2006 Archive
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Government Shrinks in the Nursery December 28, 2006
Academic elites, bureaucrats, and front groups for the pharmaceutical
industry are promoting a cradle-to-grave mental health screening,
labeling and intervention system for all infants, and toddlers.
(See details.)
EdWatch in Action 2006 December 27, 2006
As 2006 comes to a close and we move into 2007, we ask our friends to
remember to support EdWatch in your giving. EdWatch does the most with
the resources at our disposal. Help EdWatch continue its work. Here is a
condensed picture of some of our work.
(See details.)
EdWatch featured at Jan 4th American Experiment Luncheon December 21, 2006
Make reservations today with the Center of the American Experiment
for their January 4th panel discussion featuring EdWatch and other groups
about the upcoming Minnesota legislative session.
(See details.)
Career Pathways December 16, 2006
The "Redesign of Schools" means the old School-to-Work
plan. 8th graders and up are on a career path, and their classes relate
only to what their planned jobs will require. Marc Tucker's 1990's plan
is moving forward.
(See details.)
Mental Health Laws Pose Growing Threat December 15, 2006
Many states have passed laws making mental health screenings a
regular part of the public school system.
(See details.)
Children Left Behind by NCLB December 15, 2006
A report on how opposition to No Child Left Behind crosses political boundaries.
(See details.)
Child Medication Safety Act (HR 1790) December 6, 2006
This common sense
legislation protects families from being coerced
by schools into administering certain psychotropic medications
to their children in order for them to continue attending school.
HR 1790 has the support of a broad spectrum of groups.
(See details.)
Why re-authorize No Child Left Behind? December 4, 2006
The federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is up for
re-authorization in 2007. As recognized former U.S. Secretary of
Education Rod Paige, the NCLB law is a joint action and a common
strategy between the United States and the UN, the vehicle by which the
United States is complying with two UN sponsored international education
agreements.
(See details.)
New Minnesota Math Standards: Public Comment November 20, 2006
The Minnesota Department of Education is now soliciting public
comments through December 5, 2006 on the Minnesota K-12 Academic
Standards in MathematicsDraft Revision.
(See details.)
Elections, News and More November 20, 2006
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) comes up for
reauthorization under new Democratic leadership in 2007; a group fights
TeenScreen in Wisconsin; Multi-culturalism has come to Thanksgiving; and
the math wars continue to intensify.
(See details.)
New House Minority Leader Voter Guide. November 15, 2006
Republicans in the US House of Representatives will be electing
three new minority leaders on Friday November 17th. Here are the
positions and candidates involved.
(See details.)
Lame Duck Congress to fund infant mental health testing November 10, 2006
Upcoming votes in the "lame duck" Congress will include
funding universal psychological testing of babies, preschoolers and K-12
students, including dangerous drugging to treat them.
(See details.)
Erasing borders November 2, 2006
While citizens are battling for or against legislation over illegal
immigration, teachers colleges are giving teachers the curriculum and
teaching activities to teach our children to oppose the very boundaries
of our nation and the laws that establish them.
(See details.)
Letter to the Wall Street Journal October 27, 2006
Dr. Karen Effrem responds to the Wall Street Journal's article
promoting infant mental health.
(See details.)
Home Visiting & Mental Health Interventions October 23, 2006
Dr. Karen Effrem addresses the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Education Reform in response to its Hearing on "Perspectives on Early Childhood Home Visitation Programs" (HR 3628).
(See details (pdf).)
Join EdWatch support for North Side families
Dr. Karen Effrem will join a list of speakers at an October 21st
public rally on the corner of Penn and Plymouth Avenues in north
Minneapolis at noon to speak out against the University of Minnesota once
again forcing its mental health research on Minnesota's minority
children.
(See details.)
Minnesota: Know Your Rights
Order your supply of these attractive, four-color glossy business-card-sized Minnesota statutory reference cards that list your right to refuse mental health screening for your child.
Give them away to your friends, family, groups, and co-workers. Keep one handy in your purse or in your wallet.
(See details.)
Fuzzy Math Update September 29, 2006
In a dramatic reversal, the National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics (NCTM) now believes students should know their multiplication
tables and be able to do long division. It took them only 17 years to get
it right, but parents knew right away.
(See details.)
