The passive consent deception is that they ask the parents on a form to return the form to the school only if they do not want their child to participate in the screening. Also, the consent form does not state that there is no scientific proof to back up the screening, yet will be used to label the child mentally ill.
Also, initially, TeenScreen stated that if their mental health screening program is approved by the Board of Education as part of the educational program, parental consent is not necessary. The Board of Education corrected TeenScreen soon afterwards.
Nor does the consent form describe the treatment possible with psychotropic drugs, and the dangers of these drugs. And, if the parent refuses the recommended course of treatment by TeenScreen, a referral to the local child welfare agency might be made, which could result in their child being taken away from home and forcibly drugged.
This scares me.
Equally deceptive is the fact that TeenScreen advises local schools on how to circumvent federal law. The Protection of Pupil Rights Act (PPRA) protects the rights of parents by making instructional materials available for their inspection if the materials are to be used in connection with a survey, analysis, or evaluation in which their child is participating. It also requires written parental consent before minors are required to take part in such a survey, analysis, or evaluation.
The focus on those who are suicidal is a bit ridiculous, since suicide rates in this age group have fallen greatly for the past several years now. And if that is the goal of TeenScreen, their methodology is incomplete:
Do they ask if the student has been, or is, irritable and apathetic? No.
Do they ask if the student has or is not sleeping well? No.
Do they ask if the student has frequent stomachaches? No.
Do they ask if the student has given away any of their possessions? No.
Do they ask if the student has access to a firearm? No.
Do they ask if, when a student states they have thought of suicide, if such a student has a plan? No.
Do they ask if a child has any sexual frustration? No
Do they ask if the child's parents are together or unemployed? No
Do they ask how long a child has been depressed if they say that they are? No. (Major Depression lasts for at least two weeks straight.)
Wow - what experts they have at TeenScreen........
