School kills creativity

[Surfah]

That was fun. These RSA videos all seem to follow a similar pattern. A rally against the staus quo fueled with some truths, some half truths, and a hefty load of BS, all presented in a highly entertaining package.

I liked watching the art. I was so engrossed in the drawing that I didn't pay any attention to the message.

[Devildog]

You realize that ADHD meds aren't sedatives, right? They are stimulants, uppers. So kids with ADHD aren't being anesthetized -- quite the opposite.

My nephew was diagnosed with ADHD and took medicine throughout high school.

I did realize that it was a stimulant, but from just noticing his behavior... it appeared to have the opposite effect. He was noticeably calmer... in fact he did appear anesthetized.

[beefytee]

That was fun. These RSA videos all seem to follow a similar pattern. A rally against the staus quo fueled with some truths, some half truths, and a hefty load of BS, all presented in a highly entertaining package.

[Devildog]

That was fun. These RSA videos all seem to follow a similar pattern. A rally against the staus quo fueled with some truths, some half truths, and a hefty load of BS, all presented in a highly entertaining package.

Which parts do you consider the hefty load of BS?

[Omaha 680]

What you've written above is a direct consequence of what the speaker in the video argues against starting at the 2:50 - 3:00 minute mark. Why is weeding even necessary? It is an old argument that is outmoded. There is nothing more ridiculous than the notion that students need to be weeded. In sports, certainly. In education? Why exactly ... what is the real motivation? It's a discriminatory practice designed to protect the wealthy, and originally, royalty or, the ruling class.

It may be outmoded and there may be a better way. But if we're still talking about engineering, there are plenty of middle and upper class college students who wash out of engineering majors. So I don't think the claim that the weeding process is designed to protect the wealthy is valid.

[woot]

Which parts do you consider the hefty load of BS?

The trend to assume that ADD isn't an actual, debilitating condition is a hefty load of BS.

Why do so many people feel the need to opine on subjects without doing the slightest bit of research? ADD brains look very different from normal brains, both in morphology and in activity/blood flow during different types of concentration. Stimulant meds fix this.

I'm going to guess it's because it's only been identified relatively recently, leading to the thought, "They seemed to do just fine before the condition was invented!" Of course they actually weren't doing just fine; they just lived out their lives under the assumption that they were stupid, lazy, or both, and probably ended up in jobs that didn't require much concentration.

[Devildog]

The trend to assume that ADD isn't an actual, debilitating condition is a hefty load of BS.

Why do so many people feel the need to opine on subjects without doing the slightest bit of research? ADD brains look very different from normal brains, both in morphology and in activity/blood flow during different types of concentration. Stimulant meds fix this.

I'm going to guess it's because it's only been identified relatively recently, leading to the thought, "They seemed to do just fine before the condition was invented!" Of course they actually weren't doing just fine; they just lived out their lives under the assumption that they were stupid, lazy, or both, and probably ended up in jobs that didn't require much concentration.

Yeah, that right there pretty much describes my nephew... and the meds didn't help. Hell his profession is frisbee... and that pays for shit.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Yeah, that right there pretty much describes my nephew... and the meds didn't help. Hell his profession is frisbee... and that pays for shit.

You can lead a horse to water....

[Soccermom]

The trend to assume that ADD isn't an actual, debilitating condition is a hefty load of BS.

Why do so many people feel the need to opine on subjects without doing the slightest bit of research? ADD brains look very different from normal brains, both in morphology and in activity/blood flow during different types of concentration. Stimulant meds fix this.

I'm going to guess it's because it's only been identified relatively recently, leading to the thought, "They seemed to do just fine before the condition was invented!" Of course they actually weren't doing just fine; they just lived out their lives under the assumption that they were stupid, lazy, or both, and probably ended up in jobs that didn't require much concentration.

A friend of mine from high school --everyone used to think he was just lazy because he was such a great athlete and just relying on his skills there to get by in life. But as an adult, he was diagnosed with ADHD and what a relief that was to him to finally understand why he struggled with things like the ACT, tests, etc.

My son has inattentive ADD. He seems to be able to get through and focus by using some specific strategies to deal with the way his mind gets distracted. We do, however, give him a can of coke once in a while when he has an important test because the caffeine seems to help him focus, and if he ever starts to struggle and suffer grades wise,etc., we will definitely make sure he gets the proper care/meds.

[tooblue]

The trend to assume that ADD isn't an actual, debilitating condition is a hefty load of BS.

