An Unjustifiable Invasion of Family Privacy

An Unjustifiable Invasion of Family Privacy By: Nicole L. Kopek Prof: Dr. Randy Laist Advanced writing June 8, 2013

An Unjustifiable Invasion of Family Privacy

Political figures, in order to retain voter approval in the aftermath of Sandy Hook tragedy, overstepped their authority and put bills forward which violate parent's Constitutional rights, undermine their parental authority, and insult their ability to be responsible parents. Members of a social group often face prejudice that causes a change in a person's self-concept. A stigma is a social label that changes behavior or behaviors towards a person as well as changing a person's identity. Social stigma comes in different forms; it can be based on age, social class, culture, sexual orientation, gender, race, appearance, physical or mental disability, disease or illness. Dr. Thomas Szasz (1986, 1996, 1998), a very well

respected and sought after psychiatrist, who published a book in 1961 "The Myth of Mental Illness" argued that mental illness is neither mental nor illness, but that are simply behaviors. Behaviors that are deemed mental illnesses are created as a label or to create a stigma with the intent of social control. Again, Dr. Szasz who practiced for more than 60 years, believed that disease can only mean something people have, while behaviors and actions are what people do. His renowned work won him dozens of national and international awards. "Dr. Thomas Szasz made a major contribution to the issue of the misuse of psychiatry, and his message is still important today." said Dr. E. Fuller Torrey, founder of the Treatment Advocacy Center in Arlington, Virginia. (New York Times, 2012).

An Unjustifiable Invasion of Family Privacy

Due to the recent Sandy Hook school shooting tragedy, a number of issues and Senate Bills are being proposed, especially in the state of Connecticut. The bills being proposed by the state are attempts to prevent another school tragedy by intervening in adolescents lives before it's too late. In fact, the bill sets the foundation for much more. One of the recent bills introduced by Senator Toni Nathaniel Harp and Representative Toni E. Walker is Senate Bill 374: "An act requiring Behavioral Health Assessments for Children." The amendment would require that each pupil enrolled in public school at grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 and each home-schooled child ages 12, 14, and 17 receive a behavioral health assessment. Take note that that this bill does not affect children attending private schools. The health care provider performing the assessment would be required to complete a form designed by the State Board of Education verifying that the assessment had been completed. This proposed bill would be mandatory, and done without any indication that the assessment is needed. First, this bill, in fact, targets home-schooled children specifically and requires them to get sporadic evaluations and inspections, while parental consent for the evaluation is not determined to be pertinent. Second, the bill would require the State to assess and document your child's level of compliance with State-sanctioned norms of behavior; thereby they have the power of producing a large amount of verification for

An Unjustifiable Invasion of Family Privacy

intervention. This would be based on the present norms of behavior that the State holds for acceptable/normal behavior. Third, because the mental-health standards will continue to change over time, no calculation can happen, because existing mental health guidelines are not subject to objection, and the same will continue with any future mental health guidelines placed in the DSM-IV-TR. With so many

"normal" behaviors now being considered mental illness, for instance children who have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), which causes children to act impulsively, makes them unable to stay focused and on task, and cause them to have little or no attention span. This disorder can now be treated with prescription medications. These are behaviors, not mental illness, yet it meets the Diagnostic Criteria as such in the DSM-IV-TR and no one can explain where this disease came from, or why it didn't exist 50 years ago. Other examples include depression, obesity, alcoholism, drug addiction, sexual abuse, sexual desires, sexual dysfunction, homosexuality at one time, and now women who have severe PMS meet the diagnostic criteria for specific mental disorders. It is speculated that these things have been put into place as pseudo (false) psychological conditions to explain, control and stigmatize or label unexplained behavior, and for those who violated social rules or social norms and have "gone against" the grain of society. Calling people mentally ill denies the concepts of free will and responsibility for one's actions, along with using labels and stigmas as a means of social

An Unjustifiable Invasion of Family Privacy

control. Dr. Szasz felt the above example is known as medicalization. (Szasz 1963, 1984). Medicalization is the process by which the medical profession has attempted to medicalize many forms of deviance, claiming that they represent mental illnesses. Dr. Thomas Szasz disagrees, asserting that they are problem behaviors, not mental illnesses. The human conditions and problems come to be defined and treated as a medical condition and then the subject of a medical study, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment. It seems more to be a form of control that kicks in when the social system fails. Once a condition is classified as medical or psychological, a medical model of "disability" tends to be used in place of a social model. From a sociological perspective, mental disorders are types of deviant behaviors, not a disease process or a mental illness. I can see it now: "If you talk to God you're spiritual, however, if God talks to you, you're schizophrenic!" Fourth, this bill will take away the very goal for pursuit of happiness in a so called fee society. Many families home-school their children because of firm religious beliefs, and the perceived downward erosion of moral values in the public school system. The parents who have chosen to home-school have done so based on many factors. For example some parents choose to home school because on average, home schooled children are better educated based on cumulative, standardized testing. Homeschooled children have a smaller class size, therefore provided personal educational attention.

