Daryl Cobranchi blogs about an American Academy of Pedriatrics News article in which doctors are advised to “ask parents about their goals in home schooling and indicate a willingness to help” and “keep a close eye on the developmental progress of home-schooled children.” “Pediatricians could address this (unobservant or neglectful parents) by conducting behavioral health screenings during well-child visits.”
Many years ago our pediatrician found out that we homeschooled and her rather horrified question was: “Who is responsible to see that their immunizations are up to date?” My calm response was “I suppose that’s my responsibility.” Then, I found a new pediatrician. A friend of mine took her three year old to the doctor for something minor, maybe immunizations. The doctor found out that the friend’s older children were homeschooled and began to test the three year old under the guise of a comprehensive health screening. The three year old, as three year olds are prone to do, refused to cooperate with this stranger by not talking to him. My friend was told that her daughter was mentally disabled, developmentally delayed, and needed immediate intervention, from government schools I suppose. My friend also found a new pediatrician for her perfectly normal daughter. Doctors should stick to being doctors.