Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Dyslexia 'is just a middle-class way to hide stupidity'
Drudge ^ | 5/29/07 | REBECCA CAMBER

Posted on 05/29/2007 3:55:31 AM PDT by mek1959

Dyslexia is a social fig leaf used by middle-class parents who fear their children will be labelled as low achievers, a professor has claimed.

Julian Elliott, a leading educational psychologist at Durham University, says he has found no evidence to identify dyslexia as a medical condition after more than 30 years of research.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: culture; parenting; psychobabble
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160161-169 next last
To: Cloverfarm

I went to school before such things were diagnosed. I had the same teacher in 3rd and 4th grade (school policy). Boy was I lucky, this teacher had taught kids like me (dyslexic) before. By the end of 4th grade, I was reading well. I went on to get a perfect score in reading on my SAT’s. I was diagnosed as a dyslexic in college, but by then I was abe to compensate for this problem quite well.

Computers are super for people like me. It really brings kids with various learning disablilities to the level of ‘normal kids’. I still have trouble writing by hand and have horrible handwriting. I print everything!


121 posted on 05/29/2007 7:29:59 AM PDT by nyconse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: Drawsing

I know exactly what you are talking about!


122 posted on 05/29/2007 7:33:39 AM PDT by nyconse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: Old Professer
I’ve seen the same thing. Sorta surprises me, especially those using the term “intolerant”. This guy has an opinion and he’s trying to back it up.

It’s funny, this last weekend, I attended a high school play “The Miracle Worker”. I was quite fond of the movie when I was growing up. As I watched it, I was amazed at how different our culture was back then. Annie had no problem “forcing” (if you know the movie, you know what I mean by “forcing”) Helen to change her behavior.

I also thought to myself, there’s absolutely no way a movie like this would be made today. But even if it was Annie would be seen as an uncompassionate, mean-spirited, intolerant person who should be shouted down.

And heven help her if CPS got ahold of her. Gosh, how far we’ve come.

123 posted on 05/29/2007 7:45:19 AM PDT by mek1959
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 118 | View Replies]

To: Poser

Definition of Slake

Slake: 1. To satisfy or quench. As, for example, she drank some water to slake her thirst. 2. To mix with water, to hydrate. As, for example, to slake lime.

~~~~~~~~~

“In what science fiction novel did you find the world Slake?”

Actually it’s a somewhat antiquated term....but I believe I “found it” in some poetry a LONG time ago....

Having a large vocabulary can be looked upon as a “burden” or it can allow you to see the hilarity in others’ misuse of the language.

You choose.

~~~~~~~

For instance, T.S. Eliot:

Clorinda. Near this, a fountain’s liquid bell
Tinkles within the concave shell.

Damon. Might a soul bathe there and be clean,
Or slake its drought ?

This essay by T.S. Eliot on the poetry style of Andrew Marvell (1621-1678) was first published in the Times Literary Supplement, March 31, 1921. In 1932 it was re-published in Eliot’s book Selected Essays.


124 posted on 05/29/2007 7:46:47 AM PDT by JB in Whitefish
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 117 | View Replies]

To: ladyjane
Many universities give students who claim to have dyslexia time-and-a-half or double time on their exams. Some demand open book exams.

My husband has terrible dyslexia. I wish we'd known that sooner!! Heh heh...

125 posted on 05/29/2007 7:47:17 AM PDT by 2Jedismom (Expect me when you see me!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: mek1959
My nephew has Dyslexia and in all accelerated classes in his private school. He has a quick wit, fantastic memory and can Multiply six digit numbers in his head in seconds.

That being said I have run into a number of people have been diagnosed with dyslexia or another learning disorder who claim to be intelligent but for their disorder and I have found them to be uniquely stupid.

I suspect that the label helps some people cope with fact that they are just plain stupid. You can not fix stupid, it is what it is.

126 posted on 05/29/2007 7:48:31 AM PDT by underbyte
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mek1959
These titles rarely make people stronger, just victims with excuses about why I can't do this or that. Believe me, I've seen it.

You are an idiot to make a blanket statement like that, and this article is lazy journalism. Dyslexia has been documented for over 100 years and brain scans have shown less activity in certain areas than is "normal". Having a son who got a 320 on the verbal SAT's and 720 on the Math SAT's, I can tell you hes not just lazy or stupid. And after thousands of dollars in private schooling ( at my expense) , he's off to college next year. Specialized teaching approaches geared to spatial instruction and phonics can help retrain the brain and work around a problem that never goes away (since it is neurological and not imaginary).

