Please keep sending your children to public school.

McDonalds needs employees.

Raising a handicapped child is bad enough without this kind of crap.

How utterly pathetic that in, of all places, an educational system do we find small-minded people who believe in such infantile superstitions and fairy tales like psychics/shamans/mediums.

Our children are bereft of any kind of instruction on how to develop and use critical thinking and it's no wonder when some of the teachers (or assistants) continue to live in their nonsensical "spirit" world.

When a witch hunt can be initiated by the cries of the 'witches' themselves it makes me wonder if rational thought stands any chance in our world.

DslainteC: How utterly pathetic that in, of all places, an educational system do we find small-minded people who believe in such infantile superstitions and fairy tales like psychics/shamans/mediums.

/points at religion

Why are you shocked?

I predict the mother sues the shiat out of the school board and gets her child a better education.

snuff3r: Why are you shocked?

I'm not shocked as much as I am discouraged. The fact that a TA went to a psychic is one thing, but when the school board (led by a person with a PhD) can get suckered into believing such tripe, it is shameful and disheartening.

If a psychic told me the sun was going to set in the evening, I'd walk outside to check. The fact that this woman's life is being turned upside-down on the "word" of a psychic is just sickening.

Has there ever been any evidence of a true psychic -- more than just an exceptionally skilled scam artist?

Hell, a friend of mine was married to a spoiled brat of a "woman" (since divorced) who used to spend tons of money they didn't have on psychics and aura readings and crystal therapy and similar garbage. Anyway, one of her psychics was "helping her work through issues via past-life regression" and, apparently they had found past lives where she was a pirate captain, a Viking warrior, a princess and a high-ranking officer in the Confederate Army.

My question to her was "Isn't it amazing that no one ever shoveled shiat in a past life? Everyone's a knight or a princess. Odds are much better that, if you did have a past life, you probably were a serf who died of the plague and was glad to do so, based on nothing else than the dentistry of the time."

Hey, if you have the money and that kind of thing makes you feel good? Go for it -- but this woman was using money earmarked for the mortgage.

Having a son with a learning disability, I can honestly say that this is 10 different levels of farked up.

Wouldn't this qualify as libel/slander?

The assistant should have been shiatcanned on the fact that she was stupid enough to even go to a psychic.

If the allegations are true, the principal, vice-principal and the teacher should all get their teaching licenses revoked. People that dumb should be nowhere near education, aside from their own so they can possibly learn something.

damageddude: If the allegations are true, the principal, vice-principal and the teacher should all get their teaching licenses revoked. People that dumb should be nowhere near education, aside from their own so they can possibly learn something.

And the 'psychic' should be jailed.

/my 2 cents.

that teacher needs fired. Now.

Required reporting is a real valid policy, but not when acted on by idiots. Show some farking common sense.

that teacher needs fired. Now.

Required reporting is a real valid policy, but not when acted on by idiots. Show some farking common sense.

Oh, there needs to be a lot more people in that line with the teacher. Principal, entire school board, superintendant...

"It is highly unusual, I will admit, to have a case called in based upon what a psychic might say," concedes Sue Dale of the Simcoe County CAS. "

Unusual? UNUSUAL?

How about unethical? Incompetent? Ludicrous, ridiculous, asnine?

Good gravy I hope this TA is fired immediately, and everyone involved, including the psychic, brought up on charges.

DslainteC: snuff3r: Why are you shocked?

I'm not shocked as much as I am discouraged. The fact that a TA went to a psychic is one thing, but when the school board (led by a person with a PhD) can get suckered into believing such tripe, it is shameful and disheartening.

You haven't heard of educated stupid? You will be shocked to learn that Educators are KILLING US - teaching Death value ONEism.

SilentStrider: that teacher needs fired. Now.

Required reporting is a real valid policy, but not when acted on by idiots. Show some farking common sense.

Nothing reported by a "psychic" should be acted upon.

Ms. Cleo unavailable for comment

Mr. Coffee Nerves: If a psychic told me the sun was going to set in the evening, I'd walk outside to check. The fact that this woman's life is being turned upside-down on the "word" of a psychic is just sickening.

Has there ever been any evidence of a true psychic -- more than just an exceptionally skilled scam artist?

Hell, a friend of mine was married to a spoiled brat of a "woman" (since divorced) who used to spend tons of money they didn't have on psychics and aura readings and crystal therapy and similar garbage. Anyway, one of her psychics was "helping her work through issues via past-life regression" and, apparently they had found past lives where she was a pirate captain, a Viking warrior, a princess and a high-ranking officer in the Confederate Army.

My question to her was "Isn't it amazing that no one ever shoveled shiat in a past life? Everyone's a knight or a princess. Odds are much better that, if you did have a past life, you probably were a serf who died of the plague and was glad to do so, based on nothing else than the dentistry of the time."

Hey, if you have the money and that kind of thing makes you feel good? Go for it -- but this woman was using money earmarked for the mortgage.

My past lives:

A small town court stenographer during the Eisenhower era who was choked to death when he insulted a butcher at a meat market.