Why do so many people feel the need to opine on subjects without doing the slightest bit of research? ADD brains look very different from normal brains, both in morphology and in activity/blood flow during different types of concentration. Stimulant meds fix this.

I'm going to guess it's because it's only been identified relatively recently, leading to the thought, "They seemed to do just fine before the condition was invented!" Of course they actually weren't doing just fine; they just lived out their lives under the assumption that they were stupid, lazy, or both, and probably ended up in jobs that didn't require much concentration.

At the 3:44 - 3: 50 minute mark, Ken Robinson states: "I don't mean to say there is no such thing as ADHD." He then states he is not qualified to speak authoritatively on the condition. However, he is calling the over-prescribing for the condition an epidemic. So, the only BS here is your BS.

Ken Robinson is an internationally recognized expert on education. To suggest he has not done even the "slightest bit of research" is asinine. Furthermore, your last line about "concentration" is highly prejudicial. Yes, There are distinct differences in how the brains of the billions of individuals on this planet work. To summarily qualify certain types of brains as "normal," is at the very least offensive, if not a woefully ignorant position to take on the subject.

What is being argued in the video, and to a certain degree in the NYT article is that the education system can and should be blamed for low enrollment and the lack of success, in general, of North American students in the fields of math and science.

By way of abstract connection, there's an excellent book you might consider reading. It's called The Dyslexic Advantage.

http://dyslexicadvantage.com/

Individuals who struggle with dyslexia have a lot in common with individuals who struggle with ADHD. Maybe it's time society, educational institutions and educators evolve and adapt

[tooblue]

You can lead a horse to water....

But what if the watering hole is poisoned Woody? It used to be that a Degree almost certainly guaranteed employment, often immediate, following graduation. Or, at least that's the line we've been sold ...

[woot]

At the 3:44 - 3: 50 minute mark, Ken Robinson states: "I don't mean to say there is no such thing as ADHD." He then states he is not qualified to speak authoritatively on the condition. However, he is calling the over-prescribing for the condition an epidemic. So, the only BS here is your BS.

Ken Robinson is an internationally recognized expert on education. To suggest he has not done even the "slightest bit of research" is asinine. Furthermore, your last line about "concentration" is highly prejudicial. Yes, There are distinct differences in how the brains of the billions of individuals on this planet work. To summarily qualify certain types of brains as "normal," is at the very least offensive, if not a woefully ignorant position to take on the subject.

What is being argued in the video, and to a certain degree in the NYT article is that the education system can and should be blamed for low enrollment and the lack of success, in general, of North American students in the fields of math and science.

By way of abstract connection, there's an excellent book you might consider reading. It's called The Dyslexic Advantage.

http://dyslexicadvantage.com/

Individuals who struggle with dyslexia have a lot in common with individuals who struggle with ADHD. Maybe it's time society, educational institutions and educators evolve and adapt

In case you're interested in improving yourself, as you seem so keen on encouraging others to do, this is the type of post that causes so many of us to dislike you. The extreme defensiveness, personal attacks, and uncharitable interpretation (to put it mildly) of others' comments are quite annoying. It's as if you only feel like posting on CUF when you've just come home from a really bad day.

I've deliberately avoided responding to the content of your post, and you may feel free to respond to this however you'd like; I promise not to respond.

[CardiacCoug]

But what if the watering hole is poisoned Woody? It used to be that a Degree almost certainly guaranteed employment, often immediate, following graduation. Or, at least that's the line we've been sold ...

Why would anybody think that the government or anybody else could "guarantee" employment to a college grad?

That attitude of entitlement with the Occupy Wall Street crowd just kills me.

[Jarid in Cedar]

But what if the watering hole is poisoned Woody? It used to be that a Degree almost certainly guaranteed employment, often immediate, following graduation. Or, at least that's the line we've been sold ...

My point was that just because medication did not work for DD's cousin, doesn't mean that treating ADD is a waste. You cannot medicate motivation into a person.

In regards to this discussion, I think that ADD is overdiagnosed. When properly diagnosed, treatment is quite effective.

[tooblue]

It may be outmoded and there may be a better way. But if we're still talking about engineering, there are plenty of middle and upper class college students who wash out of engineering majors. So I don't think the claim that the weeding process is designed to protect the wealthy is valid.

If you consider knowledge wealth, then yes it is valid. Education could be considered a racket, both knowledge wise and monetarily.

Regardless, the question of why has yet to be answered ... it's as if we don't even want to discuss it?