Whether or not some people are "milking the system" or not, theres no denying the fact that the moronic educrats would like nothing more than blaming kids for THEIR inability to adjust their teaching styles to accomodate kids with particular processing difficulties. After all, whio wouldnt to just sit in a chair and read a story book to second graders and have them learn by "assimilation" (as opposed to teaching phonics which takes work). !?

127 posted on 05/29/2007 7:49:25 AM PDT by Nonstatist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JB in Whitefish
“Whatever happened to that perfect word, “underachiever”?
If I hadn’t been slapped with that in the third grade, I’d probably still be slaking off.”

I was responding this quote which has two themes. I wasn't slacking off.

128 posted on 05/29/2007 7:57:35 AM PDT by april15Bendovr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 115 | View Replies]

To: JB in Whitefish

““In what science fiction novel did you find the world Slake?””

Please note the next-to-last word as quoted from a post by a pedant.


129 posted on 05/29/2007 7:58:06 AM PDT by Poser (Willing to fight for oil)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 124 | View Replies]

To: Silly

“Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.”

The satmnetet as porivedd may apeapr celevr, but it is blluhsit woithut the cnosdireaiotn taht one msut hvae an etxnesvie vabocuarly for the pehnmoeonn to persnet istlef...!!!


130 posted on 05/29/2007 7:58:24 AM PDT by JB in Whitefish
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 120 | View Replies]

To: Nonstatist
Unfortunately there are some people milking the system. They're the same kind of folks who abuse handicapped stickers. They make it difficult for people with real disabilities.
131 posted on 05/29/2007 8:02:58 AM PDT by ladyjane
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 127 | View Replies]

To: Poser

““In what science fiction novel did you find the world Slake?””

Please note the next-to-last word as quoted from a post by a pedant.

~~~~~~~~

teehee....missed THAT one....!!!

But, it DOES serve to prove my point.....how unfortunate for the accuser....???


132 posted on 05/29/2007 8:03:48 AM PDT by JB in Whitefish
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 129 | View Replies]

To: JB in Whitefish

I hope my answer satisfied your thirst for slake sake


133 posted on 05/29/2007 8:13:28 AM PDT by april15Bendovr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 115 | View Replies]

To: reagan_fanatic

“A dyslexic walks into a bra...”

...and asked for a drink...


134 posted on 05/29/2007 8:17:12 AM PDT by GovernmentIsTheProblem (Amnesty alone didn't kill the GOP - socialism did long ago. The stench you smell now is it's corpse.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: ladyjane
They make it difficult for people with real disabilities

Actually, thats not true, since they put pressure on the pedants to address the problem of how do you teach to someone who cant process what they hear correctly, and has trouble deciphering the code we call language?

Even if the real number is 3 % instead of 10 %, what are the schools doing about it? Why do moronic public school teachers assign the label of stupid and lazy to people who have trouble with reading but are obviously not stupid ? I want my money back.

135 posted on 05/29/2007 8:40:35 AM PDT by Nonstatist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 131 | View Replies]

To: april15Bendovr

“I hope my answer satisfied your thirst for slake sake”

Why, yes....

Your having given it a fair shake, I’m now suitably sated for slake’s sake, Jake...!!!

[I considered asking you what Japanese rice wine had to do with all this, but that would have been only for a head fake’s sake.]


136 posted on 05/29/2007 8:45:17 AM PDT by JB in Whitefish
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 133 | View Replies]

To: JB in Whitefish

I cannot eat Japanese rice with green eggs and ham I will try to stick with the subject Sam I am.


137 posted on 05/29/2007 8:56:20 AM PDT by april15Bendovr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 136 | View Replies]

To: ladyjane
Many universities give students who claim to have dyslexia time-and-a-half or double time on their exams. Some demand open book exams.

This is only true if the students have a 504 plan. Certain teachers may offer this, but to be required to do it requires a 504, which the parent must provide testing documentation. This testing is done with the parent's (or parent's insurance company)'s money.

138 posted on 05/29/2007 9:06:34 AM PDT by SoftballMominVA (Never argue with an idiot. He will bring you down to his level and beat you with experience)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: april15Bendovr

Free Association can be costly.


139 posted on 05/29/2007 9:07:07 AM PDT by JB in Whitefish
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 137 | View Replies]

To: JB in Whitefish

“Free Association can be costly.”

I agree as it puts people at the risk of sounding tangential.

As long as you understand Linear thinking can be just as dangerous?


140 posted on 05/29/2007 9:19:56 AM PDT by april15Bendovr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 139 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160161-169 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson