It's All About Perception

Today I'm feeling curious, motivated and relaxed.
Today, I will read more about how medication affects the brain.

Hi Followers and Fellow Bloggers!

I finished reading Attention Deficit Disorder: A Different Perception by Thom Hartmann on Monday and reread it yesterday, taking a few notes. It's truly a different perspective on ADD/ADHD and I quite liked how Mr. Hartmann presented the information.  Although a bit wishy-washy on his stance with the medication, I think that he made great points in the 'For/Against' arguments for medicating.

The thing I liked best about the book was the reiteration that the ADD/ADHD traits are part of our children's personality! Like, their sense of humor or the color of the hair.  It's not a disorder, disability, and that there is nothing wrong with them.  They just don't fit into society's perceived models of 'normal'.  They are their own normal and there are so many others like them.

For example, he uses the comparison of a Hunter for children with ADD/ADHD and a Farmer for children without.  Hunters had to always be aware of their surroundings when looking for food. They had to know when danger was coming and adapt quickly to changes to be successful in the kill.  Modern day ADD/ADHD children exhibit these same traits! They are easily 'distracted', switch quickly from one activity to another, and have a hard time sitting still.  Farmers rose at sunrise, at breakfast, planted food, watched it grow, harvested and prepared.  Modern day Farmer children are very still in their seats for long periods of time, can focus on just one task at a time and often unable to multi task well, and enjoy the 'sameness' of their daily routines. 

He went into great lengths about how our modern school systems are quick to point out the 'disability' of Hunters, even though they just have characteristics that differ from Farmer types.  A very interesting thing I read and wholly agreed with was the way a Gifted program is handled. Hunters need to be constantly on the move, exploring, sensing and touching. They need to be able to handle the lesson and explore it. They are bright, inquisitive and often quite 'gifted' and intelligent.  These same traits keep them from excelling in the classroom because sitting, listening, and looking are so boring for them!  In order to qualify for most district Gifted programs, you have to have awesome grades. Just think about it: what if we adjusted this model and created classrooms for Hunters and classrooms for Farmers, where could really excel? The instance of modification plans (IEP's and 504's) would be cut dramatically. The thought was so provoking and I think it would be so awesome if we could get away from "ancient" school models of "Sit, Stay, Listen" and gear it towards "Look, Learn, Do."

Very interesting reading! Get a copy if you can and get ready to have a new perspective!
Leo