In a culture that thrives on defining and categorizing people, education experts warn that labeling students can do more harm than good. Malcolm Gauld, President of Hyde Schools (prep schools in Maine and Connecticut and public schools in Washington D.C. and New York), said he encourages creating a character culture, rather than a performance-based one.

"In a character culture, achievement is valued, but principles are valued more," Gauld said in an article on the website of Minnesota's Review Messenger. "That is, what you stand for is more important than merely how you stack up against the others."

"Labels and categories register deeply in our children, and they can be difficult to overcome," Gauld said. "And it doesn't end in early childhood. Later, children will likely face additional labeling due to the peer pressure of cliques, and perhaps the name-calling of bullies. And then there is the educational system itself."

Parents of children with ADHD have personal experience with both the benefits and dangers of labeling students whose issues can significantly impact their educational progress.

The good news is that programs such as Stone Mountain School (a residential school for boys with behavior problems) provide highly effective educational experiences for children with ADHD, learning disabilities, and other disorders.

Labels: schools, Attention_Deficit_Hyperactivity_Disorder

Posted By: Aspen/CRC