New Federal Law Protects Public School Children/"mandatory medication"

[elehhhhna]

New Federal Law Protects Public School Children!


Responding to parents who have been pressured by school officials to place their child on a psycho-stimulant like Ritalin or be barred from attending school, Congress has passed precedent-setting legislation protecting parental choice.
After several failed efforts, including the Child Medication Safety Act, Congress has amended the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) to add a specific section prohibiting "mandatory medication" in schools. The Act was signed into law on December 4, 2004.

Titled "Prohibition on Mandatory Medication Amendment," the amendment requires state and local authorities to implement policies that prohibit public school's from conditioning a child's education on the use Ritalin or any other controlled substance.

http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/makingchoices/idea_signed.htm

[Nikki Stone 1]

1. Some kids REALLY NEED meds, even to function at all

This will be a tragedy for teachers. I remember teaching kids who came to school without having taken their meds. One of them was so out of it that I was afraid he would hurt himself or others.

What is a teacher supposed to do?

[napi21]

3. It just shouldn't be MANDATORY!

I know 2 people who had children where the school pushed HARD to get the parents to put their child on meds!

One was a girl who was actually kicked out of 2 nursery schools and one kindergarten for misbehavior. Her parents flately refused! That was 17 years ago, and today this little girl is working on her Masters Degree in Chemistry, and has consistently maintained a 4.0 avg throught her HS and College years.

The second was a young boy who was also a real behavior problem in school. When the teachers insisted that his parents give him drugs, they finally conceeded, but stopped after about 3 months. They said they just couldn't stand to see their son walking around like a zombie! He is 15 today, and although not the stellar example like the girl in the above story, is doing fine.

I think the legal revision is a very good thing. Drugs should be recommended if the teachers believe they are needed, but they should NEVER be manadatory!

[Nikki Stone 1]

9. If the child is already on meds and needs them to function

then it SHOULD be MANDATORY. Read my example below. (#8)

On the other hand, no parent should be forced to put their child on meds. I would suggest, though, that if the child has behavior issues, the child needs either some counseling or a different environment.

I know that some teachers can be "med-happy" and insist that all kids who are annoying in some way be given meds. But in the end, it is the parent's responsibility to make sure the child is checked out. IF a licensed psychiatrist says the child does not need meds, then the school should not insist on it--they are not doctors and that amounts to practicing medicine without a license.

But if a licensed psychiatrist DOES believe a child needs meds and DOES prescribe them, then the child should not come to school without having taken them.

[Matariki]

28. there are plenty of "med-happy" psychiatrists too

probably getting kick-backs from pharmaceutical companies.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. They aren't mandatory

Your examples are from, by your own admission, 17 years ago. No way would this happen today. Not where I work. (It didn't happen 17 years ago either.)

It is so illegal for schools to make meds mandatory. If this was really happening, there would be lawsuits all over the place.

[countingbluecars]

22. So true.

It is made perfectly clear to teachers in my district that they are NEVER to suggest medication to a parent. Even after diagnostic testing, educators may only recommend that parents take their child to a doctor. We may not suggest, let alone mandate, medication.

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. Don't you get tired of this accusation?

If any teacher in a public school were to actually recommend medication for any kid, they would lose their job lickety split.

I just know there will be someone who responds to this post with 'but it happened to MY kid!!'

Here is my response:

[countingbluecars]

34. Yes!

It amazes me how many people buy into the BS too.

[proud2BlibKansan]

38. That mandatory psych eval story has been debunked here

a brazillion times.

As if we don't have enough dirt on the current WH occupant. LOL

[justabob]

42. Maybe you can tell me

I asked this further down the thread...

<<I lost track of what happened with the "New Freedom Initiative" the thing about testing for all school children and everyone was worried, rightly, that our kids would basically be made zombies with meds. Did that ever come into being? And if so, does this new law cancel it out? Just curious.>>

[proud2BlibKansan]

45. It was merely a proposal

It never became a law. I am not sure it ever went to committee.