A guy who kept hitting his hand with the mallet during the construction of Venetian merchant ships during the middle ages, who eventually died a mallet related death that involved a duck and seven small pieces of paper.

A little girl who wanted to be a princess very, very badly. She died years later because she forgot to bow when a princess walked by and was thusly beheaded.

A package of unconsumed C-Rations.

I don't know what any of that means, it's just what my psychic told me. She didn't get a tip. Stupid psychic.

Inflatable Rhetoric: SilentStrider: that teacher needs fired. Now.

Required reporting is a real valid policy, but not when acted on by idiots. Show some farking common sense.

Nothing reported by a "psychic" should be acted upon.

Or a minister/priest/witch doctor.

seminole87: I went to a psychic once in Talladega that was uncanny but I sure wouldn't have relied on what he told me (even though he turned out to be correct).

You went to the wrong place - head to Cassadaga.

sullyman: The assistant should have been shiatcanned on the fact that she was stupid enough to even go to a psychic.

Agreed.

Also, the story says that they have to report it when there are "reasonable grounds" for suspicion. A report from a nutjob teaching assistant and a psychic does not constitute reasonable grounds for suspicion. So the board was negligent too.

Oh fark me...

This is in my country... in my province even.

The entire chain of command in that school from principal down to the teacher's assistant who believes in psychics should be shot and pissed on (not necessarily in that order), the school should be condemned and levelled, and the name "Terry Fox" should be given to a more deserving facility.

I tend to think of my country as less superstitious than certain other nations then something like this happens. Geez.

Mnemia: sullyman: The assistant should have been shiatcanned on the fact that she was stupid enough to even go to a psychic.

Agreed.

Also, the story says that they have to report it when there are "reasonable grounds" for suspicion. A report from a nutjob teaching assistant and a psychic does not constitute reasonable grounds for suspicion. So the board was negligent too.

I predict ---- she'll get a lawyer. If she's smart at all.

It's only a matter of time before she takes their ass to court.

First they start teaching kids that the earth was created in six days by an invisible sky wizard, then they act on reports from psychics. What's next for public schools? Alchemy in chemistry class?

The educational assistant who works with Victoria went to see a psychic last night, and the psychic asked the educational assistant at that particular time if she works with a little girl by the name of "V." And she said 'yes, I do.' And she said, 'well, you need to know that that child is being sexually abused by a man between the ages of 23 and 26.'"

I love how "psychics" are always so vague (I'm sure she knew this was a teacher). The whole thing is an exercise in confirmation bias, which should be obvious to anyone with an education and half a brain. Even if she hadn't done this stupid crap, the TA should have been fired for being an idiot and too stupid to educate others.

Inflatable Rhetoric: I predict ---- she'll get a lawyer. If she's smart at all.

It could happen. Though Canadian courts are a lot stingier with "pain and suffering" type damages than US courts. This might be good for maybe $10-20,000 (I base this on a $12,000 settlement my wife got for getting burned at a spa, and yes, she got burnt really close to THERE).

She should still get a lawyer and sue everything in sight... it might even pay for a few years of part-time care for the kid.

TA needs to be fired and brought up on charges. People who put any sort of faith into what a psychic says have no place in any place of education.

/You too, religion

Mnemia: I love how "psychics" are always so vague (I'm sure she knew this was a teacher).

And if even their vaguary happens to be very wrong, I've heard them say, "Well that's going to happen, so watch for that."

I run into conservative psychics all the time online that "know"

1) i am on welfare
2) i am homeless
3) i am presently typing from my parents basement
4) i am poor
5) i have never had a job that paid more tham min. wage
6) i flunked out of college
7) i never graduated from high school ect ect

Yeah they know all about me even though they never met me, don't know what i look like, don't know my name.

So did they take the kids from 416 neighbours as well?

we_hates: And if even their vaguary happens to be very wrong, I've heard them say, "Well that's going to happen, so watch for that."

The best ones are the psychics that work an audience (like that creepy guy named Jon). Sometimes the spirits will "miss" and he'll actually be doing a reading for a guy 4 rows back... of course, we should switch to him...

I'm a psychic and I knew that I'd be getting a kick out of these replies.

Mercutio74: Inflatable Rhetoric: I predict ---- she'll get a lawyer. If she's smart at all.

It could happen. Though Canadian courts are a lot stingier with "pain and suffering" type damages than US courts. This might be good for maybe $10-20,000 (I base this on a $12,000 settlement my wife got for getting burned at a spa, and yes, she got burnt really close to THERE).

She should still get a lawyer and sue everything in sight... it might even pay for a few years of part-time care for the kid.

Whatever she can get. Plus, it could get press and show yet again that PSYCHICS ARE FAKE. Maybe the psychic could go to jail, even.

Speedofdarkness
I predict the mother sues the shiat out of the school board and gets her child a better education.

Last paragraph: she is suing for 50K. Maybe the TA should come to see you instead of her current psychic.

Some people need to be fired.
But since this is government, education, and probably a bad union, nobody will be.

