…and this is a 
The consequences of the erosion of critical thinking
Category: Skepticism
Posted on: June 19, 2008 7:26 AM, by PZ Myers
Colleen Leduc has an autistic child named Victoria who is enrolled in a public school. She recently got a terrifying phone call — her daughter was being sexually abused. We parents know well the fear and worry a threat to our children can cause, and Leduc was receiving an urgent, frantic phone call from school officials telling her that her daughter was being victimized in the worst way.
So she rushes in to this little meeting.
"The teacher looked and me and said: 'We have to tell you something. 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.'"
Let's make it worse. Reports of sexual abuse must be reported to Children's Aid, even if it is merely a stupid remark by a credulous gawp of an aid, built on the dishonest bilking of a con artist. So Leduc now has a file opened on her and is being investigated.
I am astounded.
That educational assistant who made such a ghastly accusation on the basis of no evidence at all should have been immediately warned that she would be fired for spreading false rumors like that. The administrators at that school who took such idiocy seriously ought to be removed from their position of trust — they are clearly unreliable. The government officials should not be harrassing Ms Leduc — rather, they ought to hunt down and fine the creepy scammer with the pathetic letter-guessing psychic fraud scheme.
Or, if they aren't going to do that, maybe we should start our own stupid rumor that Terry Fox Elementary School has a network of secret tunnels where children are sodomized by teachers and shut the school down and put the personnel through living hell. Live by gullibility, die by gullibility. All's fair, right?
This is what happens when a culture tells people that reason and evidence are optional, and faith is touted as a virtue. I'm sure that educational assistant thought she was doing a good thing and was trying to protect Victoria…but the filters had been stripped from her brain, she had no tools to make rational assessments of the evidence, and so she charged in to do something vile and destructive, instead.
(via)
Politics
Comments
Oh, for the love of Cthulhu. I remember the ghastly satanism-in-daycares idiocy of the early 1980s, is it starting all over again now?
Posted by: weemaryanne | June 19, 2008 7:36 AM
You may be astounded but I'm gob smacked. As a parent myself if this ever happened to any of my children I'd hammer it down PDQ. Educational assistant + psychic = headless chicken!
Posted by: Dancaban | June 19, 2008 7:39 AM
It just shows you have to make sure you don't take the advice of fake psychics. Insist on real psychics.
By the way, its not just in the US that critical thinking skills are lacking. Its pretty bad in the UK too.
http://tinyurl.com/2noy3n
Posted by: Sigmund | June 19, 2008 7:45 AM
I had to read it twice, because I first read 'psychic' as in psychology.
Posted by: Paholaisen Asianajaja | June 19, 2008 7:45 AM
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_23845.aspx
This is the article - it's worth noting:
And so a case worker came to the Leduc home to discuss the allegations of sexual misconduct, only to admit there wasn't a shred of evidence that anything had ever happened at all. They labelled Leduc a "diligent" mother doing the best she could for her child under difficult circumstances, closed the file and left, calling the report "ridiculous."
So not everyone in this case is crazily ridiculous.
Posted by: Jason | June 19, 2008 7:45 AM
The whole system for reporting child abuse is pretty much f**ked, anyhow. All it takes is one nasty relative to make false (and anonymous!) reports, and you can be put through a whirlwind of troubles. I really feel for this parent, it's a terrible situation, and could only be compounded by having a special needs child who may not understand what's happening.
Posted by: DaveX | June 19, 2008 7:49 AM
Typically closed mind atheists scientists, always preaching their dogma about rationailty and evidence. Didn't anyone ever tell them that psychics and astrology and tarot cards and religion are just "harmless" fun that "make people happy" and that it's an important part of their lives.
I'm not even a parent, so I can only begin to appreciate how FUCKING MAD I would be if a teacher tried that shit with me.
And lets not forget the hypothetical parent who DID beleive this shit-they would have been sick with distress thinking their kid was being abused, just because of the cold reading of some scam artist.
This is trully a messed up situation.
Posted by: Lightnin | June 19, 2008 7:51 AM
Yes, Jason, not everyone is crazy. However, the state came into this famly's home, intervened in their life, on the basis of this idiocy. It was taken seriously.
If the aide isn't released, there should be something placed in her personnel file--and used in her employee evaluation--that she filed a false and frivolous report on the basis of a psychic. This should harm her career.