Indiana Citizens Revolt September 22, 2006
Indiana is in an uproar over the children's mental health plan that
passed their legislature last year. As it turns out, few lawmakers
actually knew what it was.
(See details.)
Media Release: EdWatch conference September 15, 2006
EdWatch issues media release on October 14th conference.
(See details.)
Gov Candidates Early Childhood September 10, 2006
Compare the primary candidates for Governor on Early Childhood issues.
(See details.)
Know Your Rights on Preschool Screening September 9, 2006
All children in Minnesota are not required to be
screened before entering kindergarten. Preschool screening is
voluntary, in spite of what all the preschool promotional ads tell
you.
(See details.)
Open Letter to President Bush & Action for Congress September 9, 2006
Dr. Effrem writes an open letter signed by 12 other national groups
urging him to push for cuts in mental health screening.
(See details.)
Using Minorities for MH Research August 14, 2006
"What we experienced in Minnesota last month happened to blacks
in Mississippi and Alabama. Parents and residents were denied their
God-given right to participate in matters that affect them, their
children and families."
(See details.)
Say no to MSS July 28, 2006
EdWatch urges parents of public and private school students to say
"no" to the 2007 Minnesota Student Survey (MSS). Districts are
required by federal law to inform parents in writing at the beginning
of the school year that they may opt their children out of
particpating.
(See details.)
Major Victory in Sunshine State July 24, 2006
The Florida legislature took a firm step toward restoring some
factual accuracy into the current perversion of teaching our
nation's history. Judging from the reaction of the education
elites, you would think these founding principles were downright
subversive.
(See details.)
Stop Universal Mental Health Screening for Teens July 20, 2006
Join the national on-line petition against TeenScreen, the
controversial, subjective and invasive probing of teens, promoted as
suicide-prevention. An Indiana mom has filed a lawsuit because parental
permission for her teen's screening was bypassed.
(See details.)
IB feeling heat July 3, 2006
New resources are showing up that oppose IB, and a
number of indications are that IB is feeling the heat of growing
opposition as people become better acquainted with the un-American
curriculum.
(See details.)
EdWatch Conference June 23, 2006
Mark your calendar now for the October 13th and 14th, 2006 Fall
EdWatch Conference. EdWatch featured at Freedom 21 7th Annual
Conference.
(See details.)
Federal funding for universal mental health screening June 19, 2006
Congressional hearings are considering funding to
states to establish state universal mental health screening progrmas,
ignoring President Bush's recommendations for cuts.Two of the President's
recommended cuts for mental health in education were Foundations for
Learning Grants (infants and early childhood mental health) and Mental
Health Integration in the Schools.
(See details.)
Babies & Mental Illness June 16, 2006
News story covers the so-called crisis of babies with
undiagnosed mental illness. "To the federal government, many
newborns, toddlers and preschoolers are undiagnosed mental cases with
dire need of 'treatment' (read: drugs)." Also, DVD available:
"The Dangers of Universal Mental Health Screening."
(See details.)
Pawlenty stop homosexual advocacy June 6, 2006
Although Gov. Pawlenty is publicly supporting a constitutional
amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman, homosexual
advocacy groups are being funded by grants from the state Department of
Health under his authority and his administration is actively promoting
the indoctrination of students into a homosexual worldview and value
system.
(See details.)
2006 Legislative Wrap-up June 6, 2006
The 2006 session came to an end on Sunday, May 21st. For EdWatch,
there were some successes and some disappointments.
(See details.)
Early Childhood/IB updates and more... May 4, 2006
Read the progress report on Minnesota's Nanny State
bill, developments on International Baccalaureate, and some recent
publicity on Universal Mental Health Screening.
(See details.)
Minnesota secretly screens April 26, 2006
EdWatch has discovered that, in spite of the unexpected defeat of
mental health screening last year, the Minnesota Department of Education
has forged ahead with mental health screening for preschoolers anyway.In
the absence of the failed law that would have authorized preschool
screening for socioemotional [mental health] development, the Department
references an obsolete administrative rule as its legal authority. That
rule is obsolete, because the statute authorizing it was repealed in
1989.
(See details.)
South St. Paul Cut Programs to Fund IB April 19, 2006
When it comes to teaching global citizenship that undermines American
citizenship, as IB does, time and money appear to be no obstacle.
