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in article , Scott Weiser at
wrote on 4/5/05 5:40 PM:

A Usenet persona calling itself BCITORGB wrote:

Scott, confusing multiple issues:
================
Note that this corporal punishment is not to be meeted out to
the
disabled student who is incapable of control, but to the OTHER
students
who
are allowing themselves to be distracted by what ought to be ignored.
================

So, you're suggesting that the cure for chemical or hormonal
"disabilities" are "smacks upside the head". Hmmmm...... And the kid
is
supposed to know, from the SMACK, why his mind doesn't work like
others' minds?

Did you fail to read the sentence beginning with "Note" and ending with
"ignored?"
===================

You recommned a SMACK for ADHD students.

No, I recommend appropriate corporal punishment for students who haven't
been taught by their parents to be quiet, respectful and obedient to
authority and who haven't learned to concentrate.

LOL!

How brilliant!

Take kids who have trouble at home and beat them at school! That'll learn
'em to concentrate! And also that violence is acceptable, after all, school
is a good and fine social institution, and they use violence, so it's OK for
me too!

I deny that just because a
student is disruptive and unwilling to concentrate or obey, that the student
is *unable* to concentrate or obey due to some phony, concocted "diagnosis"
that is little more than a marketing tool for Ritalin.

I agree with you on this point. Drugs are being unbelievably overprescribed.
By SMACKING the kids is not the answer. Obviously.

Overcoming "ADHD" is something you *learn* to do, not something you can be
medicated into. Sometimes children need to be caused to focus, and corporal
punishment, in appropriate measure, can be an effective tool for obtaining
obedience and stimulating focus.

Ridiculous. That's the recipe for a volcano that will erupt (internally,
externally, or both). It just teaches the kid that when you have a problem,
you lash out at it. Heck, even the teacher hits me, what's wrong with me
hitting a kid that I don't like?

Most of the time, "ADHD" is nothing more than a sugar high caused by poor
nutrition and breakfast cereal combined with lax, permissive parenting that
spills over into the classroom.

There are a proportion of kids diagnosed ADHD who experience a life-changing
experience with medication. The dosage needs to be monitored closely with
the intent of reducing it as soon as possible, and the goal of eliminating
it. The medication should be combined with strategies for the teacher,
parents, and child. The strategies should be tried first before medication
is even a consideration.

That said, I agree with much of what you say (regarding misdiagnosis and
slapping of labels on kids so they can be dealt with through medications)
but I think your focus on the need for the child to have a smack is way off.
They need people around them who can set boundaries and help establish
routines and structure that are appropriate.