[liberalhistorian]

16. I agree, they should never be mandatory,

and I speak as the daughter of two long-time, and now retired, teachers.

When my son entered first grade, his old-school teacher had a hard time with him. He wasn't really disruptive, but he had several behavioral problems, including extreme difficulty in making changes and transitioning, that made it difficult for both her and my son. There were meetings with the school psychologist and the administration; I brought my mom with me to the meetings since she'd taught juvenile delinquent boys at a reform school for years and she also knew the "educational lingo" these people would be using.

They all demanded he go on Ritalin or a similar drug and this was without him even being tested first! My mom and I, of course, absolutely refused until he'd at least been tested. We took him to a pediatric neurologist, who spent all of two minutes with him before recognizing that he had Asperger's Syndrome, a type of high-functioning autism. It's been recognized in this country only since 1994, but it's been recognized in Europe for over fifty years. Hans Aspterger, btw, was a colleague of the doctor who first recognized and described autism. Fortunately for us, the doctor my son saw was from England, so he knew it right away.

He told us what to do about it and about a local occupational therapy group for children that had specialists in Asperger's. We took him there, they worked with him and also advised us on behavioral techniques to handle him and other treatments. He improved dramatically. At fourteen, he still has the typical problems associated with Asperger's, but he's much better and his school district understands and helps a lot.

No medicine in existence would have helped him, certainly not Ritalin or any of its cousin medications. The doctor said he was constantly frustrated by schools that demanded medication and made blanket diagnoses of ADD or ADHD without even thorough testing. I deeply resented the district at that time demanding he be on medication without even testing him, and I continue to resent districts who push medication.

Now, granted, Ritalin is a godsend for children who truly need it and it helps greatly. But schools and parents must ensure that the child truly needs it and not just use it as a blanket method of control. And schools have NO right whatsoever to make medication mandatory, NONE. I would fight that tooth and tail. As strong a supporter of teachers and public education as I am, this is the kind of thing that makes people dislike and distrust public education.

It's on a par with Bush's push to make mental health testing mandatory in schools, which frightens me beyond measure, frankly.

[proud2BlibKansan]

30. Kids with Asperger's do indeed take medication

I have taught many and 95% were on meds. Yours is an exception if he is not on meds.

[liberalhistorian]

46. Then I have to wonder just what kind of meds

they're on, since there is no medication for Asperger's. Are they on meds just to appease the school district? I had that problem with mine even after his doctor advised them that there was no medication for Asperger's, they just kept insisting he be on Ritalin without concern for the fact that maybe it wasn't meant for his condition.

Or do they have another condition also, such as ADD or ADHD that benefit from meds?

[proud2BlibKansan]

49. Let Google be your friend

Treatment for Asperger's Disorder :

Medications: There is no one specific medication for Asperger’s syndrome. Some are on no medication. In other cases, we treat specific target symptoms. One might use a stimulant for inattention and hyperactivity. An SSRI such as Paxil, Prozac or Zoloft might help with obsessions or perseveration. The SSRIs can also help associated depression and anxiety. In individuals with stereotyped movements, agitation and idiosyncratic thinking, we may use a low dose antipsychotic such as risperidone.

http://www.baltimorepsych.com/aspergers.htm

Many children and adults with Asperger's Disorder do not need any form of medication, while others need to be treated symptomatically While there are no specific 'Asperger's' drugs, psychiatric drugs can be used to treat some of the problems which may manifest or be associated with Asperger's, such as ADD/HD, depression, mood swings, temper tantrums, irritability, aggression, obsessions and compulsive behaviors and anxiety.

http://www.nativeremedies.com/aspergers-syndrome-asperger-disorder.shtml

We tried Abilify for my Aspergers son when he was about 16. Although it did make him a bit more comfortable and appropriate socially, it made him very groggy. The right balance of meds is very dependent on the individual. I chose to forego the social gains in favor of keeping him aware more of his involved in life. Tough call.