Financial woes in South St. Paul School District are announced at the
same time the district it is funding IB, a program six times more
expensive than Advanced Placement classes.
(See details.)
Hate Crimes Legislation and Schools April 13, 2006
Renee Doyle tells why the proposed Minnesota "hate crimes"
bill, co-sponsored by a Republican candidate for Minnesota Attorney
General, is a gay rights bill that violates the equal protection of all
citizens.
(See details.)
IB is un-american April 7, 2006
International Baccalaureate is "un-American," as described
in this article. It is run by a non-governmental organization
called the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) headquartered
in Geneva, Switzerland. It was organized in 1968 by European diplomats
who wanted their children to have a common undergraduate program. In
1996, however, IBO formed a partnership with UNESCO in order to create
what both UNESCO and IBO call an international education system.
(See details.)
International Baccalaureate Testimony April 4, 2006
The Governor's Education Policy proposals (SF 2994/ HF 3580) include
over $7 million dollars to expand International Baccalaureate (IB) to
more Minnesota schools and to expand it within existing IB schools. IB
will compete with the reputable Advanced Placement courses for these
funds. AP can be implemented for a fraction of the cost of IB.
(See details.)
Report from the Capitol April 4, 2006
The grassroots network is weighing in against the 2006 onslaught of
the Nanny State and its interwoven mental health outcomes and assessments
for our children. This is the current state of bill as of the beginning
of April.
(See details.)
Preschool Kids Suffer March 27, 2006
A long-term study of preschoolers by the University
of California, Berkeley finds that, compared with children at home with a
parent, kids in preschool for more than six hours a day suffer, in terms
of cooperation, sharing and engagement in classroom tasks.
(See details.)
Profile of Learning for Preschoolers March 27, 2006
The nanny state moved to the House Friday afternoon,
March 24th, when the House Education Policy Committee took up the House
version of the Governors Bill SF 3300 / HF 3623. Final passage may
come as early as Tuesday, March 28th.
(See details.)
House Testimony against the Governor's Early Childhood bill, HF 3623
March 24, 2006
EdWatch testified in the House Education Policy Committee against the
Governor's Early Childhood legislation, HF 3623 on Friday, March 24th.
(See details.)
Nanny State Assault Continues March 23, 2006
Thursday, March 23rd, testimony to implement a Quality Rating System
(SF 3296), that will impose a government curriculum on private childcare
providers and drive those who do not comply out of business, will be
completed. The
Nanny State
that was valiantly fought off last year is back in full force. We
cannot stand idly by and let this system engulf our children and our
parental authority.
(See details.)
testimony by April Selenskikh March 21, 2006
A mother gives powerful personal testimony in a Senate Committee
against parts of the Governor's Nanny State bill: Parenting Education and
Kindergarten Readiness Assessment.
(See details.)
MN Nanny State Assault Returns March 20, 2006
Like Freddy Krueger who refuses to die in a bad horror movie, the
Nanny State
that was valiantly fought off last year is back in full force. This
year, the over $10 million state takeover of parenting, early childhood
education, mental health screening, and corporate welfare scheme is
coming from big-government legislators from both parties and from
Governor Pawlenty, as well.
(See details.)
State Attempts to Gut Parental Rights March 16, 2006
A Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) proposal came under fire
that would reinstate school districts' ability to override parental
refusal of a special education evaluation or re-evaluation. The proposed language will allow this forced evaluation, right or wrong, to follow a student for life. Coercing parents into special
ed evaluations and re-evaluations amounts to coercive mental health
screening.
(See details.)
Dr. Harley Statement March 15, 2006
This and other testimony in the Minnesota legislature are relevant
and useful statements in the every others state. Similar and sometimes
identical plans are being implemented through legislatures all across our
country, funded in part with federal tax dollars.
(See details.)
Ethically Challenged Mental Health Screening Bill March 13, 2006
Rather than support his own bill to add mental health screening
into preschool developmental screening,Sen. Hottinger decided he would
deceive the public into thinking that mental health screening has been
there all along and bypass the whole public debate.
(See details.)
Mental Health Screening for Preschoolers March 9, 2006
SF 2841 would add mental health screening to the early
childhood developmental assessments.
(See details.)