This has got to be some play on words by subby

*reads article*

*faceplam*

Bob16: I run into conservative psychics all the time online that "know"

1) i am on welfare
2) i am homeless
3) i am presently typing from my parents basement
4) i am poor
5) i have never had a job that paid more tham min. wage
6) i flunked out of college
7) i never graduated from high school ect ect

Yeah they know all about me even though they never met me, don't know what i look like, don't know my name.

I also know that:
1) Ur a virgin
2) Ur a fag

j/k

Anyone ever see this movie? Now that will freak you out.

Indictment: The McMartin Trial (new window)

People act and make decisions based on religion all the time. How is this any different? We are so used to the behavior that we don't think it's completely batshiat crazy when someone prays or seeks divine guidance.

LowPlainsDrifter:
My past lives:

A small town court stenographer during the Eisenhower era who was choked to death when he insulted a butcher at a meat market.

A guy who kept hitting his hand with the mallet during the construction of Venetian merchant ships during the middle ages, who eventually died a mallet related death that involved a duck and seven small pieces of paper.

A little girl who wanted to be a princess very, very badly. She died years later because she forgot to bow when a princess walked by and was thusly beheaded.

A package of unconsumed C-Rations.

I don't know what any of that means, it's just what my psychic told me. She didn't get a tip. Stupid psychic.

Outstanding. Just outstanding. I needed that!!!

DslainteC: snuff3r: Why are you shocked?

I'm not shocked as much as I am discouraged. The fact that a TA went to a psychic is one thing, but when the school board (led by a person with a PhD) can get suckered into believing such tripe, it is shameful and disheartening.

I work in a computer lab for the College of Education at my university. Tech support, write a little in-house software, etc. I come into contact with dozens of future educators, grad students, and Education PhDs. And the truth is, they are STUPID.

Maybe 5% of them have always wanted to teach, and they're doing the best they can to get through college and get out.], and I feel terrible that they have to put up with the rest. The remainder of them are the dumbest collection of mouth-breathing semi-conscious hairless primates that ever walked the halls of an institution of higher learning. They are generally near-illiterate, incapable of following the most basic instructions, lack basic social skills, and are completely baffled by the most trivial of difficulties.

These are the people who require written instructions to save a file. (these are people who have grown up with the WWW, who can edit facebook and myspace, but can't open a file in Word without looking at a paper with instructions from their professor.) They ask you questions like, "what's my social security number?" "What does Date of Birth mean?"

You get to overhear conversations (shouted across the room, of course) such as "Did you hear about the Indelible Hunk movie?" "Oh yes. my son, (a lot of them have children. You never see more pregnant freshmen and sophomores on campus than in the education department) loves it." "I heard it was a comic book." "Oh yes, but I won't let him read it. I don't think he needs to be reading so young." "Oh, I think so too. I don't like reading myself."

The masters and doctoral students aren't much better. They have all the same social problems, but they somehow stumbled through the less-than-strict requirements to get into grad school without knowing how to operate complex machinery such as computers, or calculators, or the little button that opens the elevator.

Every day I go to work I have to consciously make an effort to not think of the fact that these are the great majority of people who are going to be educating our future generations.

To end my rant, I am not surprised in the least that an educator would report a parent based on the word of a psychic. I'm surprised she didn't call the police, too. I suspect she couldn't remember the phone number.

I used to read Tarot cards for fundraising at my school. 99% of it is guessing and intuition people. Oh you are on a university campus? Well I see that you are on a journey of enlightenment blah blah blah...tell us anything and we will work it in somehow.

The TA and "seer" should both be burned at the stake. I'm going to get the firewood ready.

Russ1642: People act and make decisions based on religion all the time. How is this any different? We are so used to the behavior that we don't think it's completely batshiat crazy when someone prays or seeks divine guidance.

That's part of the problem. Religion provides a social backdrop that makes acceptance of psychics and other fakers more likely.

The poor kid has autism ... so I'm surprised that these 'school officials' didn't require here to have leeches placed on her body, to try and 'cure' her of the ailment...

/morans...

tallasse: To end my rant, I am not surprised in the least that an educator would report a parent based on the word of a psychic. I'm surprised she didn't call the police, too. I suspect she couldn't remember the phone number.

Better now that you've got that off your chest?

Mnemia: I love how "psychics" are always so vague (I'm sure she knew this was a teacher).

Amazing how the "spirits" were able to say that the girl was being abused by a man between the ages of 23-26, but somehow couldn't get more than a V out for the name.

You would think the name would be the easiest thing to relay....

Russ1642: People act and make decisions based on religion all the time. How is this any different? We are so used to the behavior that we don't think it's completely batshiat crazy when someone prays or seeks divine guidance.

Since there is no state religion in Canada, someone's superstitions should carry no weight when it comes to running any governmental institution if those superstitions infringe on the rights of other Canadians.

/So basically if your sky-god wants you to have different days off than other workers, fine, but if your sky-god wants you to restrict my freedom of expression, screw you and the deity you rode in on