I've heard both from the Autism Center at the University of Washington and from our meds management PhD that Risperdal (Risperidone) is one of the few meds consistently proven effective in treating autism. It works for my son, although he must take it at bedtime to avoid the sleepiness it otherwise causes. He also takes another mood stabilizer, an SSRI antidepressant, and Straterra (a time-release form of methylphenidate) to aid in concentration. This "cocktail" doesn't resolve all his issues, but he's made tremendous progress while taking it. He's 19 now.



He has been prescribed Buspar and after only one day's worth of doses, was a completely different child. The medication seemed to work wonders but he complained of muscle spasms and the physician took him off and put him on Clonazepam, which seems to have done absolutely nothing at all. In fact, he complains of frequent headaches and begs not to take the medication. He prefers the Buspar despite the muscle spasms.

http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/bgrh/vpost?id=139186&trail=15#4

[lumberjack_jeff]

54. My child takes Strattera..

It helps somewhat. Not a miracle drug, but we can see noticeable differences in the degree of perseveration and repetitive movement when he's taking it.

His diagnosis (childrens' hospital and the UW) is somewhere between high function autism and asbergers. They haven't recommended any specific meds besides an ADHD med, and his pediatrician recommended this because it is not a stimulant, and ASD kids have dietary issues anyway.

[proud2BlibKansan]

57. Ah, a well-informed parent

What a relief. :)

[liberalhistorian]

59. Wow, I had no idea of any

of this. My son's doing okay now, at fourteen, but I'll keep this all in mind if some more problems start developing. I'd be real hesitant to give a teenager a psychotropic drug, though. I'm definitely not knocking them, I'm on Zoloft myself and will be until the end of time, probably; I'm just real wary of giving them to teenagers.

[MountainLaurel]

29. Does the school pay for the meds as well?

45 million people don't have health insurance in this country. Many more can't afford the treatment they need because of high deductibles and co-pays. Hell, in a lot of areas in the U.S., free lunches are the only hot meal their students get each day because parents can't afford healthy food or are living in a motel room because there's a 4-year wait for public housing. And these parents are going to be required to pay for expensive medicines out of pocket?

[proud2BlibKansan]

31. This would be the main reason we are not allowed to mandate meds

If we do, then legally, we have to pay for them.

[Mme. Defarge]

5. What many businesses do

is require the employee to fix the problem (improve performance, attitude, behavior, etc.) without trying to diagnose medical or psychological conditions and prescribing treatments.

This law sounds like a good thing to me.

[Nikki Stone 1]

10. Businesses employ adults, not children

Schools teach children and HAVE to work through the parents. If the parents are responsible, then no problem with the approach you mention. If the parents are irresponsible (or simply in denial) then the teacher is left holding the bag.

Perhaps we should start fining parents who don't take care of their children's behavioral problems.

[Mme. Defarge]

15. Businesses can fire,

or otherwise discipline non-performing, or difficult employees. From your comments I take it that schools/teachers have no such recourse. I'm not a parent so I have never had to deal with school systems.

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. Schools can suspend and expell kids

[napi21]

27. Actually teachers do not have such an option.

It is mandatory by law that the education system provide an education for every child under the age of 16. That's one of the gripes you heaar when people compare private schools with public schools. Private schools do have the option of kincking disruptive kids out, public schools do not.

[Mme. Defarge]

47. Ah for the "good old days!"!

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Hotline

Parents who agree to place their kids on meds and then fail to administer them consistently are neglecting their medical needs. That needs to be hotlined. That is how to deal with this.

[Matariki]

25. hello brave new world

what a load of bullshit. no one should be forced to be medicated. maybe if those kids weren't pumped up full of drugs and fed junk food, they wouldn't be 'a tragedy for teachers' when forgetting their "meds".

