text: In my opinion, do what you have to do to adapt. \n\nPlenty of people in years past got through and did so without excuses. I have ADHD, and a craptastic memory. But I have relied on compensatory devices, mnemonics, tape recorders, associations (e.g. neighbor named savannah, I think of girl-scout cookies), etc.\n\nSo I use technology, ranging from my PDA to the old fashioned notebook to keep up with everything. I have a heavy load atm in the nursing program...8-10 chapters every couple of weeks, with skills labs, care plans, hospital rotations, yada yada yada. \n\nAnd hey, I've always had to go through information two the three times longer than your average student but I'm keeping up with this very heavy courseload. \n\nThing is, you just have to adapt to the situation and get your responsibilities taken care of. Few people in life have everything laid out for them, the rest of us have to keep up and work on our weaknesses where we can.\n\nFailure is the price of laziness, and not being prepared. \n\nToo many people want to look for an excuse to explain away their shortcomings. Or better yet, want to cast blame. But like ya said, the teachers can only do so much. Problem is that this society has begun to frown on recognizing greatness, frowns on the use of red pens because they are too "negative," frowns on creating standards that separate the hard working from those who don't add up.\n\nThen the problem is exacerbated when you consider there are so many parents out there that have no damn business being parents. Or the politicians more concerned with garnering votes that keeping the bar raised to an internationally competitive level.\n\nHell I could go on and on. Basically, it's the fault of the republicans, the democrats, the parents, the kids, the teachers, society in general, the pharmacological ass-kissers, my dog sam, and a bunch of other pricks I'm probably not even thinking about atm. \n\nI really could go on and on all day...but basically the moral of this is that the school should do nothing. The schools are there just to provide a foundation. It is the responsibility of society as a whole to make sure that students are prepared, that they have the resources available to them, and that everyone doesn't come out a freaking moron who isn't prepared for life.\n\nThe main problem with medications is that they only treat the symptoms, not the underlying problems. In many cases this is the only option, but hey consider all the kids you know on ADD drugs...hyperactive, failure to concentrate, poor social skills...that is EVERY child I have EVER freaking known! Where I come from, that's normal. \n\nBut get some jerk doctor in the new health care system where "patients" magically become "customers" (crock of $#!* if you ask me) , who will quickly throw a prozac, ritilin, etc. at a patient just to make them feel like they've done something...and the problem is exacerbated. \n\nMeanwhile those who are trully suffering and could benifit from a more disciplined approach falter as pills are thrown at them. \n\nWith all of this having been said, i'll take psychologists and their drugs over tom cruise and the scientology group any day. \n\nWow want a whiney rant, sorry if that doesn't answer your question and hey, hopefully it helped anyway.