Posted by: MAJeff, OM | June 19, 2008 7:52 AM
If it isn't religious insanity that causes us so much grief it is situations as described here that makes us wonder if human society will make it possible to treat each other with rational behavior. That mother will be in a state of worry for her daughter from now on. Sad.
Posted by: Holbach | June 19, 2008 7:53 AM
If you want to spread nasty rumors about the teacher's aid who went to the psychic and the teacher and administrators who took the accusations seriously, fine. I don't see why you'd run the rest of the teachers at the school through your rumor mill. They had nothing to do with it.
Posted by: Jackal | June 19, 2008 7:56 AM
What's really annoying to me is that this little stir brought about by the aide has taken case workers who are already strapped for time and resources on a wild goose chase when it could be used for children who really need their help.
Posted by: Whalehugger | June 19, 2008 7:59 AM
One can only speculate how this could have gone if the mother hadnt audio-taped her daughter and had her on GPS,how far would that inquisition,sorry investigation have gone,would they have believed her or the psychic?
PZ,im glad Im not in the US and am reading this at 8pm with a couple glasses under my belt,I would be seriously depressed if I read that stuff in the morning....
Posted by: clinteas | June 19, 2008 8:01 AM
MAJeff said:
It should end her career. I can't believe child services didn't take one look at this report and then immediately file a complaint against the school's administrators with the relevant disciplinary body.
The 80's Satanic Panics surely should have taught officialdom something about just how much damage this sort of uncritical "thinking" can inflict on people.
Posted by: Lilly de Lure | June 19, 2008 8:02 AM
Actually, Jackal (#10), it's not necessary to spread nasty rumours about the educational assistant in this case. Simply hammering home the truth should be sufficient. The Children's Aid department was hoodwinked by a psychic.
I'm no lawyer, but shouldn't it be possible to bring 'false accusation' charges against this 'psychic'?
Posted by: Blaidd Drwg | June 19, 2008 8:06 AM
This reeks of the infamous McMartin Preschool case here in California, which began with accusations by a mentally ill (and alcoholic) mother and resulted in six years of criminal investigations and prosecutions, although without ever convicting anyone. One of the accused, Ray Buckley, was held in prison for five years despite never being convicted in multiple trials. I can still remember my parents and their friends confidently asserting Buckley's guilt because "you could tell" from his appearances on TV. Must be nice to be psychic.
Posted by: Zeno | June 19, 2008 8:14 AM
What PZ so pointedly calls the erosion of critical thinking means in real life,that there are a lot of people walking the earth who are totally unhinged from rationality,including people in power and official office.Call me naive,but the extent of that is just now starting to sink in....
Like Lilly de Lure(mmmmmmmm)said,its hardly believable that this school board actually acted on this crap !
Posted by: clinteas | June 19, 2008 8:17 AM
That anyone in a position of authority would have considered this worthy of investigation makes me think that we are still only a whisker away from Carl Sagan's "Demon Haunted World." Very scary.
Posted by: bassmanpete | June 19, 2008 8:20 AM
To be fair to the CAS, they may not have known about the psychic part when they started the investigation. They'll also be pretty upset with the school for wasting their time.
And the consequences to the psychic - none. Not even named in the article.
Posted by: GP | June 19, 2008 8:21 AM
If I were the parent of a child who had that woman for an "educational assistant" my child would be withdrawn from that school. Today.
That someone charged with assisting the mental and social development of children would make serious accusations based on a vague idea from some "psychic" con-artist is bad enough.
That the administrators of the school would actually go as far as to inform the authorities based on such drivel is appalling. Disgusting, even.
If they had made the complaint based on other evidence it would be one thing. (There was mention in other coverage that the child displayed some "sexualized behavior" in the past, however, the article goes on to state that the behavior exhibited by the child is typical for the type and severity of developmental disorder which the child suffers.) But nooooooo.... it's because a psychic told them so. Great. What's next? A seance conducted in math class to determine the correct answer to 3x+3y=18? Perhaps we ought to do away with grades and simply allow educators to use ouija boards to decide who passes and who fails?
I'm going to spend my free time today writing letters. One to my MP, one to the Premier of Ontario, Dalton McGuinty, one to the Minister of education, Kathleen Wynne, and one to the Prime Minister's office.