[proud2BlibKansan]

32. There is no connection between diet and hyperactivity.

[DFWdem]

39. ADHD is complete bullshit

Especially when you're talking about kids in elementary school.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/symptom.htm

1. Often does not give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities.
2. Often has trouble keeping attention on tasks or play activities.
3. Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.
4. Often does not follow instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the nm workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions).
5. Often has trouble organizing activities.
6. Often avoids, dislikes, or doesn't want to do things that take a lot of mental effort for a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework).
7. Often loses things needed for tasks and activities (e.g. toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools).
8. Is often easily distracted.
9. Is often forgetful in daily activities.


Sounds like a typical 7 year old kid, not someone that needs to be medicated.

[liberalhistorian]

60. I suppose you think

learning disabilities are "complete bullshit" as well, huh? As someone who's dealt with a severe learning disability my entire life, including adulthood (I'm now 41), I can assure you with absolute certainty that they are NOT. And neither is ADD or ADHD. Who the hell are you to determine that? Have you ever personally dealt with any of these conditions? And what are your educational credentials to make that determination?

God, people who think like you make me so fucking angry at times. And I get tired of having to explain the same things over and over and over to people whose brains seem to be plugged up.

[liberalhistorian]

61. I'm still

waiting to hear from you!

'taps foot, drums fingers.'

[madrchsod]

2. they actually did something right?

amazing...

[Nikki Stone 1]

7. This isn't right. It's a problem for teachers and students

If someone has been legally prescribed meds because he or she can't function without them, that child should be required to take them before coming to school. The parent should administer the meds, but if they don't, they can authorize the nurse's office to do so.

A lot of kids deceive their parents (surprise, surprise) and DON'T take their meds, often because they don't like the side effects. I feel for the kids, but that is a problem of dosage that needs to be discussed with a physician. In the meantime, if a student doesn't take his/her meds, that student can be sent to the office and the parents called.

With this new law, it is possible that the teacher will be compelled keep the student in class, even if the student's behavior is wildly distracting to other students. I remember one particular student on meds: he simply could not focus on ANYTHING without them. When he would "forget" to take his meds, he would wander around the classroom, punch walls, his eyes couldn't focus and no one could get through to him. On his meds, this was the nicest kid you ever met with a decent brain.

But this kid hated his meds because he got headaches from them. I totally sympathize with him, and his dosage probably needed adjusting, which someone did suggest to his mom. But, I don't want to be required to have someone that distracted and potentially dangerous in a classroom where I am trying to teach 40 other students how to write so they can get out of their poor neighborhoods and into college. One student of his meds can bring classroom learning to a grinding halt.

I hope Congress has another solution for overworked teachers. My guess is they don't.

Oh, and parents DO have a choice. If you don't want your kid on very necessary meds, then HOME SCHOOL. Let the other students have a chance at life.

[napi21]

18. Why is this such an issue now, when they didn't ever give drugs

many years ago? I can't recall when this medication deal first began, but I do remember whwen it didn't exist. IThey didn't have them when I was in school and I don't recall any major problems. There have always been students who were more interested in looking out the window, or thinking about a million other things rather than school. If a student punched the wall out of anger, he was suspended for 3 days!

I think meds are overused for a lot of reasons! I've even heard some kids bragging that they were diagnosed with ADD and were not taking DRUGS!

[BamaGirl]

51. Well I can't speak for all parents, but I certainly can for my own house

If someone has been legally prescribed meds because he or she can't function without them, that child should be required to take them before coming to school. The parent should administer the meds, but if they don't, they can authorize the nurse's office to do so.

A lot of kids deceive their parents (surprise, surprise) and DON'T take their meds, often because they don't like the side effects. I feel for the kids, but that is a problem of dosage that needs to be discussed with a physician. In the meantime, if a student doesn't take his/her meds, that student can be sent to the office and the parents called.

