behavior must change to remain part of the larger group.

Time Out Locations and Other Considerations

Some teachers remove a student from the classroom and place him in the hallway as a time out location. Other teachers move the student's chair to a remote part of the classroom and have him face the wall. Still other educators have constructed, through the use of room dividers or portable bulletin boards a small space, designed for time out purposes. Some schools, however, are fortunate enough to have a designated location with a full time supervisor.

Teachers and administrators must be careful that the time out location is safe, accessible and visible. Students in time out should be visible to a school adult at all times. State departments of education and local school boards are clamping down on school districts' use of time out rooms. This is in response to stories of students banging their heads against walls or panicking as a result of being in a locked room or spending an unreasonable amount of time in a school's time out room. Locked time out rooms have been scathingly criticized by parents and others. Recent regulations in many states have banned locked time out rooms and placed limits on unlocked time-out interventions to 15 minutes an episode for special education students.

A good rule of thumb about length of time is that time out should be brief. Some schools use one minute for each year of the student's age as a guide.

You can discover what Minnesota has learned from parent and teacher input about this problem and steps they have planned to take by visiting their website.

Illinois has requirements as part of the School Code (23 Illinois Administrative Code) to govern the use of isolated time out. In Illinois time out rooms must have:

1. The same ceiling height as surrounding rooms.
2. Be constructed of materials that cannot be used by students to harm themselves or others.
3. Be free of electrical outlets, exposed wiring, and be designed so students cannot climb up the walls.
4. Be designed to permit continuous visual monitoring and communication with the student.
5. An adult who is responsible for supervising the student must remain within two feet of the enclosure.
6. The adult responsible for supervising the student must be able to see the student at all times.

You can view Illinois' time out policy and its physical restraint policy by viewing a copy of the memo on this subject from the state superintendent.

Advantages of Time Out

1. Time out prevents contagious effects on other students since the disruptive student is removed from the environment.
2. It gives teachers time to collect their thoughts and to regain classroom control, especially if the situation was disruptive.
3. It gives the student being disciplined time to settle down.

Disadvantages of Time Out

1. The teacher must still supervise the student. As noted, some state regulations are very clear on the supervision issue. This makes it difficult for the teacher to place the student in a space separate from the classroom and students isolated within a classroom still can receive reinforcement from classmates.
2. Time out does not teach the student any alternative appropriate behaviors.

Summary and Recommendations

Time out as a form of student discipline has been used by teachers and administrators for many years. The practical application of the strategy has always been difficult unless there is a designated time out room with a full time supervisor. Many local boards of education and state board of education now have stringent guidelines that must be followed if time out is to be used.

To send a student out of class with nothing constructive to do but to sit usually invites more problems. Idle students often create more problems for themselves. Some students write on their desk, or take it apart, while others simply fall asleep.

Schools that use time out as a form of discipline would do well to include a short written lesson for the misbehaving student. This would provide a constructive way for the student to fill their time and to learn from his mistake.

The Advantage Press, Inc. publishes a number of behavior packets that correspond to a student's misbehavior. Packets help students understand the basis for school rules and the reason these rules need to be followed. Students are led to realize why their behavior was wrong and are dissuaded from repeating mistakes. Packets help students change through self-evaluation and goal-setting exercises. Answers provided by the student give teachers and administrators a basis for further discussion to prevent future problems.

Social Worker, Jerome R. Gardner, at his website mentioned the following about our Individual Behavior Learning Packets in conjunction with assigning students to time out:

"The purpose of time out is to remove opportunities for reinforcement to reduce incompatible, undesirable behaviors. The procedure does not teach alternative behavior. However, coupled with reinforcement for appropriate behavior and Individual Behavior learning Packets, time out can be an effective management tool for many problem behaviors."