I, for one, am sick an tired of the bullshit con-artists of this world preying on the ignorant and misinformed. I'm even more tired of the educational system in this country allowing such brainless idiots as this woman access to impressionable children.
Posted by: Kate | June 19, 2008 8:21 AM
You know, I'm not much for the culture of litigation in the States these days...
... but in this case, I'd be suing the psychic, the aide, and the school administration who took it seriously.
Posted by: ceejayoz | June 19, 2008 8:23 AM
1. "But under the Child and Family Services Act, anyone who works with children and has reasonable grounds to suspect a youngster is being harmed, must report it immediately - and the CAS has an obligation to follow up."
2. "And what does the admittedly red-faced school board have to say about all this? "I don't have the information yet, but when we proceed with our own investigation we'll know more about that," is all Dr. Lindy Zaretsky, the Simcoe County Superintendent, was willing to allow"
So, this Dr Zaretsky needs an "investigation" to say that they had no reasonable grounds to suspect a youngster was being harmed ?
What an asshole, he's just continuing with the denial !
Posted by: negentropyeater | June 19, 2008 8:25 AM
I, for one, am sick an tired of the bullshit con-artists of this world preying on the ignorant and misinformed.
And the desperate. I showed Silverlake Life in class the other night. It's a devastating film, but a moment that just makes me so angry is this fuckwitted woman channeling some spirit in order to heal the body of HIV through vibrations. The desperate credulity of people living with such conditions is troubling (but desperation can make you do some crazy stuff), but people who prey on that are beneath contempt.
Posted by: MAJeff, OM | June 19, 2008 8:26 AM
Some of us have written letters to the offending school board - if you'd like to do the same to vent your frustration at the lack of any sort of critical thinking, please go either here or here to see the letters already done with the contact information.
I think embarrassing them is a good tack. Shame them into apologizing and paying for the time Leduc has now been forced to take off from work.
Posted by: BigHeathenMike | June 19, 2008 8:27 AM
Most Psychics are careful to make you sign something saying you won't cause hysteria based on their cold reading techniques.
Posted by: Brendan S | June 19, 2008 8:27 AM
GP; 'And the consequences to the psychic - none. Not even named in the article.'
Why should there be? They are practising their scam on credulous people. The credulous person with no ability to filter reality is the one who is dangerous as she acted upon the words. We won't progress as a society if we scattergun blame. Infringing this psychics freedom of expression won't help. Teaching people not to be credulous will remove his audience which will put paid to the psychic without becoming tyrannical.
Posted by: AllanW | June 19, 2008 8:30 AM
Children have to be protected, PZ
ACT first.
Ask your questions later.
Why would you proved ANY support to a possible abuser?
Posted by: PZ is Full of IT | June 19, 2008 8:31 AM
... shouldn't they know if you're going to cause hysteria? being psychic, and all?
"My amazing psychic powers tell me you're a gullible moron."
Posted by: Stephen Wells | June 19, 2008 8:33 AM
Brilliant parody at number 26. Act first! Think later! Panic now!
Posted by: Stephen Wells | June 19, 2008 8:34 AM
Apperantly, to some people (#26), ignorance really is strength.
Posted by: Brendan S | June 19, 2008 8:35 AM
Quite. Why on earth would anyone want to support someone, just because they might be entirely innocent of any wrong-doing whatsoever? Sheer insanity.
Posted by: MartinM | June 19, 2008 8:38 AM
Maybe reading all these atheist blogs has made my cynical... but the only thing I find surprising/astounding about this story is that other people find it surprising/astounding. Yes, it's a tragic story, and the mother was fortunate to have the evidence to expose the false claim. That part is clear. But why is it so surprising that people really believe in psychics?
Posted by: Mike | June 19, 2008 8:38 AM
Place the blame where it's due, this happened in Canada.
Posted by: Peter Holt | June 19, 2008 8:41 AM
#26: Provide support for someone who doesn't exist? How does that work?
Posted by: NelC | June 19, 2008 8:44 AM
@ No 32 :
I realize that,and was referring to the timezone,not the location,here being 12 hours ahead.
Posted by: clinteas | June 19, 2008 8:46 AM
I live in basically the next district.
The provincial government in Ontario is taking powers away from locla schoolboars for F***ing up financially here and if they are not taking a serious look at these weasels I don't know what they are thinking.
