Controversial Opinions: School & Education edition

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More kids in the US have ADHD diagnosos in this country because it is covered by insurance and through IEPs. Other countries cover other learnir disabilities better. We know kids with dyslexia who have ADHD diagnosis so they can receive better support. There is no research that says outdoor activities will cure ADHD or autism.

Anyway, are you advocating for more outdoor learning in schools? Is that you controversial opinion?

Give it a rest with the learning and development and constant "enrichment" for gods sake.

Let the energetic kids outside for a decent amount of time each day and let them play how they want to. Notice the word play there - no teachers or psychologists involved.

My DS could and does spend hours outside when he can. No medications

Let children be children

I teach in an elementary school. We have two 20 minute recess blocks. Both are unstructured.

OH MY GOD A WHOLE 20 MINUTES

That’s a total of 40 minutes each day. Add that to lunch and specials and it’s 2 hours and 10 minutes out of the classroom. I think 40 minutes of free play is decent. That leaves 4.5 hours of core instruction.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

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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.

+1 When I think about all of my “opinions” about things like this (including “too much funding for special ed”)until I had first hand experience, I cringe. Well aware others will still remain ignorant (and cannot be shamed into compassion so I don’t try and I wish other parents of SN would stop, too— they. do. not. care. I refuse to beg for their understanding), I just say “f em” and keep it moving. It’s enough for me to know I’m doing right by my kid— and that includes demanding “Cadillac” everything regardless if someone else thinks he deserves it.

My unpopular opinion— you can’t have it both ways when you talk about your super advanced kid in one breath but how they’re so disturbed by kids with challenges in the same classroom as they are. I also don’t think all day integrated environments are always the best idea, but some need to accept their kids are just average if they’re thrown off so easily because they aren’t in a classroom with kids who learn exactly as they do. The same principle for the teachers who resent having to teach diverse learners. How good are you really at your job? Not saying incompetent, but maybe you’re just average? Excuse typos,
On phone.

[Anonymous]

I think that autism is just code for umc and not very intelligent and the parents refuse to accept it.

Let's face it, it's a mathematical impossiblity for everyone to be "gifted"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that autism is just code for umc and not very intelligent and the parents refuse to accept it.

Let's face it, it's a mathematical impossiblity for everyone to be "gifted"

Have you ever met an autistic kid?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:My hot take: The long-term returns to taking above grade-level math (eventually going beyond calculus BC while in high school) are minimal relative to simply being good at math and taking whatever grade-level class the smart kids usually take. There simply aren't many college majors or career paths where it makes a difference. It's almost entirely a college application padding contest.

Agreed. I went to summer school during H.S. to get ahead in math and take AP calc. to look good on college apps. I have never once used calculus since.

I used to think this, but then realized it teaches complex problem solving.

DP. It does, but only for the kids who have done the complex problem solving along the way. Strong math teaching that helps kids understand math and numbers and critical thinking is much better than racing through a text book to be able to do well on a standardized test.

The problem though is that there are no metrics for really showing that this is being taught in other classrooms. I can barely get out of my child what they are doing in class much less whether my child is picking up on every lesson taught. Nothing comes home. No more homework, workbooks, or textbooks. Classes are entirely teacher dependent. So I support AP classes because I know they are challenging and at least require to some degree that a teacher make sure students are at least exposed to advanced topics. I also know the final goal of the class and can see if my child achieved the goals. Many of these other classes my child has taken have lofty goals but don't work in practice because of bad implementation, lack of materials, varied abilities from children, or lazy teaching.

Starting in 3rd grade, all schools have periodic testing to make sure kids are learning the curriculum, you might not see the scores, but administration does and it puts a lot of pressure on teachers. Trust me, classes are not entirely teacher dependent. They have to teach a certain curriculum (that you can see online) and if there students don't test well, they hear it from administration. And no, I'm not talking about the highly publicized tests like the SOLs, but end of unit tests that are computerized and make it possible for principals to easily compare each teacher's scores against anothers.

