Several weeks ago, I raised some concerns regarding the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and the harmful agenda they push into schools across the country.
Continuing to research this deceptive organization, I attended a webinar they hosted regarding the Title IX changes pushed by the Biden administration. Not surprisingly, the webinar facilitator works for the Human Rights Campaign and fully supports the transgender agenda. Nevertheless, I was curious what the ASCA would share regarding Title IX given many states have laws conflicting with the revised changes and/or have pending lawsuits in the courts.
Alabama has good parental rights laws on the books, some of which came in handy when our attorney general sued the Biden administration over Title IX. We have V-CAP, the bathroom bill, and Parents’ Right To Know, to name a few. These laws reinforce sanity and bring common sense into the discussion about whether “boys can become girls.” They’re also great reminders that government schools, or any agency for that matter, cannot keep secrets from parents when dealing with minor children.
However, after hearing what the webinar facilitator said, I would like to see stronger laws that incorporate accountability measures.
To the ASCA, the laws in Alabama reinforcing parents as the sole decision-makers for their minor children are “unfortunate.” That is the exact word the facilitator of this outrageous training used when describing laws that make red states the destination for parents escaping states like California. They describe these laws as “forced outing laws,” requiring schools to disclose to parents that minor children are gender questioning, gender confused, transgender, sexually confused, or whatever other terms they come up with.
These comments wouldn’t be so concerning if this was some crazed leftist organization in far-off lands, but the ASCA is in every school in Alabama, despite what some schools try to tell you.
Following my previous op-ed on the ASCA, a friend reached out saying he spoke to his school, and they reassured him they were no longer associated with the ASCA. Don’t be fooled. It’s actually not possible for individual schools to disaffiliate due to the structure of the Alabama School Counselor Association (ALSCA). Not only is the ALSCA a state division of the ASCA, but its mission statement clearly states:
The mission of ALSCA mirrors the American School Counselor Association’s mission….
The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) is the foundation that expands the image and influence of professional school counselors through advocacy, leadership, collaboration and systemic change.
What kind of advocacy or systemic change are the ASCA and ALSCA pushing in our schools?
A possible answer came during the webinar's Q&A session when a counselor from Tennessee asked for guidance on how to work around the forced outing laws to protect children. The facilitator advised that counselors are only required to tell parents about the discussions if the parent asks the specific question. In other words, if a parent asks the school, “How is my daughter?” then the answer would be, “She’s doing good.”
However, asking, “How is my child doing?” or “What has my child discussed with members of the school regarding gender or sexual orientation?” is a different matter. At that point, the school is required by law to share all details with the parents.
This is the same training that Hoover City Schools provided to their employees last year. Make no mistake about it: Organizations like the ASCA are working directly within the schools to usurp parental authority and harm your children.
The role of school counselor has evolved over the years and now encompasses the roles of advocate, change agent, and even therapist, whether through social-emotional learning, identifying feelings, establishing behaviors and mindsets, or talking to students who are “questioning” their gender identity and sexual orientation. The role has changed, and a large part of that is due to the ASCA.
Parents need to step up. Start taking your parental responsibility seriously and stop allowing schools or others to raise your children for you. Ask questions. Do not fall victim to the “we’re just teaching your child to be a good person” line. Schools are being trained to see the law through the lens of the ASCA, or legal counsel, which does not align with parental rights.
You can love your school and love your teachers but love your children more. Know with certainty what is being discussed within those four walls.
Emily Jones is a native of North Alabama and the content contributor of The Controversial Mom podcast on Right Side Radio. She is the founder of the first Moms for Liberty chapter in the state seeking to fight for the preservation of parental rights and the protection of our children.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819news.com.
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