Posted by: steve8282 | June 19, 2008 8:47 AM
"Children have to be protected, PZ
ACT first.
Ask your questions later.
Why would you proved ANY support to a possible abuser?
Posted by: PZ is Full of IT"
What possible abuser? There was no more reason to suspect abuse than if you randomly chose a child off the street. This is not support to a possible abuser. If anything, it's time and money wasted on nothing. By your logic they should investigate every home, every day.
Posted by: neverclear5 | June 19, 2008 8:47 AM
WHAT THE FUCK?!
Sorry. That's what I screamed. Someone SLAP THESE IDIOTS.
Posted by: Michelle | June 19, 2008 8:53 AM
This is one of the most terrible stories I have ever read.
Posted by: Kez | June 19, 2008 8:54 AM
I give the teacher, vice-principal and principal at Terry Fox Elementary an F for failing to determine if there was any validity to the claim before notifying the mother and childrens services that there was sexual abuse.
I would give the educational assistant an F as in FIRED for instigating this matter based on a psychic's bullshit.
Posted by: Benjamin Franklin | June 19, 2008 8:59 AM
The problem is made worse by the woohoo stuff they broadcast all the time on History and Discovery Channel. Chalk this up to:
As seen on TV.
Enjoy.
Posted by: Tim Fuller | June 19, 2008 9:01 AM
In regard to the original text from PZ:
"This is what happens when a culture tells people that reason and evidence are optional, and faith is touted as a virtue. I'm sure that educational assistant thought she was doing a good thing and was trying to protect Victoria...but the filters had been stripped from her brain, she had no tools to make rational assessments of the evidence, and so she charged in to do something vile and destructive, instead."
1. How interesting that PZ believes that "faith" in this instance is somehow related to "virtue." This is nothing but a story of what happens when people create their own religion (in this case 'new age' spiritualism).
2. I do agree with your assessment of her utter lack of reason and evidence - just like the religion of naturalism.
Posted by: who is your creator | June 19, 2008 9:03 AM
This is nothing but a story of what happens when people create their own religion
Whoosh!
Posted by: MAJeff, OM | June 19, 2008 9:06 AM
I don't know why you are astounded. It only takes one crazy person involved with children to make a problem.
I went through the crazy when my Borderline Personality Disorder with Paranoid features ex-wife tried to hang that bullshit on me when we got divorced. It was an eye opening experience, to say the least.
One of the things I learned is that all allegations against a MAN are considered true. No matter how patently stupid they are. Another is that if you don't have a lot of money for a good lawyer and expert witnesses, you're well and truly fucked.
The shortest version of the story is that not only were the allegations shown to be false, but she started her own home "examinations" because all the sexual-abuse examiners(and even DCS) ended up on my side as they could see how patently false the allegations were. One day she stepped a little too far over the line, someone made a referral against her. DCS called and 4-hours later I had full (temporary) custody.
Six months later, the State put-on a parental termination trial (which I piggy-backed on) and her parental rights were removed. The trial took less than half-a-day as she couldn't take the stand (5th Amendment) without criminally implicating herself. Whereas I brought in my daughter's therapist who had full permission to speak to the Court. It was "game over" for her.
I think, over the past nine years of therapy for , plus the $40,000 to $50,000 in attorneys fees, it's run me close to $100,000 now. I get some nominal child support ($90/month (State minimum) that was awarded during the temporary custody pre-trial phase.
And mine was a very prosaic case of crazy ex-wife trying to "win" at all costs with little outside help. If the State gets involved... I don't know. Suicide is your best option? Because the DCS workers will lie and perjure themselves for "the good of the children" (as they decide). McMarten, which PZ links too, is not nearly the outlier that many you may wish to think.
Posted by: Moses | June 19, 2008 9:07 AM
Oh, right! If only people stuck with traditional religions instead of "new age" stuff, they wouldn't fall for scams like psychic counselors. They could instead be victimized the old-fashioned way: by priests, rabbis, imams, and ministers.
That's much better than evidence-based reasoning.
Posted by: Zeno | June 19, 2008 9:09 AM
who is your creator: Actually, it isn't PZ who thinks that faith = virtue, but believers, even the holy babble says so. What delusions they believe in makes little difference at the end of the day. After all, how is psychic belief any different to religious belief as they both have the same amount of evidence supporting them, i.e. none.