Where have you experienced this?

~Third Grade Teacher, FCPS

NP—APS

[Anonymous]

My ADHD child is outside all summer long in a mostly unstructured environment. The same signs of ADHD show up in the summer as they do during other seasons. I don't see outdoor time as a solution for ADHD. At some point these children need to learn the same as all other children.

[Anonymous]

ADHD and ADD are frequently just teacher code for "this kid bugs me and I want him to be drugged into a stupor so my job will be easier."

[Anonymous]

One of the biggest problems with education is that many (not all, but many) teachers are so ignorant that they aren't capable of teaching or learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Yes

Somehow I doubt you both would be the kinds of people to be accepting of ADHD children without their medication.

Maybe if the parents let them out of the house to play once in a while they wouldn't need medication

Do you spend your entire day outside? How about your husband? Should ADHD children be in different schools per your assessment? Do you have your children in nature preschool to high school programs? Should they all become foresters when they grow up?

Spending time outside alleviates stress just like it does with any person. ADHD children are not different in this regard and it might help them more than other children. It does not take away the underlying neurological condition of ADHD.

Why do you thin childhood obesity is out of control?

Kids are in front of the screen at home AND in school. Not healthy

Huh - I wonder why we have so many more issues with ADHD/ADD in this country?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Yes

Somehow I doubt you both would be the kinds of people to be accepting of ADHD children without their medication.

Maybe if the parents let them out of the house to play once in a while they wouldn't need medication

Do you spend your entire day outside? How about your husband? Should ADHD children be in different schools per your assessment? Do you have your children in nature preschool to high school programs? Should they all become foresters when they grow up?

Spending time outside alleviates stress just like it does with any person. ADHD children are not different in this regard and it might help them more than other children. It does not take away the underlying neurological condition of ADHD.

Why do you thin childhood obesity is out of control?

Kids are in front of the screen at home AND in school. Not healthy

Huh - I wonder why we have so many more issues with ADHD/ADD in this country?

What is your actual controversial opinion about schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous[b wrote:]ADHD and ADD are frequently just teacher code for "this kid bugs me and I want him to be drugged into a stupor so my job will be easier.[/b]"

I'm a teacher and my principal has always stressed to us to NEVER tell a parent that we think their child might have ADHD. I find the idea that schools are trying to push parents into medicating their children for ADHD to go completely against what I have experienced.

[Anonymous]

My kid's teacher in FCPS told me that there were days she just knew by 9 AM that my kid wasnt going to accomplish anything that day and that if she could she would tell me to just come and pick him up. Yeah, she wanted him drugged. Or homeschooled.

He's actually a very successful adult now. Her? Not so much.

[Anonymous]

I’m a Virginia teacher. We are only allowed to suggest that parents consult their pediatrician. We are not allowed to make any kind of determination regarding these things.

More often, from my experience, it is the parents who want the label and the meds, and usually it’s the case that they feel guilty for working too much and not being around their own kid enough to know what’s normal.

At the risk of being flamed, which I certainly will be, we didn’t have these issues when SAHM was the norm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a Virginia teacher. We are only allowed to suggest that parents consult their pediatrician. We are not allowed to make any kind of determination regarding these things.

More often, from my experience, it is the parents who want the label and the meds, and usually it’s the case that they feel guilty for working too much and not being around their own kid enough to know what’s normal.

At the risk of being flamed, which I certainly will be, we didn’t have these issues when SAHM was the norm.

Back in the day when less than 10% of men and 5% of women graduated from college? These are the days you want to go back to?

[Anonymous]

I agree with the last few posts. I teach in an elementary school and I know that we are never supposed to suggest that a child has ADHD or that they should be medicated. I do convey my observations and what occurs in school. If a parent asks if I think the child has ADHD I say I cannot diagnose, but they may want to discuss their questions with a pediatrician.

I prefer the students not be medicated unless it is found to be absolutely necessary. I a also concerned about how many students are seeing therapists.