Quote: " Increasing numbers of youngsters are routinely placed in trials of Ritalin, without first ruling out other factors that could be causing apparent ADHD symptoms. A kinesthetic learner may not need medication so much as innovative teaching methods."
Response: In the classroom it is important to use several teaching methods in order to benefit all learners. Why is it that as educators we do not learn what type of learners we have in our classroom, first? It seems that knowing how to teach would be as important as what we teach.
It is terrible that educators label children as having ADHD, I really think that when teachers step into the medical field of diagnosing, it becomes very dangerous for the students. Ritalin is a drug that can cause many side effects, some as severe as convulsions, migraines, dizziness, drowsiness, and Tourette's syndrome.
I know a child that was diagnosed by the teacher, of a private school, as having ADHD. The parents took their child to the doctor and the doctor placed the child on Ritalin. The child behaved in the classroom but hated taking the medicine because he felt so tired and did not want to engage in activities with the other students. The parents, saw changes in their child and demanded the doctor take their child off Ritalin. When the teacher became upset, the parents took their child out of private school and placed him in a public school. The child had absolutely no problems, with the new teacher. When the parents went to parent-teacher conference, they were bracing themselves for the horror stories that the teacher would inevitably say. The teacher told them that she was not having any problems with their son. That she needed to keep him busy, but that he was a delight to have in her classroom. The parents knew that they made the correct decision in taking their child off of Ritalin and out of a classroom that was not equipped to handle different learners.
Technology, such as a computer loaded with educational software can be used to help Kinesthetic learners by keeping the child busy and using hands on learning that help them stay focused. Not only would a computer help the student stay focused and busy, but using technology would better enable students to use their (hands on approach), by which Kinesthetic learners, learn the best.
I really think that educators have the right to discuss behavioral and learning problems with parents and to make recommendations to help with their education, but when a teacher plays doctor that becomes very dangerous. And as parents, we should have the right to find a school and teacher that is knowledgeable in their field and practices different learning techniques to reach their child's needs.
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/reviews/parenting_books/adhd_misdiagnosis.html
http://school.familyeducation.com/learning-disabilities/treatments/29434.html
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