Akwesasne parents outraged after photos circulate of 'time out box' in school

Photos of a wooden box, allegedly used for student "time outs" at an elementary school in Akwesasne, drew shock and anger from parents this week and have prompted an investigation by the school district.

Akwesasne Mohawk Territory, near Cornwall, Ont., straddles the Ontario, Quebec and New York state border. St. Regis Mohawk School is a kindergarten to Grade 5 school on the U.S. side, and is one of four schools in the Salmon River Central School District.

Chrissy Jacobs, a resident of Akwesasne and a former Salmon River Central School District board member, posted the photos to Facebook Monday after they were sent to her by a teacher who’d recently resigned from the school.

A statement published to the school district's social media on Monday attributed to Superintendent Stanley Harper said the box depicted in the photos had not been used at St. Regis school and that the district had previously decided not to use that specific device.

Jacobs said four parents came forward at a community meeting on Tuesday night who said their children had "identified the box and said they were put in that box." Jacobs said they went to the police.

The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Service said matters were pending investigation and it wouldn't be able to provide any further comment.

While some parents were shocked, others say the school has a history of mistreatment and are demanding action to improve conditions for their children.

The statement posted to social media Monday said the school district allows for the use of time outs in two situations: when a situation poses immediate concern for someone's physical safety, or in conjunction with a behavioural intervention plan "designed to teach and reinforce alternative appropriate behaviours.”

“Any space used for time out, as well as the circumstances leading to its use, must meet strict legal and regulatory requirements,” the statement said. 

Thomas Hathaway, a parent from the Saint Regis Mohawk Reservation at Akwesasne, said his partially non-verbal son Connor, 8, was put inside the box.

The box was located in his son’s classroom. Hathaway said he heard the box was built for an autistic student in Connor's class. 

He said his son communicated to him children who are angry or sad go in the box when they need to "calm down."

"[My son] had to watch his friend get put in there, and that's what hurt him more than actually going in there," he said. 

He said his son, who is typically "gentle and easy going" has been acting out more this year, which Hathaway thinks is a result of seeing the box used.