As the parent of a *clinically diagnosed* AD/HD child (two, actually), I agree wholeheartedly that at least 50% of all *behaviorally diagnosed* cases of AD/HD (those promulgated by teachers, etc.) are wrong.
Oh - and the correct therapy (read: learning how to apply one's own ability to filter out distraction) has eliminated the need for even minimal pharmaceutical intervention at all in my kids.
But,but,but.. This was the 'hyperactivity' version!!!!!
/sarc
Yeah, who were the dissenters?
DING! We have a winner
Justices Ruth Vader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer wrote separate dissents.
It is definitely a victory for common sense! There is an incredible amount of abuse when it comes to classifying students as learning disabled and getting them into special ed programs.
One of my friends teaches public school in a town where this is a real problem. The school has a large population of students who are lower-income blacks and Hispanics. Many of these students struggle in school and are put into remedial/special ed classrooms.
The district also has a good number of wealthy white students who also struggle in school. From her perspective as a teacher, my friend has observed that few of these "disabled" white students have any disability beyond a poor work ethic and being spoiled rotten. But the parents of these students are able to get their children classified as learning disabled. The students then get personal aides and are able to remain in regular and sometimes even honors classrooms!
Although many of these white parents are big time liberals who squawk about how racist Bush is because of the Katrina debacle, they'll do anything they can to keep their own spoiled kids from sitting in a classroom with a bunch of minorities. It is not uncommon for these people to threaten to sue the district if it tries to crack down on their children's poor behavior and performance. The situation is just out of control and hopefully this ruling will give the district a little more ammo in the fight against this nonsense.
My son has the misfortune of being in a (3rd grade) class with a student whose parents are just too lazy to discipline him, so they've gotten him diagnosed as "ADD."
They tolerate his disruptive behavior, with a "Now Bradley, we don't act like that," when what the boy really needs is a swift kick in the pants!
I am with you!! Hallelujah, a teeny glimmer of common sense from SCOTUS. Amazing.
I would love to see statistics on the amount of money spent on Special Ed. My 'friend' demanded that her son be sent to a Really Special school across town (Los Angeles). You'd think there would be something an hour closer, but NO. A taxi picked this young man up, delivered him across town (one hour, one way) and returned him home at the end of the day. On OUR TAX DOLLAR.
Our school district is totally impoverished due to many reasons and some incredibly stupid decisions. But this took the cake, to me.
With regards to the teachers, it is far beyond laziness: the pedagogies they are instructed to implement are actively counterproductive and inevitably result in the behavior patterns labeled ADD.