ADD is today considered a disorder. It once was considered a mark of genius. How things have changed in this world where it’s now a badge of honor to be “victim” of something or other. Introversion is sometimes classified as a disorder, too. ADD is a normal adaptive response, which in evolutionary terms, had a selective advantage. Hyperfocus is not a disorder. Nor is the ability to multi-task or “brainstorm”. What’s “normal” does not mean that what’s rare is a disease. But there’s money to be made in drugs to fix a non-problem and it seems to work for teachers who don’t want to deal with rambunctious students. In other words, they don’t or can’t teach discipline. Drugging is so much easier. Teachers are the main “pushers” of these drugs. Thank the NEA and the APA and the AMA for this one. And the drug companies.
We are of course totally off topic but this thread seems dormant anyway.
When my oldest was in the 8th grade, my youngest was the ADD child, my X called me to “inform” me that he was going to be placed on “Ritalin” and will be attending special classes. So I called a meeting at the skrewll and there in attendance, the Principle, Vice Principle, his guidance counselor, and five of his teachers along with my X. My X worked at the skrewll in a non teaching position. These are her co-workers and in some cases her friends.
It was clear when I arrived that I was going to be ganged up on. I came prepared. I was at that time now an expert in this area. I was also in possession of new news story about fraud in a PA school where tens of kids were deemed “declared” to have ADD, a declaration that yielded approx $15,000 per child “declared” to have ADD to the school in federal funds.
The meeting was kicked off by the guidance counselor “informing” me of what the issue was and what was going to happen. So I asked “is this something that I have a say about?” Of course you do Mr Goss. She then asked the teachers to give a brief explanation on why “they” feel this is the right decision. I quipped in “Are these “teachers” qualified to diagnose a medical condition?” “well no but what they have to say is taking into consideration.” the GC said.
So here I am, clearly not showing any sign of caving with a stack of paper very close to a whole ream in front of me, as I thumbed through them. The teachers started with their testimony of his behavior. Basically we are looking at a very cute looking kid that was clearly enjoying the attention of all the very cute girls and the testimony of the first teacher bore that out. And when I pointed that out the GC moved onto the next “teacher” whom I got the idea might be more on the GC’s side. Well that “teacher” caved and hummed and hawed....so then the Principle chimes in and starts with “We have carefully looked at this issue and we have come to the conclusion that this will be best for “my sons name”.
Well I lost it at that point. I then went on to pull out all kinds of stats about how kids who are given drugs under these conditions are over 70% more likely to use illicit drugs later, bla bla bla. I also went on to ask why it took the system until the 8th grade to notice a “problem.” There was no answer to that. I then pulled out the PA story and asked the Principle point blank. “Will this school receive federal dollars if my son is “declared” to be a special needs child?” Long pause and then she admitted that yes the school system gets funding to “help” with “additional” cost for kids like this. As I placed the story on the table in front of her with a headline something like “Federal Officials Investigating the Increase Diagnosis of ADD in PA School” I can’t remember the title exactly, my kid is now 24 so this was a while ago.
There was silence and I asked “Are we done here?” As I got up and left.