WHAT
WILL APA DO NEXT? DESPERATE TIMES LEAD TO DESPERATE ACTIONS...
APA
DESPERATE, LASHES OUT! Donald
J. Asbridge, Ed.S., KOG Editor
"It's not surprising,
given APA's history." Anonymous Contributor
In an apparent last-ditch
effort to save their fledgling organization, APA has cannibalized it's
own Division 16! Can you believe it? Is it a noble effort to
protect the sanctity of the term, "psychologist," or a last-ditch power/money
grab to bring the DSM-IV, magic meds, and a lifetime of therapy/anger management
into the schools (only for those students who can pay for those services,
of course)? No accusations here, the KOG is just asking the questions...
Over the past two
or more years, the KOG has directly and indirectly observed this writing
on the wall and addressed the efforts of clinicians to sneak into
schools and, um, make some [easy] money. You may want to review (back-to-back)
articles from a past KOG:
Be
careful what you ask for (November, 2005 KOG)
The
KOG's first book burning? (November, 2005 KOG)
NOTE: Due to
APA's recent actions, the actual DSM-IV book-burning will finally occur
next month. Stay tuned.
"It's as if
APA suffers from an intermittent explosive disorder." Anonymous Contributor
APA goes along and
everything seems fine and then, BAM, right out of nowhere they recommend,
uh, ECT!? Then everything gets back on track for awhile and, POW,
the recommendation for forced involuntary sterilizations for "imbeciles?"
Everything calms down for awhile and then KAPLOWEE! Here we go again...
In spite of the almost
comedic progression of errors through the years by this organization, I
do have empathy for those desperate APA members ...they must be very frustrated
that the masses ignore their hypnotherapy, biofeedback, and um, Dr. Lauras,
while on the other hand, millions of students are being effectively served
by professional school psychologists on a daily basis throughout the nation.
It must be pretty disheartening for them and I understand that jealousy.
And from the outside looking in, they must be thinking about/plotting how
they could be making a whole lot of money if they could get their foot
in the door to diagnose just one hundred kids with ADHD, bipolar disorder,
autism, reading disorder, or maybe even an adjustment disorder. One
hundred diagnosis could provide a pretty comfortable living for a clinician,
eh? 100 would be the goal to start. That would be approximately
$25,000 per student, counting kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies.
You gotta' be thinking thoughts like that when you're starving, right?
But don't listen
to me on this one... let's go straight to the horse's mouth, our professional
organization (NASP).
To get NASP's full
story and explanation, start by visiting the National Association of School
Psychologist's (NASP) website.
http://www.nasponline.org
Click on the link
(“Respond to the proposed APA Model Licensure Act revisions”) at the top
of the page. You will be taken to the following URL:
http://www.nasponline.org/standards/apamla.aspx
Dear Members of the
Board of Educational Affairs and Model Licensure Act Task Force:
On behalf of the
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), a liaison organization
to BEA, we are
writing to comment
on specific issues related to the March 2007 draft of the revised Model
Act for State
Licensure of Psychologists
(MLA), that have a direct impact on the practice of school psychology.
Most current
estimates indicate
that there are well over 37,000 school psychologists in the United States.
Specifically,
1. NASP supports
the change adopted by the APA Council of Representatives related to post
doctoral
experiences that
are reflected in the revised MLA.
2. NASP urges the
Task Force to maintain language related to school psychologists that appears
in the
current 1987 MLA.
3. NASP sees the
language changes in section J (Exemptions) as being in direct conflict
with state laws
and state department
of education codes regulating the delivery of school psychological services
in
public school settings.
NASP believes that
there would be many benefits for children, families, and schools by proposing
a revised
MLA that NASP could
strongly support, alongside APA. NASP cannot support a revised MLA promoting
state
psychology licensure
acts that would attempt to take away from or alter the title of “school
psychologist” for
most of our 25,000
members.
We appreciate the
opportunity for input as a liaison organization to BEA. Please feel free
to contact us with any
questions.
"APA does not control
the use of the term psychologist or school psychologist. The use of such
titles is controlled by state laws. The APA "Model Licensing Act" is nothing
more than a recommendation to state legislatures on how to control the
use of professional titles in psychology. NASP has its own set of
recommendations for the use of the title "school psychologist." There is
disagreement between the 2 organizations as to the recommendations made.
...My suggestion is to make the best case for why the former wording of
the model licensing act is better for the kids and the new wording is worse
for the kids -- that should be the real issue; which is
better for the children?"
Cecil R. Reynolds,
PhD
Professor of Educational
Psychology
Professor of Neuroscience
Distinguished Research
Scholar
Texas A&M University
Here's another one
from the NASP-Listserve...
"Just a reminder
that your title - and therefore the degree you worked 3+ years on, your
source of income and benefits, and your freedom of professional practice
- is in jeopardy. Thanks to the 6,000 who have already commented!"
Now is the time to
go ahead and remove the exemption for school psychology. There exists
a nationwide shortage of school psychologists and therefore fewer peoples'
lives would be destroyed by your actions at this point in time. As
always, thank you for your great humanitarianism.
