ADHD: Is it really a problem?

[dougskiles]

So if the child is looking at the chair across the room and is interested in learning about how that chair is built, how it's standing up, why it's there - they aren't doing as well as the kid who is listening to the teacher who is having the class do multiplication problems where they required to "show their work" to solve a problem the way the teacher wants and only that way the teacher wants?

I would propose a true education system would have the teacher ask the child what he's looking at (the chair) and then have the teacher talk about the chair thus allowing that child insight on why that chair can stand the way it does and why it doesn't fall over.  That would teach that child some math as well as physics!  If that child is pondering why that chair's design is that way, the teacher can then talk about design and artists around the world and the human eye and how it chooses symmetrical objects as beauty.  That would teach the child some art, psychology, and history!  

P.S. I'm sorry, this is a little pet peeve of mine.  I didn't mean to attack anyone.  There is literally, THOUSANDS of ways do math and there are THOUSANDS of ways to write a story and THOUSANDS of ways to do things in our world.  In our school system, we teach ONE method to do thing and only that ONE method and if you don't do that ONE method, your a complete FAILURE in the eyes of the system.  

It's hard to tell if ADHD is a problem when the way we teach our kids is a problem in itself.  The only way we can if ADHD is a problem is to fix the education system problem FIRST, then we can see how much a problem the ADHD is.  

I share your opinion on this cityimrov and it is what lead me to start this topic.  I understand that medication helps, but I also feel that there is more the education system can do as well.  BTW - your chair analogy is awesome and very much describes one of my family members!

[cityimrov]

Like I mentioned, there's no easy solution.

Nothing in life that is worth doing is easy.  We are a society that sent man to the moon, discovered nuclear power, extended life expectancy way past 30, and created this marvelous invention called the internet.  Was any of that easy?  Of course not!  There's a saying out there that things that are worth doing are never easy.  I believe this falls in this area as well.  

The solution to this problem is going to require a lot of effort, energy, resources, motivation, and most importantly - innovation and experimentation!  We are a country that prides ourselves on innovation, let's put that to work in our education system and find something that can train every child in this country.  Who can stop us?  Only ourselves - when we give up on trying.  

To do this, we're going to need to experiment with different systems and different ways to train and educate our kids.  Will some fail?  Sadly yes.  Will some work?  Of course.  Innovation produces failures but they also produce spectacular successes.  Who will probably figure out the best system for us?  Ironically, if my guess is correct, those former kids who were diagnosed with ADHD.  

I will say this though, as insensitive as it may sound, the needs of the many have to outweigh the needs of the few.......

Stop right there.  This is a path you don't want to go.  That's a path you want to avoid at all cost.  If you go down that road, you'll be answering questions you never want to answer.  You'll have moral and ethical decisions you don't want to make.  

I believe our goal as a society should be to find a way to give everyone an opportunity to educate EVERYONE who wants an education.  I hope others think the same way too because if we don't, the only other option is to decide who in our society is "worthy" of an education and who is not.  That is a dangerous can of worms nobody should ever open.  

It's quite scary what people are willing to convince themselves these days:
http://www.mamapedia.com/article/benadryl-for-travel
http://www.momlogic.com/2008/11/casey_anthony_caylee_anthony_g_2.php

[Jason]

IMO, bad parenting (or a lack thereof) has been the root of many of our disciplinary problems in the school systems today.  Teachers have been expected to carry out more and more of the "raising" of our children.  I think that is why there may be a larger demographic of kids that are diagnosed with ADHD simply because its easier to label them as needing medication to keep them calm.

Im my son's case, we fought the idea of medication for over two years trying just about every method we could get our hands on to no avail.  Once the decision to give it a try became our next best option we made it with the understanding that the methods we thought were the most sucessful had to remain in use.  Without the foundation of a set program or routine, the medication alone is useless.  We also put a lot of thought into the rest of the classroom and the teachers because we understood that one distracted student can spoil the day for the entire class and we didn't want our son to be "that kid".  Now that things have settled into a routine and the medication has been figured out things have improved immensely.  Yes he still has his moments of daydreaming and needs a redirect from time to time, but he is much more able to focus his attention on the task at hand is not a distraction to the rest of the class.  The rest of the time he is still able to do and think as he pleases will no ill effect from his medicine, and enjoys much more free time because he was able to knock out his duties (school and home) in a timely fashion.

I may be considered an "old school" parent by many today, however, the old school has been tried and tested and proven to work when implemented properly.  The "new school" is still working out the bugs... 

[Springfielder]

Jason, you're right on with the statement "I may be considered an "old school" parent by many today, however, the old school has been tried and tested and proven to work when implemented properly.  The "new school" is still working out the bugs.."

The classroom teacher is bound by state standards and curriculum which actually dictates what is taught in each grade level/classroom. The norm these days is that all should be on the same levels/lesson, and gives little to no wiggle room for individuality of the teaching style or for that much, for the students. This is what your state is mandating, and administration is ensuring it should be taking place. This is what is supposed to raise the standards and learning.

Now as to the questions about the child who is focused on a chair and how it's made, instead of focused on what's actually being taught...let me say this, if the child's attention is distracted and elsewhere, then they are missing out on what the majority of the class is learning...and that will result in a level of failure on behalf of the child. Yes, it's cool that they want to know the how and why of various things, but should that be okay, when it means losing on what they're in school for? If a parent wants that deep of individuality/creativity, then perhaps they should home school... but they'll still be held to testing on state requirements.

