It never ceases to amaze me the self righteousness and smugness of some of these people and no, I'm not pointing fingers at any specific one here.
It becomes really tedious to be accused of lying when I am telling it exactly as it is. I'm sure the inner city teacher trying to teach gang bangers or kids from that kind of environment has an entirely different experience than I have had, but that doesn't mean my experience isn't real or just as valid. I'm sure the person dealing with the mentally challenged has a much different experience than I have had dealing with kids from the average American neighborhood these days. What will be most important to that person will likely be somewhat different than for someone like me.
I was working with a group of young boys once--mostly eighth and ninth graders--and was horrified to find that nine of the eleven were on Ritalin. They all hated taking in and dreaded when the time came they would have to take it. I'm sure when I was in school, when my kids were in school, ADHD existed, but we were blissfully unaware of it. Based on my deportment scores, I was probably one of them.
But when did it become popular to drug kids into submission instead of helping them conduct themselves in acceptable manner? It it really necessary? I am unaware of any of my classmates who were. I am unaware of any of my children's classmates who were. Or is this a whole new thing that kids (and teachers) never had to deal with before?
Meanwhile, I would like for there to be more appreciation for how not all of us are having the same experience even though we are doing much of the same things.
