In Logan, Utah, a confrontation arose between parents and school officials after a controversial questionnaire was administered to a 13-year-old autistic student. The incident occurred on February 7 at Mount Logan Middle School. The student, Hut Nelson, was given a psychological evaluation form that included questions about transgender identity, sex, suicide, and violence.
Hut’s parents, McCall and Jon Nelson, reported that the questionnaire profoundly affected their son, who became anxious and stopped engaging in activities he previously enjoyed. They addressed the Logan City School District Board of Education on May 28, expressing their concerns.
The Nelsons had signed a consent form for a behavioral evaluation but claimed they were not informed about the specific content of the questionnaire. Jon and McCall described a subsequent meeting with district superintendent Frank Schofield as extremely heated, which almost resulted in a physical altercation.
The contentious questionnaire is part of the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA), a widely used tool for identifying problem behaviors and evaluating eligibility for special education services. The ASEBA questionnaire has been in use since the 1980s and is recognized in various educational and mental health settings.
Following the incident, the Logan City School District is reviewing alternative methods to meet the evaluation’s intended purposes.