Censoring students; mental health; public pensions

Censoring students

I’m still reeling and flabbergasted by the article in Friday’s paper regarding the punishment doled out by Texas Christian University to one of its students for comments made on his private social media account. (“TCU, student at odds over social-media comments”)

This is an appalling infringement of the principle of free speech and the sanctity of privacy and free will!

Since when did TCU become the moral authority of the universe?

This appears to be a vengeful action taken by a supposed friend of the student in an attempt to ensnare and discredit him.

TCU’s actions are inappropriate and harsh to the extreme.

The world has gone crazy, as we see every day in the headlines.

TCU has now become a big player in the absurdity that is called political correctness in this mad, mad world!

— Jo Ellen Anderson,

Aledo

Mental health

As a local child psychiatrist, I’m bothered on two fronts by the societal reaction to the latest events in South Carolina, Louisiana and Tennessee.

First, contrary to common social media discourse, people with mental illness are only minimally more violent than the general population.

These troubled men may have had prior psychiatric diagnoses, but their decision to act on their deep-seated hate might have been just that: their own misguided decision.

Managing social conflict, building frustration tolerance, relating to one’s neighbor — these are all social skills that can be taught and learned.

Their lack does not (always) a mental illness make.

Second, the pervasive notion that medications are the keystone in mental health treatment causes great misunderstanding.

My field has done a less-than-stellar job of dissuading this philosophy.

I teach patients and families that medications compliment a strong psychotherapy plan (either created by myself or an outside therapist).

Terrorists, by their very nature, are people who feel the need to be heard, to make their “point,” and who lack basic coping skills.

De-stigmatizing therapy and normalizing access to culturally competent mental health providers goes a long way toward improving frustration tolerance and preventing home-grown terrorism.

— Brian J. Dixon,

Fort Worth

Public pensions

James Quintero’s July 19 commentary (“Texas’ $57 billion public pension problem”) was an example of something most Texans should be very wary of — political organizations like Texas Public Policy Foundation calling themselves “think tanks.”

In reality, they are political lobbying groups with wealthy donors pretending to use real academic research to influence policy.

Quintero’s piece was an example of TPPF’s tactics: Use fear and half-truths to influence policy discussions.

His assertion that the future of Texas public pensions cannot be supported without “massive tax increases” is completely false and misleading.

The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) is Texas’ largest public pension and one of the most sound systems in the country.

Any in-depth look at its financials and how the system works debunks Quintero’s assertions.

Quite simply, the TPPF wants to see public pensions disappear, not because of the “dangers” they present to state budgets, but because TPPF fundamentally disagrees with the thought of public pensions to begin with.

Public pensions like TRS were created to help one of the most important professions to our society — our teachers.

If Quintero and TPPF don’t like TRS and other pension funds for political reasons, they should at least have the integrity to use facts.

— Dan Manning, Hurst

This story was originally published August 4, 2015 at 5:45 PM with the headline "Censoring students; mental health; public pensions."