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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Mr Sandman on December 11, 2004, at 20:51:31
THis is a recommendation of President Bush's "New Freedom Commission" that found its way into his "No Child Left Behind" legislation now pending in Congress. All school children
would be screened without parental consent, and their teachers would be tested as well.As much as I would like to see broader access to mental health care and timely diagnosis of major mental illness in young people,the potential for commercial and political abuse of such a vast federal program rather frightens me. It wasn't too long ago That the Soviets defined political dissidence as a mental illness and treated it with heavy doses of anti-psychotics.(Which, by the way are back in vogue in "atypical" formulations, still
under patent and highly profitable.)
Here's a link to the overview from the British Medical Journal:
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/328/7454/1458
The American Psychiatric Association has played down the controversy.
Any comments?
Posted by MKB on December 11, 2004, at 21:12:17
In reply to Screen All US Schoolkids for Mental lllness: Bush, posted by Mr Sandman on December 11, 2004, at 20:51:31
Even though I agree with President Bush on many issues, I agree with you on this one. The potential for abuse is too great. This initiative must be stopped.
Furthermore, for the record, I am also opposed to the No Child Left Behind Act. I was also opposed to the Texas education reforms, which have done tremendous harm to the education of children in Texas. It is because of them that I left the Texas public school system after 27 years as an educator.
Posted by alexandra_k on December 12, 2004, at 12:56:54
In reply to Screen All US Schoolkids for Mental lllness: Bush, posted by Mr Sandman on December 11, 2004, at 20:51:31
I guess it would make a eugenics policy easier to implement...
Posted by AuntieMel on December 13, 2004, at 14:36:45
In reply to Re: Screen All US Schoolkids for Mental lllness: Bush » Mr Sandman, posted by MKB on December 11, 2004, at 21:12:17
Thank you for that one. I moved to a "better" school district because where I was "taught to the test"
No worry about No Child Left Behind. It isn't funded and states are opting out of it one by one.
Mel (also in Texas)
Posted by MKB on December 14, 2004, at 10:04:54
In reply to Re: Screen All US Schoolkids for Mental lllness: B » MKB, posted by AuntieMel on December 13, 2004, at 14:36:45
Here is a link for learning more about some of the problems with No Child Left Behind.
http://nochildleft.com/index.html
A book called "Many Children Left Behind - How the No Child Left Behind Act is Damaging Our Children and Our Schools" explains the problems more in detail.
In my (informed) view, the education reforms that have taken place in Texas, and now the whole country, are not good for children or for public education as a whole. As a lifelong educator (30+ years, excellent evaluations, and M.Ed.), it has been truly heartbreaking to me, and, as a side note, has actually been one of the main factors in my own struggles with "mental illness." I tried to buck the system and lost.
Just one tidbit to think about: In the mid 1990s in Texas, when my son was in the 9th grade, there were over 900 students in his class. When he graduated, there were only 500 or so in his class. Where did these children go? Many of them dropped out because they could not graduate, regardless of their grades, unless they passed the "exit exam."
Posted by AuntieMel on December 14, 2004, at 12:16:44
In reply to No Child Left Behind » AuntieMel, posted by MKB on December 14, 2004, at 10:04:54
You're preaching to the choir on this one. <smile>
I finally got the opportunity to finish up college in the mid to late 80s. I partly paid for my tuition and got spending money by tutoring math and physics in the college tutoring center. Dropouts? Bad enough. Graduates? Abominable. I was supposed to tutor MATH and ended up teaching people how to do fractions!
I had friends that quit teaching in the same time frame. Even pre TAAS they were stymied by the extra paperwork required by Mark White (it was White, wasn't it?)
I had one kid graduate in 92 and another one in 02. I didn't home school, but I sure spent a lot of time filling in the gaps.
Another gripe of mine with the Texas schools, and it could be all states for all I know. They are all judged by how the kids do - and they assume that ***ALL*** kids need courses to prep for college. When I was in the system it was understood that lots of kids just weren't college material and these kids were taught what they needed to learn to survive in life and were also usually taught a trade. These days they are taught, by implication, that if they can't handle the college prep courses that they are failures! Geez, Louise! Being a skilled plumber or mechanic or ac repairman or carpenter isn't anything to be ashamed of!!
Argh. You hit a topic I have very strong opinions on. Rant over for now.
Posted by rayww on March 7, 2005, at 0:48:52
In reply to Re: No Child Left Behind » MKB, posted by AuntieMel on December 14, 2004, at 12:16:44
I completely agree with you AuntieMel. The sad thing is Canada doesn't want to be left behind either. We are following in your footsteps.
This is the end of the thread.
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