Congress Bars Schools From Requiring ADHD Drug Treatment (just the House, not the do nothing Senate)

Fox news ^ | Nov. 17, 2005 | Todd Zwillich

[ChildOfThe60s]

The U.S. House overwhelmingly passed a bill Wednesday barring schools from requiring hyperactive children to use drug treatments as a condition for attending classes.

[Nomorjer Kinov]

I didn't want my child labeled as ADD or ADHD, but his teacher continued complaining of restlesness in my 4th grader. We relented and took my son to an appropriate doctor who discovered he is ADHD - little boys' disease.

We decided to experiment on the school system. We reported the diagnosis and informed them that he would be taking his medication at home before school each day. Of course we did not medicate him. Soon the notes from school were glowing of improved attention and performance. There was no change in his exam scores but the grades for behavior escalated!

Apparently, a diagnosis of ADD or ADHD in students works wonders for the behavior of grade school teachers. The added benefit of this silly experiment is that my son now has extra time to complete his tests. I understand that when he sits for his SAT's he will also receive extra time to complete that important timed test as well.

I encourage all Freepers to have their young children tested for ADD or ADHD to take advantage of the untold benefits of placating looney left wingery.

[Coleus]

says schools don’t have the power to force medications on parents. >>

No, they just call family services and have the parents arrested for abuse and neglect.

[RavenATB]

One out of every eight American boys is taking Ritalin. The United States consumes over 90 percent of all the Ritalin used worldwide.

This is a potentially dangerous drug, and if you're a parent of a child who is taking it, you need to spend time studying the long-term health consequences.

[RavenATB]

"I encourage all Freepers to have their young children tested for ADD or ADHD to take advantage of the untold benefits of placating looney left wingery."

In many cases behavior problems that would lead someone to consider ADD/ADHD can be controlled by adjusting diet. The first thing I would do if I had a parent even suggest such an issue is to cut way back on my child's sugar intake.

[RavenATB]

"ADD is so horribly overused anyway."

I'd suggest that public schools are the thing that is horribly overused...

[Always Right]

Where in the Constitution does it say Congress has the power to micro-manage school affairs? Maybe there is a problem here that needs to be addressed, but as usual the Republicans are doig virtually as poor a job as the other wing of the socialist/humanist party when it comes to governing *lawfully*.

The idea that schools are forcing children to take mind-altering addictive substances is a crime that should be stopped. If it takes a federal law to stop this, so be it. I would lock up school officials for 10 years for doing this. This isn't micro-managing, this is protection of basic rights of parents and children.

[wolfcreek]

If you live in Cali, your exempt.

[Clara Lou]

I think that you're right. This isn't an issue in Texas, and I've taught pre-school, elementary school, and middle school. Parents decide to take their child off of ritalin [or whatever]-- that's their business. I had a parent tell me in August that she knew her child had difficulties [shuffling papers, digging in her backpack, twiddling, etc., constantly] but she wasn't going to put her on medication. [That's fine, I wouldn't put my child on ritalin, either-- and nothing else works reliably.] As long as parents understand their child's behaviors and what the trade-offs are, it's a problem that can be dealt with.

[kindred]

[Also, it sounds as though Florida's Family Service system is out of control.]


Florida's socialized dem run family service system has been and remains (along with all states) out of control and like the others, is part of the socialized public school systems in the war against God, family and country. Janet Reno wreaked many families, especially Christians, in her term preceding Clinton.
Pubs do nothing in retaliation to this illegal and immoral attack against freedom of religion.

[RockyMtnMan]

We went through this scenario with the school and they suggested our child was ADD. We told them no he was not and to never suggest it again.

The problem turned out to be a teacher who didn't know how to manage her classroom. I can say this with absolute confidence as we have irrefutable proof.

Teachers are under so much pressure to make the children perform at an early age they are willing to drug their students to get the desired result. What they need to understand is that children are SUPPOSED to be hyper in the early years of their lives.

Our child is doing excellent in school now and has surpassed many of his classmates. We attribute the change to a better teacher.

[moog]

They can't do that in my area. The ONE teacher that did here got dealt with pretty severely. I sure haven't done that for any kids in my class. Any med-taking has been parent initiated and NOT suggested by me nor any other school or administration staff. Besides, I and many other teachers simply don't have the TIME to make sure 25 kids all take their medicine.

I agree with the premise and aim of the bill, but often something like this brings out the teacher bashers. A similiar thing happened here last year when the teacher bashers came out in force and said we were drugging the kids like crazy (without one example) and forgetting that we AREN'T allowed to do so.

Teachers shouldn't be in the business of drugging kids. Any "condition" should be on a case by case basis and the parents should have any final say.

[moog]

Let state legislatures decide this sort of thing.

I would agree with that.

[moog]

"My experience has been that parents are more likely to want their children labeled ADD/ADHD than teachers are"

A lot of teachers would probably say the same. That has been my experience too.

[moog]

because the school demanded that all kids in 1st grade take a nap each day.

For that reason????? Actually, a little nap wouldn't hurt some of my first grade students now and then. Then again, they get that anyway from listening to their boring teacher talk:).

[moog]

It is the NEA they are beholden to.

Must be in the eyes of the beholder.

[moog]

My antenna went up at this

Martian discrimination I think is what it was!!

[moog]

needed aide they require to perform to their potential

No ADD student has ever gotten an aide in my school.

[moog]

I'd suggest that public schools are the thing that is horribly overused...

I know, my dad used them eight times for his kids. We all turned out "terrible....."

[moog]

had a parent tell me in August that she knew her child had difficulties

Here, the decision to medicate the child often is based by the parent on how the child acts at HOME.