Our private school says the wellness visit is required by the state. A certain form must be completed at the visit. I researched this “law” and from what I can tell it is an effort to check kids for abuse. They have good intentions perhaps, but it is extremely invasive, the doctor inspects every square inch of my child looking for signs …
Our private school says the wellness visit is required by the state. A certain form must be completed at the visit. I researched this “law” and from what I can tell it is an effort to check kids for abuse. They have good intentions perhaps, but it is extremely invasive, the doctor inspects every square inch of my child looking for signs of abuse, completely unacceptable if you ask me and I’m about to forge the form next year.
I don't know about your state but most laws like this have an exemption provision to fend off legal challenges (though it's usually hidden or not disclosed). That way the requirement becomes technically voluntary. You have to find the actual law passed by the legislature and read the language in detail. Press releases and summaries put out by Public Health departments *never* state this and are intended to mislead you.
California has a requirement that all kids starting elementary school must have a dental exam (it was pushed by the Dentist's lobby). Although we had taken our kids to the dentist, we submitted the exemption because screw these people. Accepted with no questions asked.
And the school nurses will never mention exemptions. I'm wondering how to get the word out to parents of young children since the medical providers are hiding the very existence of exemptions from families.
This is where attorneys could really help, by reading the language and explaining it in layman’s terms so citizens would be armed with arguments and be able to opt out. They could post in a place that would be easy to find and accessible.
Yup, some orgs like the National Vaccine Information Center have done this for vax laws, but I've never seen it for something like this.
One thing we have to our advantage is knowing the exemption provision is almost always there. Laws are written by lawyers, and lawyers are cautious, detail-oriented people (unlike Public Health press hacks). Knowing it's there makes it pop out when you find it in the law text.
Our private school says the wellness visit is required by the state. A certain form must be completed at the visit. I researched this “law” and from what I can tell it is an effort to check kids for abuse. They have good intentions perhaps, but it is extremely invasive, the doctor inspects every square inch of my child looking for signs of abuse, completely unacceptable if you ask me and I’m about to forge the form next year.
I don't know about your state but most laws like this have an exemption provision to fend off legal challenges (though it's usually hidden or not disclosed). That way the requirement becomes technically voluntary. You have to find the actual law passed by the legislature and read the language in detail. Press releases and summaries put out by Public Health departments *never* state this and are intended to mislead you.
California has a requirement that all kids starting elementary school must have a dental exam (it was pushed by the Dentist's lobby). Although we had taken our kids to the dentist, we submitted the exemption because screw these people. Accepted with no questions asked.
And the school nurses will never mention exemptions. I'm wondering how to get the word out to parents of young children since the medical providers are hiding the very existence of exemptions from families.
would be great if in the KNOW parents would spread this awareness!
You tell two friends, and they tell two friends, and they tell two friends. Worked well in those glorious pre-internet days.
This is where attorneys could really help, by reading the language and explaining it in layman’s terms so citizens would be armed with arguments and be able to opt out. They could post in a place that would be easy to find and accessible.
Yup, some orgs like the National Vaccine Information Center have done this for vax laws, but I've never seen it for something like this.
One thing we have to our advantage is knowing the exemption provision is almost always there. Laws are written by lawyers, and lawyers are cautious, detail-oriented people (unlike Public Health press hacks). Knowing it's there makes it pop out when you find it in the law text.
I’m in Texas. I already found the exemption form for her college and am ready to request a religious exemption.