Let teacher be teacher Surprise - the government strikes a blow against forced "meducation"
For once, I'm with the government… Recently, a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill aimed at preventing states from allowing public schools to "play doctor" by forcing children with behavioral issues to take medications like Ritalin BEFORE they can even COME TO CLASS. Yes, widespread reports from the field suggest that this is actually happening in certain places here in the supposedly "free" republic between the shining seas… And as suspicious and critical of the folks on The Hill as I tend to be, I'm 100 percent behind ANY legislation that keeps kids from being force-fed any more of "Vitamin R" than is absolutely necessary. Why? Because first off, teachers and guidance counselors aren't doctors - so they shouldn't be forcing medication (or making "medical" diagnoses) on anyone. And that's not to mention the fact that a large percentage of the legal drugs kids bring to school for their own use (especially Ritalin) end up being sold by schoolyard drug pushers to "normal" kids for a cheap high… Also, in my opinion, most cases of ADHD and other "disorders" are actually cases of parental frustration at childhood behavior that's perfectly normal. What makes some parents think their children are more taxing than others? Probably the unrealistic notions today's media (and prescription-happy doctors) put in parents' heads about how smooth, simple and rewarding parenting should be… The truth of the matter is that being a parent is challenging - and the totally natural increase in stress, worry, tiredness, and short-temperedness that comes with it isn't always the fault of a misbehaving child. Sometimes, this kind of stuff just goes with the territory. Think about it: How many people of your generation were diagnosed and medicated for ADHD or behavioral problems? Kid haven't changed - parents' (and society's) attitudes toward them have… But in this day and age, it's all too easy to blame the kid, get a doctor to write kid a prescription for Ritalin or some other dangerous mood-modifier… And the last thing we need is for schools to get in the act, scarring and stigmatizing these kids for life. If that means an act of Congress, I'm all for it. Sounding off against Vitamin "R" - again,
William Campbell Douglass II, MD
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