Texans for Safe Education

Texans For Safe Education
John Breeding, PhD, Director
2503 Douglas St.
Austin, Texas 78741
(512) 326-8326

Jim Nelson
Texas State Board of Education
1701 North Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78701-1494

January 25, 2000

Dear Honorable Commissioner Nelson:

I am writing to introduce you to our newly formed organization, Texans For Safe Education. We are a citizens group whose purpose is to safeguard the well-being of Texas children and schools. Our specific focus is to support parents and educators in resisting the alarming trend to use psychiatric drugs with more and more of our school-age children, and to encourage a positive refocusing on proven educational methods. We strongly support investment of societal resources in more well-trained and well-paid teachers to lower student-teacher ratios, and optimize student learning.

With this letter, we are including a packet of information with the following enclosures:

1) Purpose Statement of Texans For Safe Education;
2) Texas State Board of Education Appeal, a longer document which summarizes the issues which are our concern;
3) Proposed State Board of Education Resolution, a working draft inspired by the actions of the Colorado Board in November of 1999;
4) "ADHD - Epidemic or Fraud? (The legal status of ADHD)", a videotape produced by neurologist Fred A. Baughman, Jr., M.D.
5) The Wildest Colts Make The Best Horses, a book by myself which challenges the use of psychiatric drugs with children in our schools.

Our group includes parents, educators, mental health professionals, and medical doctors concerned for our children and our schools. Please carefully consider this information. We look forward to working with you on these issues, and will be in communication with you on related initiatives. We are available to discuss and consult with you at your convenience. I personally may be reached by phone at 512-326-8326, or e-mail at john@wildestcolts.com.

Sincerely Yours,

John Breeding,
PhD Psychologist
Director, Texans For Safe Education