| Attention Deficit Disorder. What is it? How is it | | | | to worksheet and textbook-based teaching. No adult |
| affecting our children and our schools? Attention Deficit | | | | would want to be a part of that class. Children are |
| Disorder is a syndrome that usually begins during one's | | | | naturally more energetic and into exploring this vast |
| childhood and persists throughout one's life. It is | | | | world and we are not allowing them the opportunities |
| characterized as a syndrome resulting in hyperactivity, | | | | at school or at home to utilize the energy they have |
| shortened attention spans and being impulsive in | | | | been blessed with. |
| different areas of life. Attention Deficit Disorder has | | | | Much of this lack of interest is due to the media today. |
| been, sadly, treated as an excuse for many of the | | | | Most children in this culture, spend well over a fourth of |
| culture's social and education problems and is costing | | | | their existence in front of a television, movie screen, |
| many students their health and their own personalities. | | | | computer, or video game. No wonder we can't keep |
| Attention Deficit Disorder has been overly diagnosed in | | | | them entertained for very long. They are so used to |
| the children of the United States. A large percentage | | | | the fast paced culture in which we live, they have |
| of children go to the nurse's office after lunch in order | | | | been programmed to not be interested long. Isn't that |
| to take their pill; the pill that will help them perform | | | | what the media is all about? Moving on to the next |
| better and sit still. One area that this overmedicating is | | | | thing, the "better" thing? This is not being properly dealt |
| trying to cover up is the lack of activities that stimulate | | | | with, due to the society blaming Attention Deficit |
| the children of this culture in schools. The incredible rate | | | | Disorder. |
| at which this culture receives information, especially our | | | | Finally, parental involvement and what goes on in the |
| children, is astounding and difficult to compete with in | | | | home is what is critical when it comes to the |
| order to keep the children involved in learning and | | | | temperament and attention span of a child. Many |
| conversation. Finally, the lack of parental involvement | | | | children in this nation do not have the time with their |
| and support is another issue that is not being dealt with | | | | families that they need in order to learn what it looks |
| as severely as it should be, due to the overmedicating | | | | like to behave rightly or to have an attention span |
| of today's children. | | | | longer than a few minutes, because their parents act |
| Everywhere you look, one can see beautiful new | | | | no different than their children. "Attention Deficit is to |
| school buildings going up with highly medicated children | | | | blame we say." |
| and very little learning going on inside. Teachers have | | | | Something must be done in the areas just discussed. |
| reached their final rope when it comes to figuring out | | | | Attention Deficit Disorder is not to blame. We are |
| how to reach the children they teach. Hands on | | | | overmedicating and under educating our youth, using |
| activities aren't fast paced enough. Games are too | | | | Attention Deficit as an excuse. While there may be a |
| boring and books are a thing of the past for many | | | | small number of individuals whom the medication does |
| children in the schools today. Many teachers aren't | | | | help, many children are losing their identities to a small |
| even trying new approaches, but giving up and going | | | | pill each day. |