OPINION
As of Monday, for public school kids in Texas to get a bandage from a teacher or the school nurse, they need a signed permission slip.
Texas Senate Bill 12 was passed in the name of parental rights.
When my daughter went to the school counselor, who is amazing and caring, by the way, on Tuesday, she was asked to bring a note giving that consent in case she wants counseling services.
I sent in a note on Wednesday so she and her sister can receive proper care at school, whether by the nurse, a coach or the counselor.
In an era when almost every school shooting is blamed on the state of mental health in this country, you would think the state would be finding ways to make that problem better, not complicating matters further.
In an era when the state complains about the cost of doing school business, you would think it would stop ushering in more unfunded mandates for the school staff to handle.
In an era when school staff and administrators know they might be called upon in a moment’s notice to stand between their students and a gunman, you would think the state would help give them tools to handle those challenges instead of adding another distraction for already overburdened employees to deal with. My kids shouldn’t need a permission slip for a bandage. They also shouldn’t need one to speak to a counselor who could help them identify an entirely different kind of life-threatening situation that needs to be treated.
I know this is likely an unpopular opinion, but there are some kids who need to be able to talk to a school counselor even when their parents or guardians would prefer they didn’t.
Until we have a world free of domestic violence, incest, rape or child neglect, every kid has a right to speak to a mandated reporter who knows they can make that report without fearing for their job or negative ramifications falling on the school.
Not every parent is a good parent.
Every kid deserves to have someone good in their corner.
That saves more lives than any lawmaker in Austin will ever know.
Abigail Allen is the Editor & Publisher of the Post-Signal. She can be reached at [email protected].
