The Transfiguration of Schools to Psyche Wards
OAKLAND – Few would compare suburban high schools to “psychiatric institutions.” Then again, these are not normal times for public education.
“We are becoming a psychiatric institution at this point,” is how Kim Ansh, the vice president of the Ramapo Indian Hills regional board of education, put it as the board opposed spending about $440,000 this coming school year for mental health counseling and treatment. The district runs Ramapo and Indian Hills high schools.
That move in late July electrified the school community with opponents calling it “disgusting,” regressive and a “black mark” on a district serving Franklin Lakes, Oakland and Wyckoff in northern Bergen County.
A special meeting was hastily put together on Tuesday night and the action was reversed. Mental health services will continue to be part of the district when school resumes in about a month.
Most speakers at the meeting condemned the board’s earlier decision and applauded the reversal.
“You are obligated to represent and support us students,” said a high school junior-to-be.
Another woman spoke in more global terms.
“We live in New Jersey, not Florida, not Texas,” she said.
As that comment suggests, public education has become a national issue whether people admit it or not.
This has given rise to a “parents’ rights” lobby, which seems to suggest that parents must control their child’s education in all areas.
This has fueled angry meetings, harsh feelings and litigation all over New Jersey over such things as books, curriculum and the privacy of gay students.
The banning of mental health services in this district appeared well in line with that sentiment.
In fact, when Ansh spoke against the policy in July, she said it “removes parents to some degree.”
That overlooks the possibility school personnel can be the best judge if a student is in need and also the fact some parents may lack the skills and means to handle the problem.
Rui Dionisio, the superintendent, strongly endorsed mental health counseling, adding that doing away with it left him “gravely concerned.”
As Tuesday’s meeting ensued, it was quite obvious that the earlier action would be reversed, as it eventually was – overwhelmingly.
Ansh, for her part, said she did not have enough information about the service when she originally voted.
All well and good, but tension among board members and the audience was obvious.
Judith Sullivan, the board president, more than once threatened to call a recess if members of the audience kept interrupting the goings-on.
Then, there was the board itself and the realization that one board member had filed a police report after an interaction with another at a previous meeting.
Board member Doreen Mariani, who filed the report, lamented how the atmosphere of the regional board is so different from the local board in Wyckoff, where her husband once served.
She said board members in Wyckoff got along and that there was no “minority” or “majority” faction.
But Mariani said the regional board is “galaxies apart” from that, and not in a good way.
“There is harassment, there is intimidation … it is just wrong,” she said.
In today’s environment, that may be the “new normal.”
Almost all of the mental health issues stem around the LGBTQ and Transgender issues. Why are we allowing .014% of the population dictate to the rest of the population. That percentage, nationwide, amounts to 50,000 transgender people, who are dictating to 330,000,000 Americans.
It’s time for New Jerseyans and Americans, in general, to object to their property-school tax monies being used for mental health services when the issue is a private matter that is addressed by private mental health services. School taxes, as linked to our property taxes, were for a thorough and efficient SYSTEM of education, for reading, writing, math, English, World and U.S. History, and sciences, and not for some psychiatric ward intervention.
It’s time for parents, who have children with issues to address those issues privately, and not force everyone to pay for it. Otherwise, it’s time to de-couple education taxes from property taxes, and link all education taxes to income tax and sales tax. This way, everyone pays their EQUITABLE, FAIR SHARE.
‘Almost all of the mental health issues stem around the LGBTQ and Transgender issues.’
Any proof of that or are you merely typing words?
Fair question Bob.
He is merely typing words and regurgitating QAnon conspiratorial theories. The homophobia and transphobia are clear enough. He totally ignores the impact of the pandemic on our school-aged children and the fact that mental health issues have risen across the board. Of course this guy probably still thinks that being gay can be spread to your children like a virus and is trying to perpetuate the age old anti-LGBTQ false narrative that all members of the community are pedophiles and groomers going after your children. Utter nonsense. Make sure that come November you do not allow any Board of Education candidate who share this writer’s opinions, Dogma or agenda to be elected to your board. There aren’t many of them out there. Do your research and be careful.
CORRECTION OF PRIOR COMMENT
He is merely typing words and regurgitating QAnon conspiratorial theories. The homophobia and transphobia are clear enough. He totally ignores the impact of the pandemic on our school-aged children and the fact that mental health issues have risen across the board. Of course this guy probably still thinks that being gay can be spread to your children like a virus and is trying to perpetuate the age old anti-LGBTQ false narrative that all members of the community are pedophiles and groomers going after your children. Utter nonsense. Make sure that come November you do not allow any Board of Education candidates who share NoMarxism’s opinions, hate, Dogma or agenda to be elected to your board. There are many of them out there. Do your research and be careful.
The THRIVE program that was voted down, then reinstated, serves students with IEPs, experiencing suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety.l, learning disabilities et. It has been in place for over a decade. Many of its participants have mental health supports mandated by their IEPs and without THRIVE would need to leave district to receive these supports- a very expensive, unaffordable decision, based on fear of an already beleaguered population.
Question?;Why cant we let parents who do their job alone and hold parents who don’t responsible?Why is it becoming more and more common that the whole must suffer for the few? Why cant schools stick to English, Math and Science? Other areas should be taken care of by parents. If a student has difficulties, the parent should be notified so that they can seek appropriate assistance.
Who is suffering in your scenario