On Wednesday Kiki’s German teacher was sick and there was a substitute. Instead of following the lesson plan, the substitute teacher showed a documentary of his own choosing. The documentary’s purpose was to show that all psychiatrists are evil people who make up illnesses in order to get money. In support of this claim the documentary showed footage and photos of dozens of unethical, torturous experiments done on humans and animals. It also showed interviews with people who claimed that permanent damage had been done to them by psychiatric medication. Kiki came home from school and cried for two hours. We talked through everything she had seen and how she felt about it. We also carefully sifted out the truths from the falsehoods. We had a long digression into conspiracy theories and why people would ever think it was right to do these experiments.
A huge part of Kiki’s upset was because she knows that her brother takes medication for ADD. She was terrified that his medicine might be doing him harm. I talked her through our decision process for putting Link on the medicine. I also helped her remember her own observations of her brother’s behavior both on and off the medication. Her observations were a direct contradiction of what the film showed. She was also appalled that people could be so cruel to each other and to animals. It took a lot of talking and soothing to help her work through her emotions about that. She was hugely conflicted because she was not sure whether the video had been given by her regular teacher (whom she adores) or the substitute. She felt sick the whole time the video was shown and even gathered her stuff to leave, but was scolded back into her seat by the sub.
Because of the A B schedule, today was the first chance we had to talk to Kiki’s regular teacher. We found him in the office with both of the school Principals. It was such a relief to Kiki to discover that this video was not approved in any way. Her regular teacher was nearly in tears. He’d spent most of the day talking with his students and getting written statements from them about the video. The Principals were both very focused and apologetic. They intend to pursue disciplinary and legal action to make sure that this man is never able to substitute in a classroom again. They’re also going to make sure that the school district reviews the screening procedure for substitute teachers. They requested a written statement from me, which I gave to them. I’ve also volunteered to testify in person should that become necessary.
Kiki is going to be fine. She has me and Howard to talk her through all of her concerns and to look at this experience from every angle. She now has a deeper understanding of how cruel humans can be to one another. She also has learned that just because a person holds a position of authority does not mean she should automatically trust them. She has also learned that there are times when we must stand up and testify about the wrongness of something. These are not bad lessons, but this is not how I’d have her learn them. I am much more concerned about the other students, the ones who don’t have parents who can talk them through it. I’m worried about the kid who is on medication and decides to stop taking it because of that video. I’m worried about the kids who tell their medicated friends to stop taking medicine because of the video. I’m worried about the kids who may decide not to see a therapist when they need one because of the video. For these reasons I intend to keep on top of the situation. I intend to track the disciplinary action to make sure it goes through. I intend to make sure that the affected children get information that counteracts the video they were shown.
I’m pleased to say that most of my action will be just watching. I am very impressed with the teachers and administrators at Kiki’s school. They have the situation well in hand and I believe they are making the right steps to address the issues.
This just boggles my mind that a teacher would do this. WTF?
Ugh, sounds like Scientology propaganda. I’m so sorry she had to go through that. 🙁
Scientologists.
This was a new substitute that had never been to the school before. I suspect that this guy has an axe to grind and for some reason decided that substituting in junior high was an appropriate venue. The screening procedures for qualified substitutes need to be checked.
Definitely propaganda, but I doubt it was Scientology based.
As far as I know, the only thing you need to sub in Utah is a degree. I had a bunch of friends who did it, and none of them were particularly qualified to do anything.
Of course, subbing in Utah also pays crap, so it’s not like they’re going to attract qualified individuals, anyway.
They are incredibly anti-psychiatrist, and that film sounds like something they’d put out. Remember when Tom Cruise said that Brooke Shields shouldn’t have taken anti-depressants for her post-partum depression and should have treated it with vitamins and exercise instead? So, your substitute “teacher” might not be a Scientologist, but that’s the way I’d bet.
Yeah. I wondered that when I read it.
the memes and methods pretty much match with the scientologists at least.
I did some further research. The video shown was funded by a group that was founded by the church of Scientology. So yes. Apparently it was Scientologist in origin.
This leads to new questions about the substitute and his motivations.
I’m so glad that Kiki is OK, and that the horrible experience seems not to have permanently traumatized her — and I’m very happy to hear how and Howard helped her put this disgusting film into perspective.
That substitute should be fired and forbidden from teaching ever again. Not only because he went around proper procedure, and not even because he traumatized the kids, but because this “documentary” he showed perpetuated stigma against a vulnerable group of people — those of us, like Link, who need psychiatry.
People are so darn stupid.
*hopes to see you in Provo soon, by the way :)*
– JoSelle
Ugh. I thought so, too.
I had the same suspicion when I heard the subject of the film.
I have a friend who is a Scientologist, and while I have no interest in defending a “faith” that I personally have serious, serious issues with, I would like to state that a substitute teacher like that is to a “typical” Scientologist what a militant terrorist is to a “typical” Muslim.
In other words, I don’t care what you believe, even if I personally think it’s stupid. It’s not dangerous until it becomes action.
This was action. And it was stupid and dangerous, and I’m sorry Kiki had to go through that.
I sincerely hope to discover that this was a rogue action by a single individual.
I’m pretty sure the sub will never find work in my school district again. The school administrators were very angry.
See you at LTUE. I know I’ll be there on Saturday. I’m not sure about Thursday or Friday.
It’s the same for most places, I suspect. At least I know it’s also true for Oklahoma. The only difference is that you get more pay and can work more days if you also have a teaching certificate.
I’m stunned beyond words.
And not just because I’m an educator and a psychologist.
GO MAMA BEAR! YESSS!
Interesting. The substitute is doing the same thing for the same reasons as the people that he so disapproves of. He’s deliberately and intentionally inflicting harm on helpless people that are under his power, supposedly for the greater good. I wonder if he could be made to understand that he is himself the same as what he hates.
While I understand that you probably shouldn’t comment on any legal action that the school is contemplating, I hope that they’re going for more than just making sure that he will never be able to substitute in a classroom again. Considering the harm done to the children and the betrayal of the school’s and the parents’ trust, it might be appropriate to refer the incident to the state for prosecution as child abuse or such. Unless of course the state decides that he’s mentally ill, and mandates court-ordered psychiatric treatment. Given a choice between prison and psychiatry, I wonder which he would take?
Quite aside from ignoring the lesson plan and showing a video of his own choosing, refusing to let a child leave the classroom when distressed is in and of itself grounds for dismissal at the schools that I’ve attended. Students aren’t supposed to be captive at all, let alone a captive audience.
The lessons that Kiki learned from this may be important ones, but I’m sorry that she had to learn them in such a distressing way.
One thing stands out to me in this.
Not only do you take time to talk things through with Kiki, which not all parents would do, or not so effectively, but you care about the other kids who might have been affected, and not only do you care (so would I) you care ENOUGH to take even more time to help minimise the effects…
and that’s not the one thing. The one thing is you are a genuinely good and wonderful person. This comes over every time you blog about your children, and your activities with them, and the way you help and comfort them when things go wrong.
You and the others like you more than make up for the nasty, bigoted, harming people in the world. Sadly, the good and nice and helpful and healing get all to little recognition in the “media”, seems to me, as compared with the darker side of human nature, but rest assured, at least some of us notice.
There’s no nice way to learn that kind of lesson. Unfortunately, they’re lessons I think it’s important that kids learn. I’ve no time for those who would try to hide the dark side under the carpet.
I doubt this man can see his own hypocrisy. The school administrators do intend to contact the police. I don’t know any more than that yet.
Thank you.