Thom, If you haven't already, I recommend a book that examines this topic from your perspective titled "Bad Therapy, Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up" by Abigail Shrier.
When you put an intelligent, sensitive child in a setting that resembles a penal institution more than a place of learning, they probably won't fit in when they are not compliant with mind-numbing exercises and forced conformity. To get the child into an individual educational program, it may be necessary to accept a diagnosis of some disorder, such as ADHD. This country has the resources to educate all children to their potential. Still, it would necessitate raising taxes on the wealthy, and the elites would feel threatened with a large population of educated persons who can think critically. Getting the oligarchs on board with such a program to improve the educational system would be challenging.
There have been numerous villains in my life. My ADHD was accompanied by some giftedness. This caused insecurity in others in the workplace that caused many to attack me. Early in my life, and possibly symptomatic of ADHD, I did not realize it and often fell victim professionally.
“. . . as adults, failed and blamed their failures on their past, on others, or on themselves.”
Failure has been a cornerstone of my long life. There were my own insecurities, brought about by negative attitudes others displayed due to my differences. My upbringing was “normal,” but birth order may have had an effect. I was fourth of five boys and was often told I would be a failure by the “alphas.”
“And yet, research shows clearly that it’s often these very life-pains and neurological differences themselves which can be a source of strength when reframed and viewed in a positive light.”
I never viewed myself as damage goods from childhood, just as a “weirdo” as an adult. I don’t see ADHD as a badge of honor. Rather something to be understood. Now retired I mine my ADHD experience to tell stories.
“But there are also shameless self-promoters with [overpriced] books and videotapes,”
Advertising and media had less to do with my mental state than did my treatment in school and in the workplace by those who bullied me for my being different/gifted. One of my strengths is a lifelong skepticism of these things. I pride myself in seeing through the bullshit in much of media. This really solidified in my late thirties when I discovered Pacifica Radio, where I discovered people like Amy Goodman and Thom Hartmann.
“And so the ADHD movement grows, more are swept into it, and pretty soon the backlash comes with people calling ADHD a myth, a made-up category, and a non-disease.”
I will assign blame on a school district that dismissed my talents because of my challenges that they were either ill equipped, or disinterested, in addressing. Others, including some educators, have been a big, deliberate, detriment to my success. In regards to Oswain Gierth-“spectrum of human behavior” there has been a recent movement toward adults considering that they may have been undiagnosed Autistic. Am I autistic?
“half the population has ADHD”
I am of the “everyone has ADHD and Autism” school. In retirement I decided to read On the Origin of Species. It was an eye opener. Darwin’s central argument appears to center around variation. We are all different, yet in many ways are also alike. Whatever is in one of us, is potentially in all of us. I have much of the social awkwardness associated with Autism, but have effectively “masked” my entire life as “normal,” albeit with mixed success.
Thom, If you haven't already, I recommend a book that examines this topic from your perspective titled "Bad Therapy, Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up" by Abigail Shrier.
When you put an intelligent, sensitive child in a setting that resembles a penal institution more than a place of learning, they probably won't fit in when they are not compliant with mind-numbing exercises and forced conformity. To get the child into an individual educational program, it may be necessary to accept a diagnosis of some disorder, such as ADHD. This country has the resources to educate all children to their potential. Still, it would necessitate raising taxes on the wealthy, and the elites would feel threatened with a large population of educated persons who can think critically. Getting the oligarchs on board with such a program to improve the educational system would be challenging.
There have been numerous villains in my life. My ADHD was accompanied by some giftedness. This caused insecurity in others in the workplace that caused many to attack me. Early in my life, and possibly symptomatic of ADHD, I did not realize it and often fell victim professionally.
“. . . as adults, failed and blamed their failures on their past, on others, or on themselves.”
Failure has been a cornerstone of my long life. There were my own insecurities, brought about by negative attitudes others displayed due to my differences. My upbringing was “normal,” but birth order may have had an effect. I was fourth of five boys and was often told I would be a failure by the “alphas.”
“And yet, research shows clearly that it’s often these very life-pains and neurological differences themselves which can be a source of strength when reframed and viewed in a positive light.”
I never viewed myself as damage goods from childhood, just as a “weirdo” as an adult. I don’t see ADHD as a badge of honor. Rather something to be understood. Now retired I mine my ADHD experience to tell stories.
“But there are also shameless self-promoters with [overpriced] books and videotapes,”
Advertising and media had less to do with my mental state than did my treatment in school and in the workplace by those who bullied me for my being different/gifted. One of my strengths is a lifelong skepticism of these things. I pride myself in seeing through the bullshit in much of media. This really solidified in my late thirties when I discovered Pacifica Radio, where I discovered people like Amy Goodman and Thom Hartmann.
“And so the ADHD movement grows, more are swept into it, and pretty soon the backlash comes with people calling ADHD a myth, a made-up category, and a non-disease.”
I will assign blame on a school district that dismissed my talents because of my challenges that they were either ill equipped, or disinterested, in addressing. Others, including some educators, have been a big, deliberate, detriment to my success. In regards to Oswain Gierth-“spectrum of human behavior” there has been a recent movement toward adults considering that they may have been undiagnosed Autistic. Am I autistic?
“half the population has ADHD”
I am of the “everyone has ADHD and Autism” school. In retirement I decided to read On the Origin of Species. It was an eye opener. Darwin’s central argument appears to center around variation. We are all different, yet in many ways are also alike. Whatever is in one of us, is potentially in all of us. I have much of the social awkwardness associated with Autism, but have effectively “masked” my entire life as “normal,” albeit with mixed success.