The discovery of wooden “timeout” boxes inside two elementary schools in the Salmon River Central School District has prompted an intense statewide backlash, culminating in a call for immediate intervention from Governor Kathy Hochul. After photos of the enclosed wooden structures circulated on Facebook last week, the governor urged the state Education Department to move quickly, saying, “swift action to investigate and rectify this situation” was necessary.
Hochul described the situation as deeply troubling, stating, “The reporting coming out of the Salmon River Central School District is highly disturbing and raises serious questions regarding the safety of children at this school.” She emphasized the responsibility schools have to protect children, adding, “As a mom, I know firsthand the trust parents place in our schools, and the teachers and administrators who work with our children. School should be a place where every child is safe, respected and supported.”
However, Hochul could not explain how such conduct was permitted to occur undetected under her leadership…