[cityimrov]

Jason, you're right on with the statement "I may be considered an "old school" parent by many today, however, the old school has been tried and tested and proven to work when implemented properly.  The "new school" is still working out the bugs.."

The classroom teacher is bound by state standards and curriculum which actually dictates what is taught in each grade level/classroom. The norm these days is that all should be on the same levels/lesson, and gives little to no wiggle room for individuality of the teaching style or for that much, for the students. This is what your state is mandating, and administration is ensuring it should be taking place. This is what is supposed to raise the standards and learning.

Now as to the questions about the child who is focused on a chair and how it's made, instead of focused on what's actually being taught...let me say this, if the child's attention is distracted and elsewhere, then they are missing out on what the majority of the class is learning...and that will result in a level of failure on behalf of the child. Yes, it's cool that they want to know the how and why of various things, but should that be okay, when it means losing on what they're in school for? If a parent wants that deep of individuality/creativity, then perhaps they should home school... but they'll still be held to testing on state requirements.

So the child is doomed to become a failure (unless forcibly medicated)?  How about if the parent's have no interest in individuality or don't even care about education.  Without parents, that only leaves the school to become the psudo-parent.  

Yes, there is more then 1 way to educate a child.  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montessori_method
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3NA-aKpgFk&feature=player_embedded

I am rather curious about something though.  Why isn't any famous geniuses supporting the current system?  Can you find a list of elite genius who supports our current education system and our ways of teaching kids?  Can you find one TED talk telling the wonders of current system?  

I haven't looked through all of TED's talk so there may be someone who says what we're doing to our kids is good but from the ones I've seen, I'm having my doubts.  If the smartest people in our society is telling us we're doing something wrong with the way we teach our kids, I have a tendency to listen to them.  

If anyone can find me a speech by someone like Neil deGrasse Tyson or Will Wright or someone who isn't a politician/lobbyist talk about why this "old school" method is the best way of teaching our kids, I'll be more then happy to watch it.  I'm just looking for one or two videos!

The "old school" method being defined as kids sitting in desks facing the teacher being quiet and listening to the lesson without fidgeting or falling asleep for 6-8 hours a day.  This system also requires to asking the teacher for permission to do anything from going to the bathroom to sharpening their pencils to even asking a question by raising their hands and asking for any type of help from any other student in the room is also usually forbidden.

[Garden guy]

Jason, you're right on with the statement "I may be considered an "old school" parent by many today, however, the old school has been tried and tested and proven to work when implemented properly.  The "new school" is still working out the bugs.."

The classroom teacher is bound by state standards and curriculum which actually dictates what is taught in each grade level/classroom. The norm these days is that all should be on the same levels/lesson, and gives little to no wiggle room for individuality of the teaching style or for that much, for the students. This is what your state is mandating, and administration is ensuring it should be taking place. This is what is supposed to raise the standards and learning.

Now as to the questions about the child who is focused on a chair and how it's made, instead of focused on what's actually being taught...let me say this, if the child's attention is distracted and elsewhere, then they are missing out on what the majority of the class is learning...and that will result in a level of failure on behalf of the child. Yes, it's cool that they want to know the how and why of various things, but should that be okay, when it means losing on what they're in school for? If a parent wants that deep of individuality/creativity, then perhaps they should home school... but they'll still be held to testing on state requirements.

So the child is doomed to become a failure (unless forcibly medicated)?  How about if the parent's have no interest in individuality or don't even care about education.  Without parents, that only leaves the school to become the psudo-parent.  

Yes, there is more then 1 way to educate a child.  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montessori_method
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3NA-aKpgFk&feature=player_embedded

I am rather curious about something though.  Why isn't any famous geniuses supporting the current system?  Can you find a list of elite genius who supports our current education system and our ways of teaching kids?  Can you find one TED talk telling the wonders of current system?  

I haven't looked through all of TED's talk so there may be someone who says what we're doing to our kids is good but from the ones I've seen, I'm having my doubts.  If the smartest people in our society is telling us we're doing something wrong with the way we teach our kids, I have a tendency to listen to them.  

If anyone can find me a speech by someone like Neil deGrasse Tyson or Will Wright or someone who isn't a politician/lobbyist talk about why this "old school" method is the best way of teaching our kids, I'll be more then happy to watch it.  I'm just looking for one or two videos!

The "old school" method being defined as kids sitting in desks facing the teacher being quiet and listening to the lesson without fidgeting or falling asleep for 6-8 hours a day.  This system also requires to asking the teacher for permission to do anything from going to the bathroom to sharpening their pencils to even asking a question by raising their hands and asking for any type of help from any other student in the room is also usually forbidden.

Our system is broken because we've been using the 19th century version of education...the conservative leaders of our country make sure our system will always be behind everyone else..".if we have stupid kids...oh well...it's thier fault...they could'nt afford private schools..." 

[Jason]

If anyone can find me a speech by someone like Neil deGrasse Tyson or Will Wright or someone who isn't a politician/lobbyist talk about why this "old school" method is the best way of teaching our kids, I'll be more then happy to watch it.  I'm just looking for one or two videos!

The "old school" method being defined as kids sitting in desks facing the teacher being quiet and listening to the lesson without fidgeting or falling asleep for 6-8 hours a day.  This system also requires to asking the teacher for permission to do anything from going to the bathroom to sharpening their pencils to even asking a question by raising their hands and asking for any type of help from any other student in the room is also usually forbidden.

My old school statement was referring to parenting not teaching.  I do agree that the current system is flawed and I do not think the old ways were any better.