-=> Quoting Mark Probert to Logan Rich <=-03-01-98  21:09
 MP> LOGAN RICH was thinking about Re: Help! Ideas Needed. and keyed into 
 MP> cyberspace:
 LR> JK> Oh yes, stop drugging the school kids for administrative
 LR>convenience. 
 
 LR> this quote should written backwards on the foreheads of
 LR>administrators :) 
 MP> How about a little real proof that this is so? Jane could never
 MP> provide  it, just some ramblings she re-posts all the time.
 A reasonable request, although I have to admit that I'm not certain just 
 what you might consider "proof". A close friend of mine has been teaching
 "special ed" students for many years in California, and he has told me of
 numerous kids who are "diagnosed" by a school nurse and referred to a local
 physician who routinely prescribes Ritalin and other such drugs for a wide
 variety of symptoms. Most of which relate to their behavior in class and/or
 their interactions with certain teachers. He has personally questioned a
 few of the cases, when he knew the student involved, and was summarily
 "shut down" by the powers that be. It does appear that some school officials 
 and parents alike, are all to willing (dare I say eager) to put the child on
 drugs to modify their behavior instead of acknowledging/exploring the root
 causes involved. As "evidence", I can tell you that my friend pointed out 
 that over the years it has become increasingly common for medication to be
 recommended over counseling or more traditional types of therapy. Speaking
 with a counselor used to be the first thing *anyone* suggested, but now it
 seems that Ritalin etc is the first thing that gets mentioned or discussed.
 I'm not saying this is true everywhere or all the time, but it does seem to
 be a trend in public schools at least, and I suspect in some private ones 
 as well.
 MP> The Few. The Proud. The Chosen.
 BTW - Having noticed this quote on a number of your posts, I'm curious
   what it means to you. I have pondered it a bit, but would like to know
   how you see it.
 Peace Love Granola bars,
 Logan
... its nice to be important but its important to be nice
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