calm down,
chill out,
take a pill, you spaz
medicate it away
become a shadow
a living zombie
drown your true self
become a model student
make your teachers happy
eat less, learn more
thrive in academia
stop disrupting classrooms
sit down and shut up
open your books to page 78
she never laughs anymore
but at least she’s learning
Brenda Warren 2012
It is Day 24 of NaPoWriMo, and I’m feeling like I have that “deer in the headlights” look.
There is this student, whose mother refuses to medicate him for ADHD{Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder}. He is a delightful handful with an inventive mind. I applaud her for her decision, and do my best to help her child learn. Mostly, I enjoy him; his energy is palpable. He is bright enough to learn on his own in bits and pieces, and in our classroom, he excels.
There are other students, who fit the description in my piece for today. That saddens me. Many educators prefer the easy to manage zombie to the pure but unmanageable spirit of some students. It is a shame. And, I must admit, there are some students whom I would prefer as zombies. I truly believe that medicating changes them on a profound level. There are teachers who would like to see the boy in my first paragraph medicated. Big mistake for him. Once more, I applaud his mother for her choice.
A big thank you to We Write Poems for the posting space this month. You guys rock!
Feel free to express opinions here. This could be a hot topic. Though I doubt I’ll have many hits this time of April. LOL
undercaws 
I recently learned of a student of mine, who is on meds. I still however do not know what he has, but he is completely disruptive in class. I have had a difficult time with him. Sometimes, I don’t know, if I am coming or going with him. As Mary said, it is a double-edged sword. This boy is quite bright and works well, and then he just seems to go off into another world.
Pamela
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Brava Brenda – I have a friend (also a teacher) who feels as you do that in most cases the child benefits by remaining unmedicated and being taught in a method that works best for he/she individually … however, in a “bottom-line” society, as Viv says, so often it comes down to how it affects the rest of the students and often there doesn’t seem to be a workable “blend” with the money available (of course, the money available is the crux … there should be much more money available)
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He’s lucky to have you as teacher. I can’t say from a medical point of view. I do remember being in kindy class with my boy and there was a child with ADHD who was moving all around the classroom and thinking how tough it must be for the mother.
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I suppose it depends on whether others around him are prevented from learning – the invidious choice of the greater good of the greater number. But neither choice can possiby be perfect,
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I understand, Brenda, having taught…and also having a young person near and dear that I wonder about. Meds are a double-edged sword.
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