Posted on 07/11/2005 7:58:51 AM PDT by SmithL
WASHINGTON - As a first-grader, Garrett Nash blurted out answers before his teacher called on him. He tickled a student sitting next to him and sometimes bolted out of lines. One cold day, he left school without his winter coat.
Michelle Nash, of Blaine, Minn., thought her son's behavior was typical for a child adjusting to a full day of classes, but school officials suspected he had a hyperactivity disorder. They recommended giving him Ritalin, a stimulant used to treat children with that problem. She refused.
"I just said I'm not going to do it," said Nash, 40. "And their response was, 'You know, it's against the law for you to deny a child medication.' "
That's no longer the case.
As of July 1, schools no longer have the upper hand in deciding whether children should be given Ritalin or other controlled substances. A new federal law tilts that power to parents, barring states and schools from keeping students out of class in cases when parents disagree with a recommendation to medicate a child.
The law is provoking an emotional debate over the proper role of teachers and other school employees in trying to help children they believe are troubled. And it is taking effect amid growing concern over the exploding use of Ritalin, the brand name for methylphenidate. Production of that drug has nearly doubled in the United States since 2000, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Medical professionals are on both sides of the issue.
Lance Clawson, a child psychiatrist from Cabin John, Md., said the new law could make teachers fearful of communicating legitimate concerns to parents. Because teachers see so many children every day, they are best equipped to identify abnormal behavior, he said.
"If you tie the hands of the schools, they lose the right to advocate for the child," Clawson said.
But Karen Effrem, a former pediatrician who lives in Plymouth, Minn., and who testified before Congress on the issue two years ago, said that children are often incorrectly diagnosed. Sometimes, she said, the problem is simply that they are watching too much television, eating a poor diet or are bored. She said the legislation does nothing to keep teachers from speaking out.
"What it does is prevent teachers from becoming physicians," she said, adding that "there's a lot of overuse and forced use of medications going on."
Schools will have plenty of incentive to comply with the new law: Congress is threatening to block federal aid to schools that try to force medication on students against the wishes of their parents. Congress also is considering expanding the law. A bill sponsored by Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., a member of the House Education Committee, would extend the Child Medication Safety Act to include psychotropic drugs such as Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft.
"Except for a contagious disease sort of situation, you shouldn't be required to provide any medication to your kid as a condition of going to school," said Kline, who has lined up 20 cosponsors for his bill.
Garrett, now 11, attended first grade at Kenneth Hall Elementary School in Spring Lake Park, Minn. His mother said school officials told her that Garrett was "being impatient" in the first few weeks of school, being silly in class and acting as though he wanted to be the center of attention. Sometimes he forgot his papers or gloves. She said she agreed to allow tests of her son because she felt pressured.
After the tests, Nash said she was told her son was normal and that he was performing well academically. But she said school officials insisted that the boy meet with a specialist in hyperactivity in an attempt to get him taking Ritalin. She said that even her pediatrician disagreed with the school's recommendation.
Nash complained to school system officials, who investigated the case. Spring Lake Park Superintendent Don Helmstetter wrote a letter to Nash, saying that school officials had "taken steps to ensure that such a process will not happen to any other parents."
"The school was very intimidating," she said. "From the beginning, the school made me feel they were more powerful and knowledgeable than me. ... This can happen to anyone."
"As of July 1, schools no longer have the upper hand in deciding whether children should be given Ritalin or other controlled substances. A new federal law tilts that power to parents, barring states and schools from keeping students out of class in cases when parents disagree with a recommendation to medicate a child."
"As of July 1, schools no longer have the upper hand in deciding whether children should be given Ritalin or other controlled substances. A new federal law tilts that power to parents, barring states and schools from keeping students out of class in cases when parents disagree with a recommendation to medicate a child."
later
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Just the idea that a school, as opposed to partents, have any type of critical control over your child, IS HORRIFYING. And it is so radically SOCIALIST, that part is scary too. Look back at Hitlery's attempts to empower schools to DETERMINE WHAT YOUR CHILD WAS GOING TO DO FOR THEIR CAREERS... Remember that little Marxist trick she and some senator tried to pull off?? (about 6-7 years back) when Klintoon was in the Oral office...
Goverment schools are a target vehicle for the CONDITIONING AND INDOCTRINATION of YOUR kids...
This happened to my son 12 years ago when he was 12 years old. I successfully challenged the school system - and won. The real problem however, is how the school treated him after his CRAZY mom interfered.
I am happy to say that he "grew up" fine. He is a productive 24 year old, married, homeowner, with tons of energy...and people love being around him.
They can, "advocate" for the child all they want but when it comes to my kids and meds, I'll be the deciding factor. My kids doctor and I, that is.
Realize what this sentence is saying. Clawson is referring to the the teacher advocating for the child on the side of the State AGAINST the parents. That is chilling.
For crying out loud, the kid was 6 years old...tickling another student, jumping out of line and forgetting one's coat are "normal behavior" for a 6 year old boy.
Good. In my opinion, most of the children are drugged just to make the teachers job easier. Instead of behaving like active, healthy kids, the teacher has a room full of silent zombies instead (that way, she doesn't miss her afternoon nap).
How in the world did schools ever get a voice in medicating children in the first place..that's for parents and doctors.
If the child will not behave then you discipline him and tell the parents. If he still wont behave you remove him from class so he cant hurt others. If the parents and doctors decide the way to deal with the situation is with medication it should be their decision (with the child's input after a certain age.)
BTW, I am absolutely convinced Ritalin can be an effective medication under the right circumstances but most public school teachers are barely qualified to teach much less practice medicine.
These are way more dangerous than Ritalin. Children on anti-depressants are at risk for suicidal ideation as a side effect in the first few months of treatment. Teachers should absolutely not have the power to force parents to give these medicines to their children.
If my daughter's doctor told me she needed to be on Ritalin, I'd get a 2nd & 3rd opinion. I wouldn't take a teacher's word for it if she needed a bandaid on a skinned knee!
No, the "schools" lose their ability to block the child's analytical mind, so their left wing extremist propaganda can go directly into the subconscious mind of that child. Without brain altering drugs, deceiving the children will be much harder for them.
Support school choice candidates. Get the kids out of those awful places.
Good for you!
My daughter is an Asperger's kid.
I'm doing that fight right now.
I will think of you the next time they try.
Another CRAZY Mom.
You mean teachers can require children use anti-depressants?
I had no idea teachers had sufficient medical training... go figure.
I think that is the key. Public school is designed for drugged morons, not for active, inquisitive, energetic kids who want to learn.
We gave our son coffee at times, since a mild stimulant will have a paradoxical effect on children. He is extremely successful, going to conferences where his peers are 20 years older. He is happily married with three children who adore him.
Our son was in public school about two years out of his life. He actually had one good public school teacher. We invested in private school and got a great return on our money. We also home-schooled.
It's amazing what good nutrition will do for an energetic kid. Give children protein and they calm down. But heck, who will ever have that kind of energy again?
Schools only have the power we give them. It's time to take it back.
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