School Counselor Forces 12-Year-Old to Take Pregnancy Test

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:25:00 GMT

Parents have filed suit against the Nevada City School District after their twelve-year-old daughter was called out of class by her school counselor and asked to take a pregnancy test.

The counselor, Steve Davis, had heard through the middle school grapevine—a very reliable source of information, as we all know—that the girl was pregnant, and he wanted to see if this was true. The girl (who is naturally remaining anonymous) explained that she was only the butt of a nasty rumor, but took a urine test supplied by the school nurse at Davis’ insistence. Lo and behold, the test came back negative.

My sense, from the limited information we have about the story, is that Davis was genuinely concerned about the girl—he just acted on that concern in the most misguided possible manner. If the rumors about the girl’s pregnancy were so widespread that he felt he had to act on them, he should have found a way to speak with the girl privately and then he should have spoken with the classmate she identified as having started the rumor.

Instead, he behaved in a way that humiliated a 12-year-old and enraged her parents—which is why they’re suing the school district for emotional distress and violation of the right to privacy.

Clearly, no parents would want a school counselor to intervene in their child’s life in such a thoughtless manner as Davis did. But would you want your child’s school counselor to gently and skillfully approach her without your permission if she seemed to be struggling in some way?

Photo: Westridge School (unrelated to this story)

It all started when Mary needed a laxative

Brett Singer — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Old advertisements are the gift that keeps on giving.

Take this gem, posted on BoingBoing, found originally at the Learning 2 Share blog. A few favorite lines:

"It all started when Mary needed a laxative."
"I'd seen those laxative tantrums before."
"I asked [the school nurse] for advice. She knows so much more about children."
"All mothers should think more about the laxative they give their children…Forcing a child to take a bad-tasting laxative can shock her delicate nervous system."
And, once mom tries the product, Fletcher's Castoria:
"[Mary] hugged me and said I was the best mommy in the world!"

And of course, "it all started when Mary needed a laxative."

Because, you see, if you don't give your child a good tasting laxative, you are a crappy parent. No pun intended.

source: boingboing, via learning2share

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