I think the concern of many of us is the side effects of these drugs can be very detrimental, and frankly many doctors are unaware of them or maybe they just don't care. You mention headaches, and you sympathize. Both of my daughters get migraines. It's not a matter of feeling for someone with a headache. It's a dibilitating headache. Talk about a disruption. And yes the drugs make that worse.

The real issue to my mind is that even though we had a prescription, and used it for almost a year, I am the one who gets to decide if my child should be medicated. Not a teacher. Also, at some point don't we need to teach people how to function without being medicated? I'm in a unique situation compared to many parents, because I have trained myself to function without drugs, and I know it can be done. The answer is not to pour more drugs into the developing brains of children. Yes, some of them need it. My daughter needed it for a time. It gave her the time to develope the habits she now has that enable her to deal. And she's doing very well.

Interestingly enough she is on her second teacher this year. Why? Because the first one kept insisting she couldn't do anything else to help K whose grades were slipping dramatically (like you know, actually following that iep), and when was she going back on her meds anyway? So I had her moved, and the school is enough afraid of me (thank God) that I was able to make that happen as soon as we decided it was necessary. Now she's back on the honor roll, and she's ten times happier in the new class. And oddly enough, she doesn't take up more of this teacher's time than the last one. The difference is he actually gives a shit about his less than stellar students, and actually follows her iep. Since we made the move I've heard a lot of complaints from other parents in the first room, too.

You know, sometimes it's just not the parents. Sometimes it's bad teachers. Our current teacher has almost all add/adhd kids. About half of them are not medicated. We're lucky that we have a school that doesn't limit when parents can/can not go into a classroom, so I've been in this class many times and at different times throughout the day. We had him last year too, with our older daughter. I have never seen him not in control of this class, and every year his class is filled from requests. He's earned himself a reputation as being able to work with every kid. In comparison, that first teacher I mentioned? She's earned herself a reputation as only bothering with the kids who have no problems and who are A students. My older daughter would have done just fine in there. Should I have sympathy with a teacher like that who can't control an unmedicated kid? I don't think so. I should add that my daughter has ADD. She has never been a behavior problem. Actually, that may have been a detriment to her when she started school. She didn't act out, so her attention problems didn't get much notice for awhile.

I think what annoys us (parents who choose not to medicate) the most is that is there is so much emphasis on medicating and so little emphasis on teaching kids to function w/out meds. It takes years to teach those skills, to ingrain them so they are habit and effective, yet schools rush to endorse medication with never a mention of coping skills.

[lumberjack_jeff]

58. Wrong. Very Wrong.

If someone has been legally prescribed meds because he or she can't function without them, that child should be required to take them before coming to school. The parent should administer the meds, but if they don't, they can authorize the nurse's office to do so.

What do you mean by "legally prescribed"? Last I checked, when I got a prescription, I wasn't legally obligated to take it. My kids take their medications when they need them but I reserve the right to stop administering it or try another to maximize their quality of life. I won't delegate my authority as a parent to the school district.

I hope Congress has another solution for overworked teachers. My guess is they don't.

Oh, and parents DO have a choice. If you don't want your kid on very necessary meds, then HOME SCHOOL. Let the other students have a chance at life.

No, parents don't have a "choice", they have an entitlement. They are entitled to a free public education for their children. It is teachers who have a choice, they can provide it - or find a career for which they are better suited.

[justabob]

4. That is really good news

I was pressured like crazy last year to get my son on meds, it was miserable and infuriating. We are at a new school this year and life is much much better.

I lost track of what happened with the "New Freedom Initiative" the thing about testing for all school children and everyone was worried, rightly, that our kids would basically be made zombies with meds. Did that ever come into being? And if so, does this new law cancel it out? Just curious.

[Mme. Defarge]

6. Good questions!

I actually thought that that is what this thread was going to be about.

[Nikki Stone 1]

8. Why did the school suggest that your kid go on meds?

And did you ever have your child evaluated?

