The name of this blog is "All Kinds of Minds".  I took this title from a Ted Talk by Temple Grandin where she discussed the different ways of knowing and ends with the statement, The World Needs All Kinds of Minds.  This is even more true today than ever before. Yet schools focus on one type of learning which looks like achievement on tests and prescribed written assignments.  This achievement focus is mostly oriented towards tasks requring executive function, linear problem solving, memorization/regurgitation of facts, and standard analytic thinking.  What we do not regard as important are the arts, creativity and intuitive knowing. These are the skill(ability)-sets of the future.

The arts are a tool for developing higher cogntive abilities related to mental sensitivities.  How do creative people come up with ideas?  They meditate and contemplate possibilities.  These ideas seem to come often from divine inspiration.

We are not going to solve todays problems with yesterdays solutions.  Creativity needs to be upgraded from, a fun thing for artists and outsiders, to a central cognitive capacity that we must develop to its maximum potential in all of our students.

If you know anything about me you already know my answer.  No.
And yes, there are no exceptions.  
Adderall is amphetamine.  Full Stop.  Would you say it was safe to give your child amphetamines?

How have we gotten to the point where drugging our kids in order for them to learn seems like an appropriate solution?  When did schools start recommending kids be put on psychiatric drugs?  Teachers are not trained in neuropharmacology.  They have absolutely no idea what they are talking about.  I know because I am trained in neuropharmacology and moved into education to stop the insanity of drugging our kids.

I have been out of the public school scene since Covid, and for some reason I had convinced myself that the use of medications, especially the amphetamines, had declined.  So I was very upset when I talked with a friend who said everyone in her child's class is on medication. *loud exaperated cry, " Why!?"

Learning is naturally motivating.  Our entire nervous system is designed to seek out understanding.  Our dopamine "reward-center" is actually the foundational network for learning (see the work of Wolfram Schultz).  The same dopamine reward center that is being artificially stimulated through amphetamines.

If you are a parent, let me give you a serious warning before putting your child on amphetamines, or any other psychotropic medication.  First, the brain is still developing in childhood.  Any neurotropic medication will necessarily alter the natural development of these systems.  Second, the neurotransmitter systems in the brain, like dopamine or serotonin, on which these medications act, are magnificient biological wonders, designed to provide the exactly right neural architecture for the individual ideal.  Flooding the system with exogenous (external) substances will alter this delicate developmental process.  Third, for those of us who are old enough to remember, there was a lot of information on the way in which cigarettes stunt your growth.  Well, that has to do with the simulant properties of nicotine, and the same is true for amphatamines.  Amphetamines will stunt your physical growth, not just your height, but research has shown that heart and lung size are smaller in those children given amphetamines.  

Finally, amphatamines do not cure lack of motivation, they do not cure attention issues, they do not leave you with a better ability to direct y our life.  It is just the opposite.  Once you stop taking adderall, your attention system takes months and some times years to recover from the damage.  The nervous system is so damaged that often children start developing symtoms of Childhood Bipolar.  This did not even exist as a diagnostic until the start of the ADHD movement back in the 2000s.  In addition, there is a higher incidence of Oppositional Defiant Disorder in children who have taken amphetamines, than in those who had the same attention profiles, but were never given medications. 

Instead of taking the time to help a child naturally develop their attention networks, which are foundationally connected to the somatosensorimotor system (i.e. move around in space not just sit at the computer or in a desk), we have damaged the natural development, causing all sorts of other issues.  We have seriously depeleted the natural dopaminergic drive that is associated with intrinsic motivation, curiosity, and genuine learning.  Shame, shame, shame.

If your child has been taking these medications, stop them now.  Be patient as their nervous system heals itself.  Healing is possible.  Getting out in nature.  Finding hobbies and natural interests.  Taking a break from any manditory task, but allowing natural play.   Oh yeah, and taking a break from screens. 

It may not be easy at first, but the effort will pay off with a healthy, happy, creative, and intelligent child.

I just stopped by the shop Generationz where I first met Jasper.  He is a highly bright and energetic kid exuding  joy and creativity.  My favorite kind of student.  

When I first met Jasper he introduced himself and told me his birthday was coming up.  He then told me a few facts about his life and showed me his toy spiders.  He was enthusiastic, engaged and curious.  So many of the Highly Creative kids I have worked with have this energy, and yet traditional schooling tends to squash it.  By the end of elementary school, and at times even before, these energetic kids are sullen, withdrawn and distant. Often they are forced onto medication by the schools themselves, leading to unspeakable long-term issues. I have shared that I left the field of neuropharmacology to get into educational leadership just for this reason.  It hasn't gotten any better, in fact, after what I learned today, I believe it is getting worse.

By the time many of these kids get to Highschool, or even Jr, High, they believe they are dumb and bad.  They have been punished for not doing the work, or not paying attention, or speaking out of turn, or moving when they were supposed to be still.  They have been labelled as unteachable, and dull.  Not only did I see this in the students I worked with, but I experienced it first hand.

By the time I was in 4th grade, and to be honest, way before, I thought I was dumb.  I did not learn like the others, I was socially awkward and anxious.  I would have failed out, but my test scores were good.  Finally one good thing about the testing (not that it's worth the trade-off).

So, when Jasper's parents told me they had to go to court to be able to homeschool their own child, I decided to help.  I said if they didn't think you were qualified to teach him, then they certainly wouldn't have a problem with me teaching him and giving you support in the process.  I mean, I have developed a curriculum designed for the non-traditional learner.  Everything I have made is for kids like Jasper to love to learn, know who they are and build foundational learning skills.

So we started working together.  Jasper learned quickly and easily.  Every self-selected lesson was followed by his moving around the room, climbing the rock-climbing wall, and playing the piano or discovering some other amazing item in the Art Garage.

This is what I love.  Learning in Motion!

I wrote a letter explaining that I would be supporting his learning and gave it to them to take to court.  That was Friday, and now, Monday, I went to check on them and see how court went.  

"What a disgrace!"

The court basically threatened to take Jasper away from his parents if they did not enroll Jasper in public education immediately.  They were forced to admit they were wrong for taking him out of school, and to state that they couldn't manage his education.  I am so disgusted with what they told me.  

This is total government over-reach.  I had no idea it was this bad.

The one good thing is that it has fully energized me to dive more deeply into homeschool support.  My signs are printed, and I am ready to go.  I have completed my self-directed learning workbook.  All I need now are some frustrated parents and creative kids.  We definitely need some lawyers on our team!