An Unjustifiable Invasion of Family Privacy

Homeschooled children can move at a faster or slower pace based on the child's ability, while being free of Government influence and political agendas. As the child's parent is the teacher, they will encounter less inconsistencies with their teacher. A Child who is home schooled will be free of peer pressure from drugs, alcohol, and sexual pressures, and will not have to encounter bullying, being labeled or stigmatized. On average, home schooled children outperform their public and private school counterparts on standardized tests and at every grade level nationwide, performing at least one full grade level higher on tests. These statistics are recorded and have been compared with both children who are taught by a parent without a college education and those whom are taught by parents with a college education. It is been proven that a parent does a better job, than the qualified educated teacher in a public school system. "According to the Connecticut Behavioral Health Partnership, a state organization made up of the Department of Children and Families, Department of Social Services, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and others, a behavioral health assessment is quite comprehensive and invasive." said Dee Black, from the Home School legal Defense Association (ASDA). According to WebMD, a mental health assessment gives your doctor an overall picture of how well you feel emotionally and are able to think, reason, and remember (cognitive functioning). A mental health assessment may be done by your primary care doctor or by a psychiatrist,

An Unjustifiable Invasion of Family Privacy

psychologist, or social worker. These assessments are geared appropriately for the child's age and stage of development. A mental health assessment is done to find out about or check on mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, and anorexia nervosa. These assessments will help determine the difference between mental and physical health issues. They are used to evaluate a person or child who has been referred for treatment because of problems at school, work, or home. They can be used to find out if a child has a learning disabilities, or behavior disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder (CD), or obsessivecompulsive disorder (OCD). Mental health assessment are also used to assess a person who has been arrested for a crime, such as drinking and driving or who are physical abuse. A behavioral health assessment includes an interview with a trained professional, and may involve a physical exam, and written or verbal tests. During the interview the person administering the test will pay close attention to appearance (standing up straight? Are your shoes tied? Are you neat and clean?), movement, type of mood, how you behave, and ask thoughts about life. Many questions will be asked that are very personal about family, friends, and living conditions. The professional will monitor how well you are able to carry out routine activities, such as eating, dressing, or school work. Many times a in depth review of past medical history, family

An Unjustifiable Invasion of Family Privacy

members and any medications must be reveled. Some of the tests include testing reflexes, balance, and senses, such as hearing, taste, sight, smell, and touch. Sometimes mental health assessments include lab tests such as a blood or urine sample to check for thyroid function, electrolyte levels, or toxicology screening (to look for drugs or alcohol issues). Although many feel compelled to have these kinds of protective measures in place, because it is giving those who are afraid of what is happening in the world a false sense of security, it is also opening the doors for something much bigger. It is being speculated by many that the intentions of the state and federal government go beyond what the initial wording of the bills state. Since a large contingent of people believe that we are now witnessing an attack on homeschooling in at least two states, one might suspect a hidden agenda in the United States which seems to be gaining steam. Unfortunately, that agenda is to separate children from their parents so that the children will not be contaminated by influences which may conflict with the desires of the State. Thus, with the parental influence removed, the State is better able to direct and control the content and manner in which a generation will see and interact with each other. Social classes differ in opportunities for income and education. Conflict theorists feel that in regards to a citizen's power and social status, an unequal balance takes place and is the main distinction of the population. Accordingly, they stress how unequal amounts of monetary funding of

An Unjustifiable Invasion of Family Privacy

schools and culturally biased IQ test, tracking, and other hidden messages help to reinforce the social inequality. The educational system and law reproduces the social class structure, as well as society's divisions by raceethnicity. Regardless of ability, children of the wealthy are usually placed in college-bound tracks and children of the poor in vocational tracks. The educational system helps pass privilege (or lack thereof) across generations. Unless we stand together and oppose the social injustices that are happening now, our future generations will have little privacy or a means to protect their families. I strongly oppose Bill 374, please vote against this bill. This unwarranted invasion of family privacy and violation of parental rights must be stopped now. Please write to or email members of the Senate and Representative committees today. A list of the members of the Senate and Representative info@hslda.org. committees can be found at
http://www.hslda.org or

An Unjustifiable Invasion of Family Privacy

References Krieger, Michael. A Connecticut Familys Battle Against The State February 10, 2013 Henslin, James M. Essentials of Sociology: A Down-To-Earth Approach 9th Edition. Illinois University, Edwardsville Press, 2011 American Sociological Association Department of Research and Development. Asanet.org n.d 2013 Author unknown. Understanding the Parental Right Amendments. Parentalrights.org 2013 HSLDA (Home Schooling Legal Defense Association, Connecticut home school statute: 2012-2013 Edition

An Unjustifiable Invasion of Family Privacy

www.hslda.org/cms/?q=bill/senate-bill-374-requires-homeschooled-childrenages-12... February 4, 2013 Carey, Benedict. The New York Times Dr. Thomas Szasz, Psychiatrist Who Led Movement Against His Field, Dies at 92 September 11, 2012 Marten, L. Melanie. Overview of Common Arguments Against Homeschooling July 12, 2007 Hales RE, Yudofsky SC, eds. (2008). "The Psychiatric interview and mental status examination. Textbook of Clinical Psychiatry, 5th ed., Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (2003). Recommendation and rationale. Annals of Internal Medicine. Healthwise Staff. Mental Health Center, "Mental Health Assessment" www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-assessment? page=4&print=true

An Unjustifiable Invasion of Family Privacy