[justabob]

14. Yes we had evaluations

and my son does have mild adhd. My issue was that we were in a class with 9 kids, one teacher, and 2 aides. The parents of four boys and three girls were told their kids needed meds. After we went and got tested the principal and teacher's first question to me was so what meds is he going to be on and when does he start. My son was not a menace, neither were the other 7 kids, especially given the ratio of adults to children. This teacher should not have been teaching second graders. I'm not sure she should be teaching at all. I do know that she didn't have a job at the end of last year... and she was't happy about it so I assume she got fired.

We moved to public school this year and I spoke with the teacher at the end of the first week to see how my son was doing. The teacher told me she moved my son closer to the front and assigned him a buddy in class to help. Problems solved. HER first question to me was... "He's not on meds is he?" and she went on to say that stuff makes them zombies. I know that there are cases where meds are necessary, as I am sure that teacher does, but I take exception to that being the very first and only thing people do to solve a problem. My son does not hate school now, he does his homework with few problems, and is now happily involved in the TAG program all with no meds.

edit: typos

[Matariki]

33. i think lots of active, intellegent kids are 'diagnosed' with adhd

it's really creepy.

[proud2BlibKansan]

37. Link? or rumor?

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. And did you contact the ACLU?

Did you at least talk to an attorney? Or did you just allow the school to pressure you and not protest?

[justabob]

17. I didn't think of that

I stood up for myself and my son, and explained meds were not ok with me. I would have pulled my son out, but I hadn't paid the tuition refund fee when I paid the tuition so I really couldn't. I told the rest of the story in another post. We are at our neighborhood public school now, and I have been so pleasantly surprised, I could kick myself for not going there sooner.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Oh private school

Sorry if I missed that in your first post.

They can pretty much do whatever they want at a private school. I'm not sure you can fight this med recommendation at a private school.

Sounds like you did the right thing though. Glad to see you are happy with your public school.

[justabob]

41. They can do pretty much what they want

and they don't have to provide ANYTHING extra to help in special cases. I have talked to a lot of people caught in this trap of not wanting to take a chance on public schools (with good reason in many cases) and being constantly disappointed in what the private schools actually provide, besides newer facilities and smaller classes. Its frustrating, especially given what tuitions run. I don't know what the answers are, but this has to be fixed, or at the very least improved.

[proud2BlibKansan]

43. How are you going to fix it?

They are a private enterprise. You can vote with your feet and choose not to patronize them. Or get involved and persuade the private school to do more to help struggling students.

Many parents do not realize that if their child is disabled and eligible under IDEA, but enrolled in a private school, then they are still entitled to special education. Each state handles the obligation to private school kids differently, but if a parent contacts their local public school district, they can learn how to enroll their child in special ed classes and keep the child in private school.

[justabob]

48. Good question

I did talk to the school and some parents about the need for more help, but the school even resents the law that forces them to allow PE and reccess (part of the problem for restless kids in my mind). Most of the parents don't want to rock the boat and would rather go to another school than make "a scene". I just sort of threw up my hands and went somewhere else which solved my immediate problems.

I didn't know that about private schools and special ed... I wonder what the Texas laws are... I do think that special ed is really about kids with more severe problems like retardation, down's syndrome etc and that is part of the problem. When I mentioned special ed to our current teacher she said that wasn't what we needed. So I guess the first step would be changing the definition of special needs/ special ed to be more representative. I really don't know.

I don't feel real comfortable talking about this because I know so little except my personal experience and what I have heard talking to other parents. Forgive me if I sound a fool. I am just a mom trying to do the best I can. I know there are problems, but I don't know what the answers are. We've got some pretty big problems with education down here. Our legislature had three special sessions on redistricting, but they can't be bothered to deal with school financing or anything else to do with school.... oh, except that Gov Good Hair announced ID should be in the curriculum. It is frustrating, and there aren't enough hours in the day to handle it all.

[proud2BlibKansan]

50. If you have a law mandating recess and PE in private schools,

that is way more than we have here. Our state only mandates the length of the school day and the number of days in the year for private schools. What they do during the day and year is totally up to them.