My specific recommendations
follow, but first a few questions:
-- CONTENT DELETED
BY THE THOUGHT POLICE --
Good luck in your
efforts. This is war.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Asbridge,
Ed.S.
Educational Specialist
in School Psychology Professional Educator
Please share your
opinions. Given APA's most recent tantrum, how will this affect KASP?
a) We should
become the "Kern Association of Scientific Practitioners" (KASP)
b) We should become
the "Kern Association of Professional Educators" (KAPE)
c) KASP should disband...
APA is now in charge.
d) APA should disband...
it's about time.
BACK
TO THE BASICS!
Remember
the normal curve? Donald
J. Asbridge, Ed.S., KOG Editor
The normal curve
was thrown out with NCLB.
Wouldn't it be nice
if a political directive could actually negate the laws of nature?
The White House
keeps trying... I'll give them full credit for that
But, unfortunately,
politics can't replace the facts, no matter how hard they try.
"Childrens can learn." President Bush, September, 2007
Homework!!! Donald
J. Asbridge, Ed.S., KOG Editor
Do we have to control
every
aspect of students' lives?
Q: Why do teachers
assign homework?
A: Because
that's what they do!
A lot of students
do well on their homework because their parents do well on the homework!
And a lot of other students struggle with homework because, well, their
parents struggle with the homework. I guess, ultimately, how well
a student does on his or her homework reflects how well the parent does.
We might as well give the homework grade to the parent, eh?
The message to students,
"sure, you goof off all day here at school during playtime, but when you
go home you'd better get serious and do your work or you'll never grow
up to get a job... and your parents better teach you math or they're not
doing their jobs as parents -- and if you fail, don't blame me --I'm not
your parent...
it's not my job to teach you math... I'm just your
math teacher."
Many teachers seem
to think there's some correlation between homework completion and academic
achievement. There is a correlation between homework completion and
grades ("If you don't do your homework, you get an F!"), but not much with
academic achievement. Review the research from the University of
Minnesota Research/Practice Newsletter, quoted in part below:
"For elementary students,
the mean correlation between time spent on homework and achievement was
almost zero; for students in middle
grades it was r = +.07, and for high school students it was r = +.25."
I had a recent conversation
with, uh, someone who works in the schools. I told her about the
recent revolution related to [no] homework occurring in the Bay Area.
She replied, "this isn't the Bay area." She continued, "assigning
homework keeps students out of gangs." Hmmm. I knew there was
a reason for assigning four hours of homework per night. It hasn't
worked so far, but hey -- why not keep trying? And it hasn't helped
test scores improve, but maybe another 20,000 hours worth of homework might,
um, help. You never know. It's worth a try, what do you say?
If it'll keep students out of gangs and improve test scores and
improve academic achievement, let's keep doing it -- no matter what
the research says.
I keep hearing school
psychologists say, "Research-based, research-based, research-based!!!"
Okay, then. Are you going to back up your words or not? If
you want to go with the research, please speak out against homework now!!!
Here's still another
free homework link from the Center for Public Education:
For fun, you can Google
or Yahoo thousands more links by typing in the correct search terms...
I don't think I'm the only one in the nation with this issue.
What if students
could just go home and relax and feel satisfied that they "put in a hard
day's work at school? Kind of like adults do after a hard day's work?
Then they could spend some quality time with their parents and family,
play sports, pursue a hobby, visit with their friends, or even engage in
some other mentally healthy activity? They wouldn't have to engage
in a nightly four-hour argument over homework. They could, you know,
maybe enjoy life without the stress and omnipotent control and ever-present
image of the authoritarian teacher following them home and dictating
every aspect of their lives. And maybe they wouldn't be referred
for mental health therapy because THEY'RE NOT COMPLETING THEIR HOMEWORK?
Would that be great
or what?
KASP
MEMBERSHIP INFO...
KASP
membership!!! For information
regarding 2007/08 KASP membership, contact Traci Taber Rivas directly at:
rivast@gfusd.k12.ca.us
Hi all,
It's great to be back! I won my $25,000,000 lawsuit and now everything
is super cool!
This month I'd like to let you know that every time you place a kid in
special education just because he's not completing his homework, it's a
misdiagnosis. I just wanted to forward this friendly reminder.
Remember, a lot of research indicates there is no real correlation between
homework completion and academic achievement, especially for younger children.
Sorry!
See you next month!
Miss Diagnosis
Dear KOG Editor,
You irritated someone and it was your turn to just go away... how is it
that you are back now?
Signed, "Will Keep Trying"
Dear WKT,
I won
my $25,000,000 lawsuit, and now I'm back, saying the same things, but now
I'm just a whole lot richer. Repression is more detrimental to
the oppressor than it is to the oppressed. Thank you.
Signed, KOG Editor
Dear KOG Editor,
What will it be, the medical model, the RtI approach, or empowerment?
Signed, "Confused"
Dear Confused,
I can't
decide for you, but I'm choosing the humanistic approach. But it
really doesn't matter as APA will implement the money-making DSM-IV approach
in the schools.
Signed, KOG Editor
Dear KOG Editor,
Wow! I saw the recent nationwide MSNBC special on Bakersfield Justice
last week. How come the citizens keep voting the same local politicians
back into office?
