Wed 27 Sep 2006
“Bureaucracy IS the `problem child’”
Posted by Susan under Parental Watch Issues , Mental Health Screening , Universal PreschoolA letter that I wrote about a September 19th article in the Bloomington Pantagraph was published today. I don’t think the article I was referring to is linked online, but I wish it had been along with the almost half page picture of the toddlers followed by the article headers. The babes were beautiful, of course, but the message below them was troubling to me.
The emphasis on the article was about a study regarding expelled pre-schoolers and also about finding out what problems babies and pre-schoolers have that should be evaluated by ‘experts’. Also mentioned in the article was the hope by many proponents to have mandated "pre-kindergarten" for all. Here’s some links about the Illinois situation. The same proponents for Preschool for All are the same proponents for Universal Mental Health Screening. The Trib had an article a few months ago laying out the historical track of this
oversight movement statewide and with federal legislation/funding:
Mental Health Needs of Young Children
Here’s the letter and the header "Bureaucracy is the `problem child’"
was the Pantagraph’s:
On the Sept. 19 cover page of the Life section, there was a picture of
two beautiful babies doing what they do best: socializing in the most
charming way with a smiling, appreciative woman.Directly below that was the caption stating “With the expulsion of
preschoolers high, mental health experts tackle behavior issues.'’What’s wrong with this picture?
Ms. Paredes is a Department of Human Services paid mental health
consultant who evaluates ever-changing, ever-progressing toddlers and
preschoolers for “social and emotional needs.'’Directly below the caption was the headline “Problem Child.'’
Notwithstanding the delightful picture and Ms. Paredes’ help with
various families, the progression towards experts universally
evaluating our children for social/emotional needs from infancy up is
disturbing.If one - understandably - doubts this, look to the mandates in the
2003 Illinois Children’s Mental Health Act. Observe how groups such as
Voices for Illinois Children and Ounce of Prevention are writing an
Illinois blueprint of oversight for all children and babies.What have we turned over to strangers and a bureaucracy rather than
parents being able to direct and control their children’s childhood?What if parents don’t want this “help,'’ but follow their own
intuition and direction for their most precious - their children)?The article concentrated on expelled preschoolers. What is the real
“problem'’?Some proponents see a solution by mandating prekindergarten for all
children. But I wonder if the label of “problem child'’ by experts
doesn’t cause harm before even entering kindergarten. Those harsh
labels follow children who know exactly what experts believe of them
through their school years.What happens to their delicate psyche? What stumbling blocks were then
created in each child’s always unique maturation?Let’s re-evaluate what mental health really means to each child.
Susan Ryan
ummm….Dillon, what do you suppose a mental health consultant would have to say about your 22 month old self knocking off half of your baby sister’s tiny little front tooth with your amazing pitch of a 4 oz glass baby bottle across the room? It seemed like your aim was at nowhere in particular, but if people are hired out to find a problem, I guess they could find one with that. You have to wonder.
Posts related to the above:
Newborn Mental Health Screening Right Here, Right Now
Letter Opposing “Government Knows Best Variety”
If the idea is introduced, the idea can become a reality