Posted by: John Phillips, FCD | June 19, 2008 9:10 AM
My parents still recount the time (before my time) they were dragged into court on allegations that they abused my brother. He had large bruises up and down his arms, both fresh and new, and a "concerned party" had reported it. The deciding witness for the defense? My brother's football coach, who explained that linemen like my brother use their arms to hit people in the helmet, several times a week, for several hours at a time.
Case dismissed.
Posted by: Ranson | June 19, 2008 9:10 AM
I think Matt and Trey had it right:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wacky_Molestation_Adventure
Just say the word "molestation" loud enough, and people automatically throw out all illusions of a fair trial, justice, and evidence because they KNOW it happened in their "heart of hearts".
Posted by: Jeff | June 19, 2008 9:11 AM
I suspect the psychic will be denounced by all the "real psychics" in the area. I just wonder how many other creduloids have been told similar stories by this bottom-feeder.
Posted by: Blondin | June 19, 2008 9:12 AM
Don't feed the troll.
Posted by: DaveX | June 19, 2008 9:12 AM
@ AllanW (#25), I respectfully disagree. When a shark attacks a surfer, the authorities don't accuse the surfers of wrongdoing, they go out and find and kill the shark. (Personally I find this practice abhorrent, most surfers know that they are in the shark's domain, and that they are taking a chance). Let's not blame the victim, blame the one preying on the gullible.
@ PZ is Full of IT (#26) In the early 90's at Brown University (I think) a women's group posted fliers with men's names, accusing them of being 'potential rapists'. The men 'featured' in these fliers had never been accused of rape, had never been suspected. The basis for the accusation? They had penises!
Posted by: Blaidd Drwg | June 19, 2008 9:12 AM
"Live by gullibility, die by gullibility. All's fair, right?"
No. It is not.
Posted by: sjburnt | June 19, 2008 9:12 AM
Says "I havent been taking my meds" -who_is_your_creator,No 41:
//How interesting that PZ believes that "faith" in this instance is somehow related to "virtue." This is nothing but a story of what happens when people create their own religion (in this case 'new age' spiritualism).//
Not related to virtue dumbo,but made a virtue by christian wackaloons(my new fav word btw).
And yes,those new age spiritualists came up with the idea of creating a religion first....LOL
Posted by: clinteas | June 19, 2008 9:18 AM
I am roughly a year and a half from full teaching credentials. This makes me want to wait another 2 to 3 years for my masters and go try for a community college job. How does someone that insanely... that insanely... that insanely... well... that insane get a job working with vulnerable children? There should be tests and classes one should take before becoming a teacher =P In truth, though, having been through ECE (Early Childhood Education) courses, I can testify that they are cotton candy courses. Sit around in a circle, talk about how wonderful children are, and bang, 4 years later you have a BS. Aside from core classes, there is really no academic basis. That's why I left and specialized for secondary education.
Posted by: Donovan | June 19, 2008 9:19 AM
I have a friend who's asked me more than once why I care so much about people believing in stupid things like ghosts or God. This is why. Delusion in and of itself is harmful, no matter what your delusion is.
Anybody else note that at the end of the nice skeptical article, the autism information sources they link to advocate DAN! and other biomed treatments for autism?
Posted by: Bonechar | June 19, 2008 9:21 AM
MAJeff #42.
"Whoosh!"
Sounded to me like a Boeing 747 taking off while snapping the indicators of my irony and tard meters which are sucked into the engine intakes which causes the plane to crash into the swamp that is wiycs thought processes.
I know... swamps would object to the comparison.
-DU-
Posted by: David Utidjian | June 19, 2008 9:22 AM
I fail to see the virtue of believing into something that boasts no evidence.
Posted by: Michelle | June 19, 2008 9:23 AM
If I were the parent of a child who had that woman for an "educational assistant" my child would be withdrawn from that school. Today.
According to the article, she did. However, since she had no alternate place for her child, she has to stay home with her, and has lost her job as a result. The aide, of course, is still happily pulling down a paycheck. I'm so mad I can't even see straight. I keep toying with the idea of making a "how to distinguish and avoid bullshit" course, but most of the examples of those kinds of courses I've seen are electives, and I'd have to tweak it to fit the state gen ed requirements. I'm thinking I really need to do that, though.