Signed, "I've Seen The Light"
Dear ISTL,
Um,
no comment.
Signed, KOG Editor
Dear KOG Editor,
I'm graduating from high school this year and was thinking about pursuing
a career as a school psychologist. A school psychologist once helped
me during a difficult time in my life. Is school psychology a rewarding
career? Would you recommend it?
Signed, "Looking Toward the Future"
Dear LTTF,
I'm
sorry. For the first time in my twenty years in the field, I can't
ethically encourage you to pursue school psychology as a career.
Signed, KOG Editor
Dear
KOG Editor,
If APA kicks us out, then what?
Signed, "Panicked"
Dear Panicked,
Not to worry,
I've heard 7-11 is hiring.
Signed, KOG Editor
Dear KOG Editor,
What about the Pelosi/Miller recommendations related to the reauthorization
of NCLB?
Signed, "I Don't Believe It"
Dear IDBI,
Not
to worry, everything is proceeding according to the plan.
Signed, KOG Editor
Dear KOG Editor,
With everything coming down from APA, now I see why you've always emphasized
that we call ourselves professional educators!
Signed, "Thankful"
Dear Thankful,
Well
it's too late now. You should have believed me five years ago.
Signed, KOG Editor
Dear KOG Editor,
With everything coming down from APA, now I see why you've always emphasized
serving students through 504!
Signed, "Finally Getting It"
Dear FGI,
Well
it's too late now. You should have believed me five years ago.
Signed, KOG Editor
NOTES
& DISCLAIMERS:
Any
opinions expressed in the KOG are opinions only and are not necessarily
approved or supported by the KASP organization or anyone else, including
the KOG Editor. On the other hand, any facts expressed or implied
are indeed, facts. Just as is true for everything else in this world,
you get to decide what is opinion, what is fact, and what is research based,
and if and how they may or may not all go together. Please note that
just because something is research based doesn't necessarily make it a
fact; and not all facts are research based. Some opinions are
facts and research based. Some opinions are not facts, yet are still
research based. Just because something is research based doesn't
necessarily make it a fact, or ethical (like NCLB, for example).
There is a difference between scientific approaches, research based practices,
and data-driven strategies. Some facts are facts for some but not
facts for others; the same concept holds true for opinions and research.
The same can be said for humor, satire, parody, and serious notes.
Some opinions are just opinions. However, one thing is always certain...
...everything is.
See you next
month! KOG Editor!
IN
DISARRAY
The RtI camp is in
disarray.
A split seems imminent.
Reportedly, many
local RtI trainees were recently caught unaware that RtI leads to the
diagnosis of children! As RtI stresses interventions, many receiving
RtI training were surprised to hear that (if/when their behavioral interventions
are unsuccessful -- and there are limits to behaviorism just as there are
limits to any single approach) RtI still pretty much follows the same old
medical model against which it's proponents had previously rebelled!
It was a huge shock
for many of these trainees who have been told to insist on "nothing but
research" to stumble upon the realization that their RtI camp has come
to the point that they are now diagnosing SLD, ED, and EMR based on "nothing
at all" ("Gee, if the student hasn't responded to my powerful behavioral
interventions, then there must be something wrong with that student!
S/he must have a learning disability!").
Note: LD, as
per the RtI model, is diagnosed on, um merely the inference that, because
their "powerful, research-based, RtI model" didn't work, then the student
must
have a learning disability. The problem couldn't be because of any,
uhh, flaw in their RtI service delivery.
So some RtI'ers are
choosing to steadfastly remain with RtI, even if it labels children based
on no empirical evidence, thus hypocritically remaining a part of the same
ol' medical model against which they had so courageously rebelled just
ten or so years ago...
But other RtI advocates
are choosing to continue to emphasize interventions -- but are choosing
to ethically stop short of labeling with no data, thus joining the RWOL
movement.
The KOG is 100% for
quality interventions for students...
The KOG is 100%
against labeling students based on no scientific evidence...
Which camp will you
ultimately join?
RtI with labels
(powerful interventions ultimately resulting in medical model labels based
on no research)? or
RtI without labels
(i.e., powerful interventions and rights without labels)?
In other words, will
it be the medical model or RWOL for you? That is the real choice.
Hopefully, everyone, no matter what their philosophy, is still providing
powerful interventions for children... that should be a given.
DISCLAIMER:
This video appears on YouTube, widely available to the public;
yet, you are cautioned that there are a few words in this video that might
be considered offensive to some viewers; if you are offended by words widely
used on American television, radio, in normal daily conversations, and
during typical fourth grade recesses, you are encouraged not to watch.
Still, the topic of this video is related to our field (I think) and has
been forwarded by a KOG reader as a humorous and/or insightful contribution.
There are no words in this video that are as offensive as many words many
psychologists regularly use to call students, such as "disabled" or "retarded"
or "disturbed."
Just like the Phoenix,
the KASP GROUP has recently recently risen from the ashes. Although
this group is quite obviously way ahead of the CASP Forum, we could use
about 50 more active members.
"Strange game,
Professor Faulken."
WOPR, War Games
IN
DISARRAY
