I'd like to see some real reforms in the U.S education system. Too often, teachers and administrators dismiss kids who are ADD or ADDHD and the kids don't get the understanding or support they need to succeed.
If you were in charge of the schools, what would you like to see?

I just got done reading a book “Beyond Ritalin” that has shed a lot of light on dealing with my own ADHD management. I think in principle it addresses the changes needed in US schools to more effectively help ADHD students.

The book made these points that my own experience has validated.

Medication does not teach reflective thinking.
Medication does not teach how to control where to focus attention.
Medication does not increase motivation to control behavior.
Medication does not teach ADHD individuals how to control anger.

And, if I may add to the list ...

Does not teach organization, social or problem solving skills.

So what are the meds good for?

1. Leveling the playing field when used properly
2. Control behavior when used improperly.

Let me dispel a myth. It is NOT true that stimulants do NOT have a calming effect on people that do NOT have ADHD. That is bull crap! They can and do calm everyone IF the dosage is high enough. Tell you how I know. Child of the sixties. Either one of two possibilities. Either all of us at the parties were ADHD or very high doses of methamphetamine calms everyone whether ADHD or not. I saw it. All 30, 40, 50 of us in the house of whose parents were not home got calmer after massive doses of methamphetamine. You choose which is more likely.

So, lets do a little extrapolating. The kid can't sit still, can't focus, disrupts the class. What happens when we dope him with speed? He gets calmer, less disruptive, and everyone is happy because now his "ADHD" is under control. What is more Ritalin is cheap.

But what if the kid's parents aren't parenting, what if the kid is suffering from some other disorder? Then the pill is NOT the answer. But what if the kid really is ADHD? Then, the pill alone is still NOT the answer because of all the aforementioned reasons. Now we got something on our hands that really comes with a high price. Parents need to parent. Schools need special arrangements and teachers need to work harder at an already hard job.

So what would I do if I were the administrator of all US schools? Pay the price. Because, just so happens, I was one of those students pushed off to the side. I do not want to see that ever happen to anyone again. Like the billboard says, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."

I am not against ADHD meds. Nor am I in any way suggesting that all parents of ADHD parents are negligent. From what I can see, the parents that post on this board would give their very lives to save their children from the scourge of ADHD. And, I happen to know, that many schools and teachers go all out to help ADHD students. What I am against is promiscuously throwing euphoriants at everything that even remotely looks like ADHD. It seriously hurts those that need the meds because it undermines the credibility of their efficacy.

addprogrammer

In a nutshell: more "hands-on" learning. ADD children often CAN'T learn from the usual lecture/worksheet method of teaching. All children learn better when multi-modal teaching methods are used.

My son has ADHD he is 13 and I am having problems at school with him....I desperately need help.... I don't know what to do. He takes Concerta Xl 36mg,sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't...where can I go from here. I have had no parenting classes on bringing up a child with ADHD and I am trying evry which way I can to keep him from being disruptive and on top of his homeowrk, any suggestions.

'Driven To Distraction' is another good book. I believe that you are right on target in regards to the education system. However, I have good news when it comes to your child entering college. They have programs such as the Office of Disability Accomodation (wording varies from college to college). With the proper documentation, they can place your child in a distraction-reduced environment, and even give them extended test time (1.5x normal time). That helped me out TREMENDOUSLY when I began at UNT back in 2003. A year prior, I was diagnosed with ADD. Taking tests in high school was difficult, with dozens of other kids in the classroom. Understandably, no one can take a test without making a little bit of noise (scribbling, erasing, fidgiting, tapping, etc), so multiply that times 25...and it's easy to see how a child with ADD can have difficulty concentrating.

Your child is already 13. How you handle him is dependent on what has already been done for him, or to him.
- How is he treated in school? Is he respected, feared, or ridiculed, or judged as a bad child.
- How does he feel about himself; is he aware that 'he' is not the problem and that 'he' can learn skills to deal with his ADHD attributes?
- Does he feel valued as a person, as a child?
- Does he have any friends? Who does he gravitate towards?
- Does he have a positive social environments?
Each has to be explored before one can judge what you can do to help him help himself, and offer as much support as possible.