Posted on 04/20/2005 5:56:11 AM PDT by ChildOfThe60s
TALLAHASSEE -- Actresses Kirstie Alley and Kelly Preston pleaded with lawmakers Tuesday to prohibit schools from denying services to students who won't take mood-altering drugs to treat mental disorders.
Alley sobbed as she told members of the House Education Council the stories of children who committed suicide or died after taking psychotropic drugs.
"Here's an example of parents who didn't know what could happen who just blindly went along with referrals and information," Alley said before holding up blown-up, color photos of children she said died after being prescribed medicines like Zoloft and Ritalin. "None of these children were psychotic before they took these drugs, none of these children were suicidal before they took these drugs."
Both actresses are Scientologists and after the meeting said they were opposed to any child taking psychotropic medication.
Children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can be eligible for special education programs for students with disabilities, including curriculum adjustments, alternative classrooms and increased parent and teacher involvement. The bill would prohibit schools receiving state money to deny those services if those students don't take prescribed drugs to treat the condition.
Alley's pleas, though, came after the committee stripped language from the bill that would have required schools to tell parents that there is no medical test to diagnose a mental disorder and that they can refuse a psychological screening for their children.
The committee also removed part of the bill that would have required schools to inform parents that physical conditions may be the cause of mental and behavioral problems, that they should consult with a medical doctor about such problems and that a diagnosed mental disorder will stay on a student's permanent record.
Committee Chairman Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, said the language was written in such a way that schools may feel they can't refer students for psychological evaluation. He agreed that the medications are overprescribed, but said that they help children when prescribed properly.
"For certain patients, it's absolute magic the order it brings to their life," he said.
The bill's sponsor, Gus Barreiro, criticized him, saying he was interfering because his son is a psychiatrist.
"I would never vote on a bill that affects my family member," said Barreiro, R-Miami. "Stripping out complete disclosure from the parents and complete choice for the parent is wrong."
Earlier, Preston also asked lawmakers to keep the disclosure language.
"I cannot comprehend how anyone would oppose a bill that ensures parents are given all the information needed to make an informed decision for their child," she said.
Once the language was taken out, the bill (HB 209) passed unanimously.
Anti-depressants compete with the products and therapies sold by Scientologists. That's why they hate them.
How old is your granddaughter? I find it hard to believe that parents with very much current knowledge of the public schools would prefer any of them to a private Christian school in most circumstances, no matter their religious convictions or lack thereof. If someone had made me that offer for my kids, I would have taken it in a heartbeat for my youngest. My older girl was in advanced classes (which are both better scholastically, and tend to get the better teachers), and played in the school's top band (which wins awards all over the country), so I'm not sure she would have wanted to leave all that. But, I think my youngest would have been MUCH better off.
However, the way to do it is to start them there from the very beginning, in kindergarten. After a certain age (different for different kids) it gets very hard to get them to leave their friends.
Nice....
She's thirteen. They go to church but it's a Presbyterian church and I don't know if the pastor is born again or not. He's a lawyer! Sounds worse and worse, doesn't it? He seems very nice but I want my grandkids to go to a church where they learn how to pray and have a personal relationship with Jesus. She has asked Jesus to come into her heart but I don't know how much she's being taught, either at home or in church. I'm not there.
She's totally hot. :)
I am very proud of her, obviously.
She has backpacked all over Asia (including Mongolia) & is a very good photographer. Outstanding pictures of these travels are on her site. Along with VERY useful travel tips gleaned from taking the road less traveled (literally).
If you look at it, sign her guestbook & mention you are a Freeper.
http://shelley.dingeeadvertising.com/
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