ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

I recently interviewed my 77 year old cousin in an attempt to preserve family history in danger of being lost. He attended a one room school where first through eighth grades were taught by one teacher. He talked about the benefit of hearing lessons presented to the older students and thought the multiage classroom was valuable for learning. I would add that it probably also promoted self discipline because students had to work independently when other age groups were engage with the teacher.

I think people (teachers, doctors, etc...) need to look at the whole child in each situation. The current education system doesn't fit many children - possibly a strong reason that homeschooling is gaining momentum. We homeschool, try to keep a slower pace, don't watch TV, and limit any screen time for our children. Yet, our 6 year old has symptoms of ADHD. He may or may not actually have ADHD - the symptoms overlap with other possible issues. We will NOT medicate him! We have actually found out that he needs glasses and vision therapy (again, the symptoms overlap). Since we homeschool, we can provide the best environment for him without drugs! And our learning is ACTIVE - we don't sit with paper and pencil all day!
Also, if the government could see the benefits to the structure and philosophy of the Waldorf schools, our children would have a better chance for success in their world!

Fantastic article! The assumption that children need to be medicated for any obscure behavioral momentum is absurd. Our society has created a fast living world holding back creativity. This results in utter confusion. We need to approach each child as one. One alone and just as special. Allow this individual's creativity flourish and live. Live without the bonds of medication and their side effects. Thank you for such an impressive, well thought article. Very refreshing.

In an article published in QWeekend on January 15, 2011 there is an indepth interview and story about "The Remarkable Mr. Rush". ' Rush describes his boyhood self as the "skinny little boy by the water's edge", a late bloomer in love with the planets.....When his friends were in love with West Indian cricketers he was in love with Copernicus and Tycho Brahe.......
"I was a very late player. I used to play under the house with friends five years my junior, really. A sense of play existed well into my mid years of high school. And then I got caught up in the school drama club and there was another outlet of play on a different level."


Imagine what would have happened to Geoffrey Rush if he had been forced to do other than "play". We might now not have the wonderful actor that he has turned out to be. What if someone had told him that he should not associate with younger children.....

We should take from this article that every child in an individual, with strengths and possiblities beyond comprehension. Educators only have to encourage children to be themselves.

Finally I heard something that it is meaningful and make sense. However, I am convinced that there are real ADD & ADHD "patients" who really need other alternatives such as drugs. But most of the "patients", in this case children are misdiagnose and treated for being responsive to all the information sent to them at the same time. So, the question is: How are we going to address the Change?
Our system trends to stay the same as 30 years ago. How come? We want humankind stay the same, but in the contrary we continiuosly keep evolving and developing. Which will be your role in the line of CHANGE?
Think!