Sometimes it takes a bit of creativity to influence change. Peter Rawitsch wrote a song to express how absurd and cruel it is to put children in a seclusion room in schools. We loved to see Peter wearing his Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint shirt and thank him for his work to bring about change for children.
by Peter Rawitsch
Shirts and pants and
blouses and slacks
belts and purses and shoes,
suits and dresses,
sweater vests and
Halloween party costumes
These things go in a closet.
Kids don’t belong in a closet in school.
These things go in a closet.
Putting kids in a closet is cruel.
Sheets and linens,
a pillow that fits in,
electric blankets and quilts,
soap and shampoo,
a box of tissues,
and multivitamin pills.
These things go in a closet.
Kids don’t belong in a closet in school.
These things go in a closet.
Putting kids in a closet is cruel.
I know you prefer to call it by another name:
Seclusion Room or a Padded Closet.
They’re really both the same.
Mops and buckets
to rinse the suds with,
vacuum cleaners and brooms,
laundry detergent and
dryer sheets
and Clorox for the bathroom.
These things go in a closet.
Kids don’t belong in a closet in school.
These things go in a closet.
Putting kids in a closet is cruel.
Putting kids in a closet is cruel.
Vote to end the seclusion rooms.
Peter Rawitsch © 2022