Special ed is for ALL kids with disabilities. That is a FEDERAL law, not just state by state. All children with disabilities, regardless of where they attend school, are guaranteed a free and appropriate education.

PM me if you want to ask any more questions.

[barbaraann]

19. A school tried to force Neil Bush's son Pierce to take meds.

Bush’s bro: My son was a victim of school Rx
New York Post
August 14, 2002
By Douglas Montero


Angry New York parents who say school officials pressured them into medicating their children have a very powerful ally in their corner – President Bush’s brother.

Neil Bush is condemning the practice for very personal reasons:

He endured his own Ritalin hell seven years ago when educators in a Houston private school diagnosed his son, Pierce, now 16, with attention deficit disorder and pushed medication.

Bush later found out the educators were wrong about his son.
...
http://ablechild.org/newsarchive/bush's%20bro%208-14-02.htm

This is a fascinating story!

[proud2BlibKansan]

35. PRIVATE school

As I said in an earlier post, private schools can pretty much do whatever they want.

[bpilgrim]

20. big bro looking out for the children - aren't you relieved?!?

i'm sure the drug companies have no influence on this :eyes:

peace

[carolinalady]

23. I do math tutoring in a class that has 3 or 4 kids that are ADD

in NC-they are not allowed to even mention the meds. The kids are extremely disruptive and the teachers are frustrated. I have been saying for a while that I think they ought to pull them out of class every time they disrupt and just make a phone call to the parents saying-OK what do you want to do now? Unfortunately a lot of these parents just say "Its your problem" There are not enough resources at the school to give these children one on one instruction, and they are distracting the other kids in class. I do not know what the solution is, but it is a huge problem.

[proud2BlibKansan]

36. The solution is suspension

In my state, it is against the law to disrupt a classroom in a public school. Kids who disrupt continually are suspended (yes, even if they are in kdg). Eventually, parents get the message and take their kids for counseling and the counselor does evaluations and recommends they take the child to a medical doctor. But it has to start with getting the parents' attention.

If I were you, I would talk to the principal and tell him/her that you are unable to teach because of these disruptive kids. Insist that they be removed from the class while you are there.

[carolinalady]

40. Unfortunately, just a parent volunteer-no power to make demands

but I do know that the overall philosophy of the administration there is that they want to do everything they can to keep these kids in school. They have a system called in school suspension. It is a joke. A couple times last year I had to go get "my delinquent" as I affectionately called him last year-out of ISS to do his math lesson. Those kids were laughing and joking-chewing gum and having a generally good time. When I asked about this, I was told that the person responsible for the program held the philosophy that these kids need love. They do not get it at home. Consequently at this middle school, kids LOVE to be placed in ISS. It is a shame.

ed:sp

[proud2BlibKansan]

44. Lots of schools need volunteers

No one is forcing you to stay at this particular school.

[carolinalady]

53. Except for the fact that my child goes there so I have a vested

interest.
:)

[proud2BlibKansan]

56. Good point

Well, you could be asked to be assigned to a different classroom. That would get the principal's attention.

[Mme. Defarge]

52. The concept of mandatory medication of children

profoundly inconsistent with democratic values and inherently repugnant.

[Baconfoot]

63. It's a good thing there was never a need for this legislation then.

[Odin2005]

55. ADHDer/Aspie reporting :)

The reason ADHD kids are distruptive in class in because they need a more mentally stimulating curriculum than the average kid. I heard a hypothesis (by that Thom Hartmann guy, IIRC) that the non-ADHD trait only become common with the origin of farming, which is a more boring and repetitive way of life than hunting and gathering. The best way to keep kids with ADHD from being overly distruptive is to keep the class as fun as possible and cut out as much useless busywork as will be tolerated by the school administration for ADHDers.

[XemaSab]

62. Just because teachers can't control the class

doesn't mean children should be on drugs! :grr: