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October 1997 | |
GOSPEL MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL | ||
Another Enlightening Point From The National Right To Read Foundation |
As a pediatric neurologist, I have taken special notice of the number of children who are labeled 'learning disabled' or are placed in special education. In most cases an inability to read is the root of the problem. Teachers tell the parents that a brain abnormality, 'dyslexia', is the cause of their child's reading inability. Dyslexia is a four dollar word, concocted from the Greek dys, meaning ill or bad, and lexia, meaning words. It is a term used to describe a condition that now experts tell us afflicts many of our nation's children. At least 8 percent of school aged children in the U. S. are said to be dyslexic.No Confirmation
Dyslexia, we are told, is a glitch in the language parts of the brain, not manifest until the child fails to gain literacy in the early grades of school.
What parents and teachers are usually not told, however, is that over sixty years of research have failed to confirm that a defect of any sort exists in the brain of a child who has been labeled dyslexic. Sadly, maintaining this condition to be fact is doing incledible damage to these individuals and to the country.
'What About The Science?'
In a report featured in the Scientific American (1987, 256:3441), F.R. Vellutino concluded that, there are no well defined reading behaviors that can clearly distinguish a dyslexic from other poor readers whose difficulties stem, for example, from limitations in experience; nor are there distinguishing clinical patterns."
Soon thereafter, the council of Affairs of the American Medical association (JAMA 1989;261:2235) similarly concluded that "consensus has yet to be reached on a practical operational definition of the disorder and while an organic etiology is often presumed, clear identification is not yet been made."
Making Matters Worse Perhaps as an alternative to the current public policy of identifying dyslexia in pre school kindergarten and early elementary school we should examine how children are taught to read. For example, One year after dropping phonics, and going to a whole language reading program, the San Diego Unified School District saw an alarming drop in reading scores. As described in the San Diego Union (1/25/92), "In 1990, 51% of the students scored above the national media; in 1991, only 25% did so."
Are we to assume that something happened in San Diego to suddenly cause these children to suddenly become sick with dyslexia? Most assuredly not. Has it occurred to anyone that something may be wrong with the whole language reading methodology? To be sure, labeling someone as a dyslexic is very convenient. Labeling the child simply absolves the teacher and or school of any responsibility. The victim, not the reading methodology Is blamed.
Special Ed To The Rescue
Psychiatrists have been urged to cultivate partnerships with schools. To be sure, teachers are being introduced to the ways of diagnosing and labeling.
As a result, the role of special education has been burgeoned from 2 pa cent of ail public school children in 1975 to over 20 percent in those school districts especially adept and zealous. In addition, myriad pseudo scientific tests and therapies now comprise a multi-million (if not billion dollar) industry.
A Few Recommendations You should know that the disease being diagnosed as dyslexia has never been confirmed and that no test of proven validity exists.
Further, parents should demand that all practice which cannot be validated by scientific study be stopped. It is time for the "Whole Language" methodology so widely believed in and stridently practiced to scientifically authored studies comparing it to phonics-based programs. This must start now, before another person is blamed or harmed.
Fred Baughman, MD. is a pediatric Neurologist in La Mesa, California and has practiced medicine, for over 2S years. Dr. Baughman has published many articles on issues affecting children. He also serves as a medical advisor to the National Right To Read Foundation
IS THE ENEMY ANGRY WITH YOU? - ARE YOU GETTING SOMEWHERE WITH GOD?
If the answer to the above questions is YES, say hallelujah! Rejoice, for your steps are ordered of God.
Is your faith being tested? Remember, He rewards the faithful, and He will never allow you to be tested more than you can bear.
That in itself is a tremendous consolation. You may be able to stand more trials than you are going mrough right now. Let God have His perfect work in you. If you do, you cannot lose.
His promises to those who believe are yea and amen. God said what He meant, and He meant what He said.
God's Word says, Resist the devil and he shall flee." That is a command of God with a promise of victory
Resist the devil stedfast in the faith, in the mighty Name of Jesus. The devil and his demons cannot stand in the Name of Jesus. They have to flee. They can not stand the blood of Christ either.
Plead the blood of Christ over the door of your mind. your heart, your soul, your family, your children, your
You see the devil is really angry with God. The only way he can get back at God is by trying to take God's children away from Him. We are made in the image and Ilikeness of God and for His pleasure. Praise God
I'm certain God gets great pleasure over giving His children, who trust in Him, victory, and power over the devil. It's the Father's good plessune to give us the kingdom.
The devil is a liar, a deceiver, a murderer, a thief, a destroyer of all that is good and righteou s. nrJrtoous Thank God we have the Lord, the Almighty, the Savior.
