Page 77 - Winter2017

Vaccination Update

THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY CLASSROOM
By Kendall Nelson, Director, The Greater Good

For years I have been working within the fifteen to nineteen rose 44 percent among boys In the U.K.,
vaccine awareness community as an activ- between the years 2004 to 2013, and by 48 per- there are
ist for health freedom, hoping to improve the cent among girls in the same period. Similarly,
lives of children. In doing so, I have met many the National Institutes of Health (NIH) here more than

heroes—men and women who are not afraid to in the U.S. says one in five American children two
address the shortcomings of vaccination despite currently has or had a “seriously debilitating hundred sixty
the personal and professional repercussions that mental disorder.”
sometimes follow. These people are doctors, Sadly, education today is not what it once thousand
scientists and parents of injured children who was. IEPs (Individual Education Plans), sensory children and
share current vaccine news and studies, as well rooms, seclusion, restraint and suspension are young people
as ideas. One of these heroes and thought leaders now the norm in the U.S. In the U.K., according
is Anne Dachel from Age of Autism who for the to Simpson Millar (Education Law Specialists in registered
past few months has provided our community London), there are more than two hundred sixty as having
with over two thousand news articles written thousand children and young people registered special
about what she calls “The Decline of the Modern as having special education needs, and in Eng-
Student.” land, they are building nineteen new schools for education
autism spectrum disorder (ASD) students. needs.
SOMETHING IS HORRIBLY WRONG According to Dachel, a veteran school-
“Evidence that something is horribly wrong teacher for more than thirty years and mother
with today’s children is worldwide and it’s of an adult autistic son, “Schools aren’t focused
growing. U.S. health officials have been silent on academics like they have been in the past.
on these issues for years, but I see a change Today, they are busy addressing mental health
happening. Actually, it’s been several years in issues and providing an atmosphere where
the making, but it’s just now in the news every- children are simply able to function.” She says,
where,” says Dachel. Recent headlines read, “It’s clear as an educator that our kids are fall-
“Special Needs Student Population Still Rising,” ing apart and we cannot delude ourselves into
“Suspension Rates on the Rise,” “Handcuffing believing things are like they were twenty-five
of Kids with Disabilities ‘Excessive Force,’ years ago. What we have for schools today is
Judge Rules” and “Suicide Rates for Teenage a combination of nursing home, walk-in clinic
Girls at All-Time High.” and special education department.”
Stress, mental illness, anxiety, depression, Do a search for “schools, behavior,”
and learning disorders—they are plaguing our “schools, special education,” or “schools, clin-
children at ever-increasing levels. Schools are ics,” and you’ll find an endless supply of ar-
having trouble accommodating these students ticles featuring stories about the mental health
while suffering endlessly with discipline issues, problems currently crippling our schools and
violence, expulsions, stressed-out teachers and students. Obsessive-compulsive behavior, social
budget shortfalls. According to the Norwegian anxiety, panic disorder, agoraphobia, separation
Institute of Public Health, up to 15-20 percent anxiety, generalized anxiety, post-traumatic
of children and adolescents aged three to eigh- stress, eating disorders, etc. are widespread.
teen are inhibited by mental problems such as Additionally, “calming area,” “self-selecting
anxiety, depression and behavioral issues, while place,” “therapeutic day school,” “asthma
the use of antidepressants by young people aged zone,” and “medically fragile” are the new catch

WINTER 2017 Wise Traditions 77