When I was in the seventh grade (2011), my teacher (for half the year) did not like me, he always picked on me, a young girl with a communication disability who was struggling in school and with bullying every day. One day I wrote a note about this teacher to a friend, however, I decided to throw it out before delivering it to my friend. Thie teacher saw me throw out the note and took it from the garbage, he then went through my desk while I was at an extracurricular activity, and then compared the paper to paper in my desk. I was then informed after my after-school extracurricular event that I was to be punished the next day with an "In-school suspension", as my actions were "inexcusable". (writing a note that is).
To put this in context, I was a young girl who was struggling with bullying every day, due to the fact that I was Special Needs, struggling with a rare speech impediment named Apraxia. A large number of my peers and teachers could not understand me. Already I was showing and struggling with the early signs of depression and anxiety due to the tournament I faced by my peers every day. I was in EVERY club in school desperate to try and fit in, my favorite being Leadership and Earth Club. I had NEVER been in even the slightest bit of trouble, this was the very first time I ever did something I "shouldn't" have.
The next day I showed up and was told I was not allowed to play or socialize with my peers before the morning bell, instead I was to sit in one of the "trouble" chairs in the glass office, on display for everyone to see. Before sitting in the office, I had to hand over my backpack, and my cell-phone, which I would not see again until the end of the day. I remember balling my eyes out, already traumatized, and the day had not even begun yet, I was also denied tissues in the morning. Peers stared at me through the windows and teachers whispered about me within view of me. I sat there until after morning announcements, meaning every single child who walked through the front doors, saw me sitting there crying, on display. Once the announcements were down the two students on "in-school suspension" were led down the hall to the library where a table and chair were put to the side for us. We were instructed not to speak to each other, and not the leave the table for any reason, if we needed to use the bathroom a teacher had to escort us to the bathroom and wait outside for us to finish. We were handed worksheets to fill out about "respecting others" (not classwork) to do throughout the day. Our library had a wall which was large windows, every class walking by to go to the computer lab or the gym, would walk by staring at us, as I cried the whole day, physically distressed. Since we were instructed not to move from our table, the library had to bring a tissue box to me as I was so upset all day. When classes came for library time, the teachers would inform their classes not to speak with us as we were the children that were in an "in-school" suspension, therefore labeling us, and me, the girl who was already an outcast due to disability, as the "bad and different" kids. The classes would come and do library time, use the tables around us, read books and work, all while we were told to "stop, watching them and do our worksheets".
Come lunchtime, we were still told to sit in our chairs, as other students spent there lunchtime reading, drawing and writing in the library, we were the "show" for them all to watch, on display. We had to be escorted to the principal's office to eat, where I was informed I was NOT allowed to message or phone my parents. After the rest of the students went inside to eat we were allowed to walk around the school three times, not allowed to play, run, or sit. We walked around the school, while once again all eyes were on us, all the other students looking out of there classroom windows at the "bad and different kids", making me feel even smaller and different then I did before this happened. After our "walking break" we were back at it again, working on the (now tear-soaked) respect worksheets.
After I received the in-school suspension, my view of myself got worse, I began to struggle with mental health issues, I got bullied more, I became fearful of school. So much so that once my teacher retired and we had a "Meet the Teacher" night midway through the year I was scared and shaking while my Mom and I meet her, scared for what she may think of me.

I am asking for this punishment to be rescinded and ended in schools. As someone who has trained to work in schools with at-risk children and youth, this punishment does more harm than good. It is public humiliation, isolation, and a form of harassment. (which is defined as aggressive pressure or intimidation.) There were so many better ways for my issue and so many others that have happened to have been dealt with. For example, it would have been way more beneficial for all parties if the teacher would have done the following, took my recess or lunch away the next day to speak in private about why I was feeling the way I was and how to better help, or support me.
Instead, I am now living with life long scars from this day and the abuse which happened during the day. I still have nightmares from this incident, and still, get fearful when thinking of it. No other child should have to go through this torment. The idea behind an "in-school" suspension is so the child doesn't miss school, but when the punishment is publicly humiliating, harassing, and bullying the student it is doing way more harm then missing school would ever do.