Are Public Schools Good Enough For Our Kids?

In article toto writes:

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Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:53:51 GMT
Xref: news.arizona.edu k12.chat.teacher:27317 misc.education:35816 alt.education:121415 misc.kids:104735

On Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:28:08 -0600, "jingojones"
wrote:

As far as I know, Herman, autism wasn't around when I went through K12. I
know that learning disabled included such things as down's and such. I also
know that it seemed that most in my classes were capable of producing
passing work. There were certainly no students that would be considered
"mainstreamed."

Autistic children were classified as mentally retarded and
institutionalized back when you were in school.

Autism has been around for a long time. Just because you didn't see
it, does not mean it did not exist.

Plus, there seems to be a certain malady de jour quality to the
sharp rise in diagnoses of autism. No doubt there's a much
wider recognition of the condition than existed decades ago,
but there's always the risk of becoming a bit faddish, like TMJ or
chronic fatigue syndrome did in the 80s and 90s.

-- cary



--
Dorothy

There is no sound, no cry in all the world
that can be heard unless someone listens ..

The Outer Limits

On Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:04:23 +0000 (UTC),
(Cary Kittrell) wrote:

Plus, there seems to be a certain malady de jour quality to the
sharp rise in diagnoses of autism. No doubt there's a much
wider recognition of the condition than existed decades ago,
but there's always the risk of becoming a bit faddish, like TMJ or
chronic fatigue syndrome did in the 80s and 90s.

Imo, the rise in the diagnosis is simply due to the fact that we have
a better idea of how to diagnose austism now than we did. The rise in
the diagnosis has been complemented by a decrease in diagnoses of
mental retardation. There has also been a broadening of the
criteria. Asperger's syndrome was not diagnosed before the 70s.

I don't see chronic fatique syndrome or TMJ as faddish either. These
are very real conditions.

From the cdc:
A variety of studies by CDC and others have shown that between 1 and 4
million Americans suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). They are
seriously impaired, at least a quarter are unemployed or on disability
because of CFS. Yet, only about half have consulted a physician for
their illness. The earlier a person with CFS receives medical
treatment the greater the likelihood that the illness will resolve.
Equally important, about 40% of people in the general population who
report symptoms of CFS have a serious, treatable, previously
unrecognized medical or psychiatric condition (such as diabetes,
thyroid disease, substance abuse). CFS is a serious illness and poses
a dilemma for patients, their families, and health care providers.
This web site aims to provide evidence-based information concerning
the illness, its manifestations, and treatment.

TMJ is less well understood but the symptoms are still real.


--
Dorothy

There is no sound, no cry in all the world
that can be heard unless someone listens ..

The Outer Limits