Fairfax County Public Schools has crossed the line with their "depression survey" (Oakton: co-op, home)

[tysonsengineer]

Originally Posted by IndiaLimaDelta

Yet another reason for homeschooling...

Homeschooling in Fairfax is like going to a swimming pool at the beach.

Just my opinion

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Tone509

My educator wife's opinion about this is that one can't have it both ways. In her words, many parents want schools to help to determine which students might be a danger to themselves and others; not participating in this survey may prevent one of the more effective ways of doing so. She also figures that students would have the choice to opt out.

That's one of those things like how we love our Congressman but hate everyone else's. We're fine with assessing other peoples' kids, not just our own since there's no possible way they could have a problem.

[AnonymouseX]

Originally Posted by Tone509

My educator wife's opinion about this is that one can't have it both ways. In her words, many parents want schools to help to determine which students might be a danger to themselves and others; not participating in this survey may prevent one of the more effective ways of doing so. She also figures that students would have the choice to opt out.

Opting out makes you a target of suspicion...

[CaliTerp07]

I guess I see it as, if you already know your child has depression and you are getting them help for it, great! If they raise red flags on the survey and it causes you to get involved and get your child the help they need, wonderful! If your kid is hunky dory and doesn't need any help, no harm no foul.

What's the worst case scenario? Your child screens as needing help, but after talking to the counselor and parents everyone determines nothing is wrong and the kid missed 45 minutes of class? Seems a small price to pay if it saves any kids some agony and pain during what can be a really difficult period of life.

If it really bothers you, opt out...and then have those kinds of discussions with your kids at home. I know from conversations with my 8th graders that many of them don't have parents they can talk to about these things. The counselors at school are a great source of help to kids who are struggling with anxiety and depression and have parents who are unaware, unable to help, or are even sometimes the cause of the depression (as was the case with a student I had last year). In a perfect world, the teachers are observant enough to refer these kids to the counselors early, but with 140 kids on my roster some of them are bound to slip through the cracks. Maybe this survey will identify a few of them earlier.

[CAVA1990]

Wouldn't the teachers be able to flag those kids most likely to have these issues? They do that for identifying the gifted ones. I've heard a lot of elementary school teachers say they can tell which kids are most likely to become criminals. Perhaps they could take a more targeted approach.

[michgc]

Originally Posted by Tone509

My educator wife's opinion...

Hey, did you just get married? I don't remember you using the term "my wife" before.

[newgatedenizen]

Originally Posted by tysonsengineer

Homeschooling in Fairfax is like going to a swimming pool at the beach.

Just my opinion

We were at the beach a few years ago during a sea jelly invasion. It was nice to have a beach house with a pool that week. Likewise, during a difficult period we took the option of home-schooling one of our kids for a few years. Although the child is back in the FCPS (and doing well) we feel it was the right move and worked out extremely well.

[CaliTerp07]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Wouldn't the teachers be able to flag those kids most likely to have these issues? They do that for identifying the gifted ones. I've heard a lot of elementary school teachers say they can tell which kids are most likely to become criminals. Perhaps they could take a more targeted approach.

There is a test for identifying gifted children too.

As I said above, I could name 1 or 2 kids I'm worried about, who I've managed to form relationships with and who come to me after school and/or at lunch for remediation help (which opens the door to conversations about life and emotions, etc)...but for many kids with depression they are able to slip by unnoticed because they don't rock the boat or cry out; they become withdrawn. The D's and F's who don't do anything are on my radar, the C+'s who do half their homework and sit quietly during class can often slide by without being a presence.

Sad, but true.

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by michgc

Hey, did you just get married? I don't remember you using the term "my wife" before.

Not to get off-topic, but: yes, last year.

Back to your regularly scheduled programming.

[ACWhite]

Congratulations, Tone509. Hope you will always be happy.