LP> What this woman was saying to me was that I cannot
LP>say the words "hyperactive," "short attention span," or "you should take
LP>the child to be assessed."  I disagree with you that it's not a
LP>teacher's place to tell a parent that---it's nearly a duty to do so if
LP>the teacher observes a problem.
I agree that we should inform the parent if there is a problem, and it
is the teacher's place to suggest that the child be evaluated, assessed
or tested (pick your favorite term). Describing the behavior in neutral
terms is probably best, though. I might say "short attention span" or
"has difficulty concentrating" or things like that, but I wouldn't want
to use the word "hyperactive". I think that the average classroom
teacher (myself included) is (1) not qualified to diagnose
hyperactivity, and (2) that word provokes an emotional response on the
part of the parents due to so many negative connotations usually
associated with it.
As for the nurse not being an optometrist or opthamologist, and yet
assessing children's vision and referring them if necessary to an eye
doctor...isn't that part of the nurse's training and qualifications?
Sheila
 * SLMR 2.1a *
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