The play reflects what I feel about ADD and Ritalin: "nice and quiet" students are always more attractive to conservative teachers, but no child should have their mind altered to suit their teacher's preference. There have been countless debates over this issue, and there are solid arguments for both sides. I believe, in the most rare and severe cases, when they can barely function without it, Ritalin could be given to children, and they could really find more success than without it. On the other hand, for children who are labeled with ADD with minor symptoms, Ritalin feels like a drug-version of lobotomy, such is the case in the play, "Distracted."
Our society values obeyers who are quiet, and do what they're told, as opposed to trouble makers who question everything. But from my experience, the U.S. is far more advanced in helping trouble makers succeed, compared to other countries like Taiwan, where I graduated from elementary school. The American education encourages questions and raised hands, much more than Taiwanese schools. And this has allowed many innovators and original thinkers to thrive - I can't imagine Thomas Edison growing up in Taiwan, he probably would have been stuck in special ed for all of his childhood. This is not to say that American education can't be improved.
Ritalin is a drug pushed by the drug industry. They don't care about needlessly drugging our children, as long as they make profits.
http://theater.nytimes.com/2009/03/05/theater/reviews/05dist.html
While in U.S.A. students are encouraged to participate more in class and have opinions there are always exceptions to that. Most students try accommodate themselves to fit what their teacher like, to please them in the hopes of receiving a higher grade. The teachers that I have learned the most from are those that value different input, different opinions than their own.
ReplyDeleteI really like your Thomas Edison example because it's really true. In Asia, we can't move up in grade if we can't pass the end-of-the-year final whereas in the U.S. the school system is more supportive and lenient towards students.
ReplyDelete"No child should have their mind altered to suit their teacher's preference." I agree with you. Everyone has different personality. So, everyone should not be expected to behave the same. That's boring!
ReplyDeleteI also like your Thomas Edison example. I really like U.S. for expecting helping trouble-makers.
-Tanisha