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Should Teachers Have the Rights to Diagnose Your Child with ADD?

By BC Doan, published Feb 21, 2008
Published Content: 47  Total Views: 26,284  Favorited By: 10 CPs
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Teachers have very little patience now a day. If a child does not "behave" as expected during a certain time frame, the child is labeled having "Attention Deficit Disorder". The teachers then proceed to call the parents to give their diagnosis of the problem.

It is that easy! The teachers become doctors, and their diagnosis requires putting the child on medication in order to keep their job as easy as possible.

My son's third grade teacher took it in her hands to diagnose my son with attention deficit disorder after beating around the bushes for a while. I know where she was heading, and bluntly I told her "I am not putting my son on any medications, period!"

She was stunt with my answer, and tried to cover for her suggestions. I do not think she has any rights to make that call, and it was inappropriate on her part.

Here are my reasons:

---She called 10 minutes before I'm leaving for my son's Christmas concert.

---She told my son that she called me, thus took away his excitement for the performance, and made him anxious about the phone call.

---He is only 8 years old. She is a teacher. Who has attention deficit now? What was she thinking in calling me before the concert time? What was she thinking in telling my son about her conversation with me?

She has no validation for her diagnosis:

---My son is doing well in school.

---He is a well-behaved child, with certificates/awards to prove it.

---His physical, art, and music teachers' comment: "A pleasure to have in class."

---Other comments include: "Kind and polite little boy" have accumulated in my house from the same school for the past years.

I have been in my son's classroom a number of times. The environment for learning is very disruptive. Since two of the moms bring their little toddlers to class every day. They come in and out of the room like it was McDonald. Yet, I say nothing about this.

I appreciate these ladies' effort in volunteering, or working in the school, but bringing a baby who is crying, whining, running around, and making noises in school, is inappropriate.

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No comprehension on the anonymous teacher part! What a shame to even leave comments!

Posted on 04/17/2008 at 10:04:53 AM

 
I ran across a teacher who wanted all the boys in her class on medication. My son was among them. She swore up and down that he was hyper, ADD and more. Little did she know that he was gifted.. I had him tested and found out there is a fine line. She was one teacher who had problems of her own and no business giving out information she suspected or just wanted to make her life easier at the expense of these children. In my heart I believe she had no business being a teacher. Thank God the principle had sense, he told me if I really wanted to find out take him to a doctor! I I know there are great educators out there... and know that they helped raise my children who spent 6-7 hours of their day being influenced by them and it is the parents responsibility to make sure that their children are well taken care of..

Posted on 02/26/2008 at 9:02:49 PM

 
To anonymous teacher, It seems as though the more comments you made, the worst you show how ignorance you are. I'm glad you don't live in my city, or a teacher any where near me. Why don't you find someone else to harrass since you refuse to open your mind and see it for the way it was intended? Where is your education lies, or is it anonymous too?

Posted on 02/23/2008 at 9:02:33 AM

 
second blanket statement: The teachers then proceed to call the parents to give their diagnosis of the problem. I'm glad that at least someone thinks you are wise

Posted on 02/23/2008 at 8:02:51 AM

 
first blanket statement: first line from the poster Teachers have very little patience now a day. I checked, my panties aren't in a bundle.

Posted on 02/23/2008 at 8:02:13 AM

 
p.s. How can you say anyone is getting in an uproar (other than yourself)?

Posted on 02/23/2008 at 7:02:03 AM

 
To Anonymous- Teacher: Did you even read what I posted to you? Why did you just post something that rehashes statements that you have already made before. All of those things you have said (twice now) have already been refuted. Blanket Statements: Nobody made blanket statements except you. "Hating" the teacher: Nobody said anything about hating the teacher except for you. Why don't you actually read what is being said before making such accusations. Have the child "assessed": This is where the issue lies. It is not our job to "assess" in that way. It is our job to educate. Now if there is an issue, then we bring in other people to do the "assessing". So many legal issues involved.

Posted on 02/23/2008 at 7:02:17 AM

 
Instead of getting in an uproar, hating the teacher or issuing blanket statements, have the child assessed. He or she is the most important thing.

Posted on 02/23/2008 at 6:02:16 AM

 
school sucks!

Posted on 02/22/2008 at 11:02:42 PM

 
To: Anonymous Teacher. Why don't you get your panties out of their currently twisted state and understand what the author is actually saying. You don't know this teacher and she does. Not all teachers are "saints" and as a fellow educator I would expect that you would have seen this. As the author said...this has been, in no way, an attack on all teachers, let alone an attack at all. She is just stating her opinion on the matter (and a strong one at that). It is not our place as educators to "suggest" medication. That kind of thing is out of line and completely inappropriate. At the most we should do is talk with the parents about what we see as being an "issue" and work with them in coming up with a solution in the classroom, not by suggesting they drug the student.

Posted on 02/22/2008 at 7:02:57 PM

 
To Louie, Cathie, Kitchenjam, Laura Spencer, and Grant Marshall, thank you for seeing the article the way it was intended.

Posted on 02/22/2008 at 5:02:21 PM

 
Ananymous teacher, I work as a substitute teacher, and I am not attacking all teachers. My article is concentrate on one particular teacher, and the circumstance that this problem was in. I am merely raising a question to bring awareness to others. You are on the other hand, as an educator yourself, rambling on from one point to another, without any relevants, and pretty much useless. Did you really know "how to read" the article? Concentrate on the main point of the article will you? Anyway, time to block it out!

Posted on 02/22/2008 at 5:02:54 PM

 
IcyCucky, I don't think suggesting looking into it is unethical. Teachers tend to have the best interest of the student in mind. They would not subject themselves to the abuse doled out by parents, administrators and parents if they didn't at least go into it thinking they would help some children. I don't think the teacher bringing up the possibility is out of line. If you really believe that this is some sort of pidgin holing, you may be right. But railing against all teachers is of little use. It is almost as effective as labeling any child off task as ADD. Instead of getting in an uproar, hating the teacher or issuing blanket statements, have the child assessed. He or she is the most important thing. Not who is right or who is wrong, or even if medication is a valid alternative. swallow your pride and your predispositions.

Posted on 02/22/2008 at 12:02:18 PM

 
My last comment is for the "ananymous teacher". Thanks for confirming what I tried to point out!

Posted on 02/22/2008 at 11:02:00 AM

 
I can understand your perspective, but out of the blue, the teacher called and suggested it? She has my child less than 4 months in her class. It's unethical! So you mean those nice comments from other teachers are just white lies? Thanks for giving me a different view from your teacher's experience...It proves that you can't trust teachers then...and that's my point, exactly!

Posted on 02/22/2008 at 11:02:14 AM

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