Controversial Opinions: School & Education edition

[Anonymous]

Yeah lots of "family hires" in gov too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The majority of kids diagnosed with ADHD don't have ADHD. Their true issue is that they just aren't very bright.

Also, future generations will look back at the ADHD and other stimulant meds given so freely to out children, and they will be amazed that we did not realize how tremendously harmful these drugs are. Sort of the way we look back at Victorians who used to dose up on laudanum, unaware of the terrible consequences to their health.

and you know this how.....

I've been teaching for a long time.

I used to feel this way until one of my kids was diagnosed. And no, she’s not dumb, her sibling does not have it/it’s not parenting. It sucks.

[Anonymous]

The majority of kids diagnosed with ADHD don't have ADHD. Their true issue is that they just aren't very bright.

This is not true.

I do agree that it may be overdiagnosed and that it may also be overtreated medically. But, "just aren't very bright"--that has not been my observation.

I have been a teacher and think that some parents-and teachers--are too quick to use this as a cop-out when a kid is not behaving. And, yes, some of these may have parents who need a little more consistency. But, there are plenty of parents with good parenting skills whose kids have ADHD.

And, FWIW, I have known many ADHD kids who were EXTREMELY bright.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Special Education funding is a drag on school systems and they should not be required to provide it.

DCPS spends 25% of its budget on special education. I can list at least 15 things that that money would be better spent on.

I still think they should spend money but special education and ESOL services are bankrupting Fairfax County. People actually shop around school districts. You don't need a Cadillac plan when a honda civic will do

And yet the parents with advanced/gifted kids want the Cadillac plan and aren't at all satisfied with the Honda Civic. Why shouldn't parents of special needs kids want the same?

Too m

I think they are full of it too especially so. At work all the "advanced/gifted" kids are working right alongside us normal folks. In some cases we are bosses of them gasp. AAP is the biggest load of bs out there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The majority of kids diagnosed with ADHD don't have ADHD. Their true issue is that they just aren't very bright.

This is not true.

I do agree that it may be overdiagnosed and that it may also be overtreated medically. But, "just aren't very bright"--that has not been my observation.

I have been a teacher and think that some parents-and teachers--are too quick to use this as a cop-out when a kid is not behaving. And, yes, some of these may have parents who need a little more consistency. But, there are plenty of parents with good parenting skills whose kids have ADHD.

And, FWIW, I have known many ADHD kids who were EXTREMELY bright.

Ever read the story the emperor's new clothes?


"My kid is really bright... but she doesn't do well in school. Or test well. And we're the only ones who can see it. But she is, we swear."

Intelligence shines through

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The majority of kids diagnosed with ADHD don't have ADHD. Their true issue is that they just aren't very bright.

This is not true.

I do agree that it may be overdiagnosed and that it may also be overtreated medically. But, "just aren't very bright"--that has not been my observation.

I have been a teacher and think that some parents-and teachers--are too quick to use this as a cop-out when a kid is not behaving. And, yes, some of these may have parents who need a little more consistency. But, there are plenty of parents with good parenting skills whose kids have ADHD.

And, FWIW, I have known many ADHD kids who were EXTREMELY bright.

Ever read the story the emperor's new clothes?


"My kid is really bright... but she doesn't do well in school. Or test well. And we're the only ones who can see it. But she is, we swear."

Intelligence shines through

I hope you are not the PP who mentioned she was a teacher. What do you actually know about ADHD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The majority of kids diagnosed with ADHD don't have ADHD. Their true issue is that they just aren't very bright.

Also, future generations will look back at the ADHD and other stimulant meds given so freely to out children, and they will be amazed that we did not realize how tremendously harmful these drugs are. Sort of the way we look back at Victorians who used to dose up on laudanum, unaware of the terrible consequences to their health.

I'm laughing- my kid with ADHD (the real kind) has an IQ north of 145 and runs rings around his typical classmates, unmedicated. His true issue is ADHD.

[Anonymous]

I've sent my DS to public and private. All schools are different but there are pros and cons. My "real" experience however, is that the insanely smart kids- the genius kids- are concentrated in the public schools.
My DS did math competitions and the "out there" kids headed to nationals were in the public school districts. DS went to state, not nationals, and his private school math curriculum couldn't handle him. We had to pay for outside enrichment on top of private tuition. No thanks.

[Anonymous]

Many people who were education majors in college did not seem very bright.
Many were soriority types.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've sent my DS to public and private. All schools are different but there are pros and cons. My "real" experience however, is that the insanely smart kids- the genius kids- are concentrated in the public schools.
My DS did math competitions and the "out there" kids headed to nationals were in the public school districts. DS went to state, not nationals, and his private school math curriculum couldn't handle him. We had to pay for outside enrichment on top of private tuition. No thanks.

Also, my DS joined his public school math team this year. He said that every kid, except him, on the math team is Asian- I hate stereotypes but I do not think this is a coincidence- math competitions create a huge learning and test taking advantage- winning is just a bonus compared to the learning. btw, this is a voluntary team- no testing in and no cuts...but yet we complain about test scores. Math competitions = higher test scores.

[Anonymous]

There isn't a much of a difference in schools academically within FCPS. It doesn't matter if your school is rated a 2 or a 9. You will have to supplement because the academics are weak. In middle and high school, rating matters because of peer groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many people who were education majors in college did not seem very bright.
Many were soriority types.

That's common knowledge. Education/teaching masters programs have very low GPA and GRE/GMAT scores.

[Anonymous]

It's genetics, it's always been genetics. There's nothing you can do about achievement gap. All the brainstorms are just scams to steal (more) money and juke data.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's genetics, it's always been genetics. There's nothing you can do about achievement gap. All the brainstorms are just scams to steal (more) money and juke data.

I tend to disagree just because the public school curriculum in elementary is so watered down, any kid with the right family supports like being read and spoken to, being fed nutritious foods etc - can be on grade level, absent special needs.
Compulsory preschool, year round school and mentoring mentoring mentoring can narrow the gap.

[Anonymous]

+ 1 million to year round school