Posted by: Carlie | June 19, 2008 9:26 AM
Re #41
s/b
I do agree with your assessment of her utter lack of reason and evidence - just like
thereligion - period!of naturalism.Posted by: Benjamin Franklin | June 19, 2008 9:31 AM
It sounds like the parents would have good cause for a lawsuit of slander against the "education assistant." This moron should know that pulling a stunt like that again could end up in jail time.
Posted by: Gene | June 19, 2008 9:35 AM
Permit me to place this issue in historical context. It all goes back to the admissibility of Spectral evidence, such as was used in the Salem witch trials. Judges these days are supposed to make decisions based only upon evidence which is actually in the record of the trial, and there are enormous safeguards erected around the use of hearsay.
Apparently, however, those school bureaucrats are not governed by -- or even aware of -- modern concepts of rationality, and can behave as if they were back in old Salem.
Posted by: PatrickHenry | June 19, 2008 9:36 AM
No, no, no -- I keep telling you: Who's on first.
What is your creator.
PZed? Third base.
------------------------------
Seriously, though, commenter #1 had the right adjective: ghastly. IMHO, it's the so-called "psychic" who should take the heat for this (first and foremost), with the educational assistant running a close second.
It seems that the school administrators were only covering their butts, since the law requires reporting of a "credible" accusation. I wonder, did they know at the time that the originator was a psychic, or did they assume the assistant had some real knowledge and considered her to be credible?
I'm starting to sense a "boy who cried wolf" situation here -- who will ever take that assistant seriously on any future claims? That stigma alone should be enough to derail her career.
Posted by: Donnie B. | June 19, 2008 9:37 AM
Shouldn't "PZ is Full of IT" be in Mr. Freshwater's class right now? It's a school day, isn't it?
Posted by: Citizen Z | June 19, 2008 9:38 AM
Why aren't the teacher or aide named in any of the articles? Everyone else is, from the school administrators to the case worker. Screw the innocent, but, by God, we'll protect the guilty, I guess.
Posted by: qbsmd | June 19, 2008 9:40 AM
It's kind of ironic that this happened at a school named after the Canadian hero Terry Fox. The fools involved should suffer some sanctions for their stupidity, especially the 'psychic'.
From The TimesMay 23, 2008
The fortune-tellers, at least, must have seen it coming. The biggest overhaul of consumer laws for 40 years takes effect on Monday, tightening controls on everything from door-to-door salesmen to children's advertising.
Fortune-tellers and astrologists will be bracketed with double-glazing salesman under the new Consumer Protection Regulations. The changes, which implement an EU directive on unfair commercial practices, require businesses for the first time to act fairly towards consumers and will outlaw diresputable trading activities.
Fortune-tellers will have to tell customers that what they offer is "for entertainment only" and not "experimentally proven". This means that a fortune-teller who sets up a tent at a funfair will have to put up a disclaimer on a board outside.
Similar disclaimers will need to be posted on the websites of faith healers, spiritualists or mediums where appropriate, as well as on invoices and at the top of any printed terms and conditions.
Andy Millmore, a partner at the law firm Harbottle & Lewis in London, said: "What is significant is the sweeping nature of the regulations. They will effectively criminalise actions that might in the past have escaped legal censure, even if they may perhaps have been covered by industry voluntary codes.
"Personalised services may also come under scrutiny. A tarot pack reader, for instance, cannot just pick one of several templates - it would have to be a proper reading designed for that person."
Claims to secure good fortune, contact the dead or heal through the laying-on of hands are all services that will also have to carry disclaimers, other lawyers say. "You could argue that this is no different from promises given by the Church of Eternal Life, which people pay for, in the sense that they feel obliged to give to the collection," one said. "It's no more proven."
Mr Millmore said that the changes created a lower test for prosecution. "Before, a prosecution had to show that there was a false or misleading trade description. Now the test is, is it an unfair commercial trade practice? So we are likely to see more prosecutions," he said.
The new test would also take account of the context of the sale, he said. If the target were an elderly or vulnerable person, the courts would take a harsher view. "If my aged grandmother lets in a double-glazing seller, and he presses her to make a sale, that would probably constitute an 'aggressive practice' and be criminalised."
This new EU legislation calls upon these goobers to advertise their services as being for entertainment. But I notice that in my local paper, (in the UK), one is still offering her services as if they were based on reality. Feck them!
I did think about reporting her to the police. I guess I ought to. These lying imbeciles can do real damage.
Posted by: Richard Harris | June 19, 2008 9:40 AM
The minute we stopped "swimming" suspects to test for the influence of Satan we were doomed. I'll tell ya, the accused in this country, nay, in this world, are at the end of their liberal-coddled, God-rejecting free ride.
Don't even get me started on the loss of witch burning as a law-and-order tool.
Posted by: jimmiraybob | June 19, 2008 9:42 AM
If you think that's bad, check out this heart-warming tale of religious compassion in action:
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/frontpage/2008/0618/1213735260037.html?via=mr
In brief: A 14 year old Polish girl is raped; she and her mother decide to terminate the pregnancy, as is allowed even under restrictive Polish law, they go to the clinic and find not a doctor, but a priest from a local pro-life movement who tries to force the girl to sign a letter saying she'll keep the baby. The mother sources another clinic, but the doctors there refuse to do it because they've had death threats. Then "someone" reports the mother to social services and the girl gets taken into care. She's 11 weeks pregnant, but Polish law forbids abortions after 12 weeks. So all the pro-lifers have to do is obstruct her for another week.
Truely, god is love.
Posted by: NC Paul | June 19, 2008 9:43 AM
And all this time I thought Wack-A-Loon was what the canucks played instead of Whack-A-Mole.
Posted by: True Bob | June 19, 2008 9:44 AM
NC Paul:
Charmers all!
If you'll excuse me I just need to go find my bucket.
YEUCH!
Posted by: Lilly de Lure | June 19, 2008 9:50 AM
This reminds me of our Mormon bishops that, based on their personal revelation, called people into special positions within the church. No assessment whether the person is qualified to take on the new responsibility. No questionnaire to see if the new job will cause stress or hardship to the individual. Members of the church are fearful to say no to their bishop because of the stigma for doing so. Members do not want to be proceed as weak in faith.
Posted by: Nephi | June 19, 2008 9:55 AM
You've got to be fucking kidding me. That is a complete load of bollocks!
Posted by: Kel | June 19, 2008 9:57 AM
Unfortunately, there is next to zero chance that the psychic actually will. Even if they do manage to get her into court all she needs to say is that never for a minute meant V to mean Victoria/ she just got a feeling/ it's not her fault her idiot client misinterpreted her vision and blah, blah, blah and she's off the hook.
Plus, if she's got the slightest spark of marketing nouse about her she can milk the whole experience for years, making herself out as some kind of persecuted heroine, viciously attacked by those "afraid" of her "abilities".
Do Canadians really want this creature showing up as a Trashy TV medium for years to come?
Posted by: Lilly de Lure | June 19, 2008 9:59 AM
Since I live in Texas, don't get me started on the stupidity of the average public school personnel.
Posted by: Aquaria | June 19, 2008 10:02 AM
Often I can dismiss superstitious lunacy with a laugh and a curse under my breath, but this ruined my day.
The woman who went to a psychic is an idiot for doing so, and she should never be allowed to supervise children again.
The psychic should stick to the usual fraud. By drumming up false legal charges, she/he should criminally prosecuted.
Posted by: Tosser | June 19, 2008 10:02 AM
I disagree. While the TA and the psychic are both idiots, the school administrators had no choice. The idiot TA might not want to admit that she saw abuse, and might be using a "psychic" as a cover story. They have a legal obligation to follow up, as did CAS, who quickly dropped it.
The idiot TA and the psychic should be charged with mischief.
Posted by: Epinephrine | June 19, 2008 10:07 AM
There has been some interesting discussion of this at the JREF forum. The role of the psychic in this is probably being overplayed. The article states that the young girl had been displaying "sexualized behaviour." In other words, she had been groping herself in class. While this behaviour is not necessarily out of character for an autistic child approaching adolescence, it can also be a sign of a yeast, urinary tract or bladder infection, which can be indicative of sexual contact. So the teaching assistant almost certainly had suspicions to start with. The psychic either just repeated them back to her (you know, because that's what they do), or was merely an invention of the teaching assistant used to anonymize the accusation. Apparently this is fairly common in these kinds of situations - people are reluctant to be seen as a sole accuser.
So, what we most probably have here is a teaching assistant who wanted to state her suspicions, but didn't want to be on the hot seat alone if they turned out to be unfounded. But the suspicions predated the visit to the psychic (if indeed one occurred). And these suspicions do need to be acted upon promptly. As an educator, how would you feel if you waited for more evidence, and then found out the child was being abused and you could have stopped it much earlier?
Posted by: Paul | June 19, 2008 10:16 AM
I'm a little disappointed in you PZ.
You said, "Let's make it worse. Reports of sexual abuse must be reported to Children's Aid, even if it is merely a stupid remark by a credulous gawp of an aid, built on the dishonest bilking of a con artist. So Leduc now has a file opened on her and is being investigated." Present tense.
The article clearly stated that CAS did investigate, as is their mandate for all claims no matter how incredulous, and then immediately closed the file.
The story itself is enough to get people fired up. Doesn't need any help with incorrect reporting. I'll expect better of you in the future...
Posted by: Dagger | June 19, 2008 10:19 AM
Does Canada have some legislation that would allow some of the people involved (e.g. the psychic and the aide) to be prosecuted and fined for filing a false report or wasting police time? A hefty fine might encourage psychics to stick to "you will meet a tall, dark, stranger" stories, think twice about inventing accusations of criminal behaviour, and discourage others from propagating such nonsense.
Posted by: Emmet Caulfield | June 19, 2008 10:22 AM
Two more good reasons to homeschool: Not having to deal with public school administrators and being certain your kid develops critical thinking skills.
(After all, Critical Thinking isn't on the standardization tests.)
Posted by: Katrina | June 19, 2008 10:26 AM
Epinephrine: is it true that the school administrators had no choice? I cannot imagine that if the claim was completely without merit (such as from a fortune-teller or psychic) there was a need to investigate further. As a Canadian, I am horrified by this. And even though the CSA disposed of it as "ridiculous" there will be a record somewhere.
Posted by: Leslie in Canada | June 19, 2008 10:33 AM
#69 said "This reminds me of our Mormon bishops that, based on their personal revelation, called people into special positions within the church. No assessment whether the person is qualified to take on the new responsibility."
That's the Bush Justice Department, right?
Posted by: david s | June 19, 2008 10:34 AM
I dispute that the school admins had no choice. IANAL, but the law saws "reasonable grounds" -- which should allow them to dismiss clearly frivolous reports. If "My psychic told me" doesn't qualify as frivolous, then nothing does, and anyone who thinks otherwise is...gullible. (Now once they'd made the complaint, you are correct that the CAS had to follow up. I think their case worker was a tad annoyed at having her/his time wasted.)
Posted by: Eamon Knight | June 19, 2008 10:36 AM
And with the greatest of respect Blaidd Drwg #50 (and Epinephrine #74) 'Let's not blame the victim, blame the one preying on the gullible.' is a really poor response to this kind of situation IMO. How in hell do you enforce rules against gullibility? Against credulousness? Nope, the penalty for those vices is to be pointed out, ridiculed, laughed out of court or out of your job if they are serious. This removes the audience for hucksters and shysters (of whatever stripe) but you can never get rid of the human urge to practice confidence tricks on others while there is some kind of benefit to be had. Sure, go after the most egregious but, as in this case by the looks of it, you'll never pin anything on the psychic. And rightly so IMO. The active agent here is the TA not the psychic.
Posted by: AllanW | June 19, 2008 10:37 AM
Did they make sure she weighs the same as a duck before starting the investigation?
Posted by: Cardinal S | June 19, 2008 10:44 AM
This is just insane and pathetic.
That psychic should be named and shamed. It's amazing how much trouble these shysters can stir up.
Posted by: NP | June 19, 2008 10:46 AM
#77 - Yes. Anytime CAS is involved with a case, police are involved. It will depend on whether the Crown (our prosecution department up here) wants to persue it.
#79 - School boards, administrators and teachers are mandated by law to report any potential incident of child abuse. No matter how inane. Failure to report this incident (no matter how stupid it seems..er.. is) could be legally construed as negligence on the part of the school administrators. The rule is to err on the side of caution. As I mentioned to 77, it will be up to the Crown to recoup the costs of this stupidity.
Posted by: Dagger | June 19, 2008 10:49 AM