[Redbob]

For a change, let's have a little "empathy" for the other 98 or 99% of the kids who are normal but who have to put up wtih the undisciplined monsters in their classes - and who, often enough, are part of a "group punishment" arising from the actions of the "ADD" kid.

How do you explain to an 8-year-old who thinks it's unfair that the whole class has to do without recess for a week because little Bradley was acting up?

[half-cajun]

Not every child who has ADHD is an "undisciplined little monster".

[OKIEDOC]

Redbob wrote:
For a change, let's have a little "empathy" for the other 98 or 99% of the kids who are normal but who have to put up NIH the undisciplined monsters in their classes - and who, often enough, are part of a "group punishment" arising from the actions of the "ADD" kid.

How do you explain to an 8-year-old who thinks it's unfair that the whole class has to do without recess for a week because little Bradley was acting up?

REPLY:

Who says I don't have empathy (rhetorically) for the other 98% (your numbers) who have to deal with an ADD or ADHD child.

What would you suppose we do with those children that have true behavior problems caused by a physical illness as opposed to those caused by parental neglect of duty.

Can't put them into Special Ed because many posters are saying thats a waste of money.

Or we could just let them grow up maladjusted and see how many problems the so called 98% have to deal with then.

Not a good idea.

This is not a problem common to just the United States.

It is one that is finally being dealt with in many South American countries.

I don't know any good teachers who punish the whole class for the misbehavior of one child.

That old tactic is supposed to put peer pressure on the child and has been proved to fail every time with the ADHD inflicted child.

Little Bradly has problems and evidently the teacher is not dealing very well with those problems.

If that is happening in your local schools then you have a legit gripe that needs to be taken to the school principal.

You are obviously a well educated person.

Have you gotten involved with your local schools by mentoring children or volunteering.

Having just a PTA membership doesn't qualify, a person has to get physically involved.

Among other things, I go on Friday mornings and read to the children at the local elementary school.

Best of Luck