Schools are already a hotbed of “criminal” activity as assessed by teachers, with students routinely suspended or arrested for having bubble guns, toy guns, or even drawing guns.

In the latter case, a girl of five drew a shape resembling a gun in crayon, then turned the drawing towards a classmate and said “pew, pew!” That was enough for the teacher to report her to school administrators, who then forced the girl to sign a “suicide and homicide” contract, stating that she wouldn’t harm herself or others. They also wanted the girl’s mother to take her into a psychologist for “her issues,” which the mother has rightly refused to do.

But in Texas, it could be that parents won’t be able to refuse that ludicrous demand for much longer.

A new bill proposed by a state representative who is quickly becoming my absolute favorite to despise, Jason Villalba of Dallas, TX – who you may remember from his bill that would make it illegal for citizens to video police – would put the power in teachers’ hands to assess psychological issues in students, force an evaluation from a professional and create a report that would be retained by the police.

From the Free Thought Project:

Now with H.B. 985, Villalba intends to give school officials the authority to force psychological screenings of students that teachers and staff diagnose as having mental health issues. Once the process is set in motion by school officials, parents would be forced to take their child to a mental health professional within 30 days, under threat of suspension of the child from school. “ …the requirement that the parent or guardian, before the expiration of the 30-day period, to avoid suspension of the student under this section, take the student to the nearest local mental health authority or a physician specializing in psychiatry to receive a mental health screening and a certificate of medical examination for mental illness, as described by Section 533.03522(c), Health and Safety Code, that contains the examining physician’s opinion that the student is not a danger to self or others.” While under suspension the child would still receive an education, but they would be sent to an “alternative school.” School administrators would be required under the law to provide the student’s name, address, and information regarding the complaint to the local mental health authorities and the police department upon verification of the complaint. (i) A school counselor or a principal who receives notice

under. Subsection (b) about a student who subsequently is subject to

a notice of intent to suspend under Subsection (g) shall:

(1) provide the student’s name and address and

information concerning the conduct or statement that led to the

notice of intent to suspend to:

(A) the school district police department, if the

school counselor or principal is employed by a school district and

the district has a police department;

(B) the police department of the municipality in

which the school is located or, if the school is not in a

municipality, the sheriff of the county in which the school is

located; and

(C) the local mental health authority nearest the

school;

This is truly a horrendous idea. Not only will teachers, who are rarely licensed or trained to assess mental problems except in special roles, now have this power thrust upon them, but they will be expected to use it by school administrators who are already overzealous in this ridiculous day and age.

Let’s just name the issues here:

Unqualified employees trying to assess mental issues. Permanent records provided to the police based upon an assessment that is based upon an original unprofessional diagnosis. Stigma for children growing up that can lead to actual mental problems due to being singled out from classmates. Potential for expulsion or relocation based upon manufactured mental problem. Possibility of mental and self-esteem issues after being separated from friends and classmates and forced to go to “alternative/special” school. Potential for abuse by teachers who may not “like” student behavior, and will now feel free to report any annoyance as a mental health issue.

Jay Syrmopoulos, who authored the story at Free Thought Project, and I also agree that this situation will mimic that of the the mis-diagnosis of ADHD, which led to an explosion of children on Ritalin and similar drugs that didn’t need them.

What caused that? Teachers diagnosing their inattentive students.

Once a child is in a mental professional’s office, the professional more than likely will to try to find something to justify the child being there, and that could lead to any number of consequences, none of which are fair.

Any teacher who has a problem with a child who is inattentive, defiant or unruly could abuse this power and ruin a child’s life. In truth, it may not even be the child that causes this, but perhaps simply a teacher getting a modicum of revenge on an overbearing parent who is a thorn in the teacher’s side. Who’s to say? The potential for abuse, intentional or not, is staggering and there is no way this type of life-altering ability should rest in the hands of someone wholly unqualified to use it.

Another amazingly stupid bill from Texas Representative Jason Villalba.

Liberty Links!

– American admires wall doodle and is immediately arrested for being Banksy.

– San Diego Police body cam statistics paint a telling picture: complaints down 40%, “personal body force” down 46%.

– Thomas Massie and Mark Pocan team for bill to repeal Patriot Act (and more!)

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