Testimony Against Preschool Socioemotional Screening March 9, 2006
Testimony Against SF 2841 - Preschool Socioemotional
Screening, Minnesota Senate Early Childhood Finance Division, March 9, 2006
by Karen R. Effrem, MD, EdWatch Board of Directors, Alliance for Human
Research Protection Board of Directors, ICSPP Board of Directors.
(See details.)
IB voted out February 22, 2006
International Baccalaureate in the Upper St. Clair, PA
school district was voted out, 5 to 4 last Monday by the local school
board. The IB described the vote as the most significant challenge to
come to IB, because it involves the K-12 curriculum. IB has been
successfully challenged in cities which include Fairfax, VA and San
Diego, CA. Opponents of IB cited concerns about its violation of local
control, its endorsement of the radical Earth Charter, its promotion of
the UN Universal Declaration of Independence, and its needless
duplication of Advanced Placement classes.
(See details.)
President's Math/Science proposals February 9, 2006
If President Bush really hopes to improve math education in our country,
he absolutely must take control of DOE and scrap
the failed experiment known as integrated math.
While he is at it, he needs to eliminate the other national standards as well.
They are based on the same false worldview that underlies fuzzy math.
(See details.)
2006 Sample Precinct Caucus Resolutions February 8, 2006
The March 7th local Minnesota Precinct Caucuses are
important to attend. Print off these sample resolutions and introduce
them as part of the developing platform of your political party.
(See details.)
Background to Sample Precinct Caucus Resolutions February 8, 2006
This background information provides you with more
talking points for discussion of the sample resolutions you can introduce
at your March 7th local Minnesota Precinct Caucus.
(See details.)
March 2nd EdWatch Event February 8, 2006
Mental health screening legislation will affect all
Minnesota children in public, private, and home schools.
Learn what you can do.
(See details.)
End federally funded textbooks January 25, 2006
Why did the federal government give $25,511,064 to a non-government
organization last year to prepare the textbooks for teaching civics to
schoolchildren? Since 1997, the Center for Civic Education has received
at least $110,418,717 from the government and has succeeded in
essentially taking over the supply of materials for teaching civics in
American schools.
(See details.)
Funds Promote Child Screening & Drugging January 25, 2006
Federal agencies are implementing and funding the development of
state universal mental health screening and massive drugging programs.
Our children are being labeled in infancy and treated with dangerous,
even life-threatening drugs.
(See details.)
Disappointing Response to Urgent Letter of Protest January 24, 2006
This is the thoroughly disappointing response that
Charles Curie, Director of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA), sent to EdWatch and a coalition of groups in
response to their Urgent Letter of Protest at the federal push for
universal mental health screening of students, children, infants, and
other citizens.
(See details.)
Urgent Letter of Protest January 24, 2006
This letter from a coalition of groups, including
EdWatch, expresses alarm at the policies the federal government is
pursuing for universal mental health screening of children, infants, and
citizens at large, contrary to assurances that EdWatch and others
received at a
November meeting with the Director of agency involved. The following
letter was sent to Charles Curie, the Director of Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that oversees federal
mental health policy and funding issues.
(See details.)
Just Whose Children January 16, 2006
A home school mom and activist tells how early childhood development
expansion is simply the next step in the transformation of our education
and economic system. Once fully implemented, this transformation
will leave our nation unrecognizable as a constitutional republic and
free market society.
(See details.)
St. Louis Conference: Virtue & Freedom's Foundation January 12, 2006
Don't Miss the 17th Annual Education Policy Conference sponsored
by The Constitution Coalition, St. Louis, Missouri, the
"Virtue & Freedom's Foundations",
Thursday, January 26th (7:00 p.m. dinner) to Saturday 28th
(5:00 p.m.), 2006.
Speakers include EdWatch, Jack Cashill, Dr. Ted Baehr, Rebcca Hagelin,
John Stormer, Congressman Akin, Joe Enge (EdWatch Nevada), John Stormer,
Linda Shrock Taylor, and a special reception with Michael Reagan.
(See details.)
Teacher Colleges screen for political beliefs January 10, 2006
Columnist George Will reports that teacher colleges are refusing to
certify teachers unless they have the "correct" political ideas
on social justice. Teacher colleges have taken to screening students for
proper political dogma, or dispositions. The policy was unmasked last
October.
(See details.)
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