MISUSE OF DRUG WAS PAGE ONE NEWS

The Sept. 15 article on the misuse of Ritalin, "Court gets debate over
Ritalin use," should have been on the front page to draw attention to
the horrendous problem that is affecting society and especially the
public schools.

I've been a special education teacher for more than 20 years and
firmly believe that attention deficit hyperactive disorder is a "novel
medical diagnosis" tailored for the spoiled American child. ADHD will
give parents a medical reason for having a child who was raised as an
undisciplined, spoiled brat. They can then blame a hazy medical
diagnosis as the reason for their child's shortcomings.

As a teacher of handicapped high school students, I realized long ago
that if a child has the proper attitude and self-discipline, that child
can learn to his or her maximum capacity - without drugs.