Posted by johnLA on March 14, 2014, at 12:49:59
In reply to Re: Doctor: 'ADHD Doesn't Exist, Drugs Do More Harm... » johnLA, posted by phidippus on March 14, 2014, at 11:08:44
> i think i am with ronjee on his statement that kids are 'expected' to go to school 5 days a week for 6 hours a day.
Trust me, children need the structure.
Eric<
you make very good points which i agree with.
as i said, i believe that adhd exists. what i am not too sure about is that medication is the best approach.
and, i completely agree that kids need structure. but, that structure does not have to be a 200+ year-old schedule based on dated agricultural influences.
just one example;.
eric; there are current schools now starting at 9am or later, instead of the traditional 8am. some even at 10am. of course they finish later. studies are showing that kids do much better academically, socially, etc when starting school later. many european and asian countries start school later. just one example of using a behavioral approach before a medication approach. these countries also have a lower rate of adhd AND score higher on the same type of standardized testing. of coursei know there are several other factors involved in this. a schedule is not a cure-all. just a simple one-off example. still, we have a very narrow view on many things here in the states. i guess growing-up in greece has given me a bit of another side perspective. (there the students have a 2+ hour lunch break where they go home and eat,nap and go back late afternoon.)
i even taught a twice-a-week night class. it was a very popular class at school. there was a lottery to get in. seniors only. i really think one of the reasons was for some kids it was easier to concentrate at that time. calm, quiet, uncrowded campus. these are some ways to help anyone, adhd or not, to concentrate easier.
i could give you more of my ideas since i feel very passionate about education and young people. but, i don't want to bore you. ;)
this is a complex issue. pretty much just like meds for other psychiatric conditions. we could 'discuss' this at great length. i feel there are no absolutes on this issue regarding treating adhd.
i will just finish with one of my original statements; medication is not the only way to treat adhd. especially when it involves children. i think medication is just 1 tool in the box. also, it wouldn't be my first choice. but, that is only my opinion and experience.
poster:johnLA
thread:1062349
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20140307/msgs/1062483.html