Do not make the mistake of thinking that because my conclusion is the same as another person's that my reasoning is the same
I must say, I think the Sacramento Observer, at least the online edition, is excellent. Really relevant commentary and no hysteria.
Each year, eight million American children, or about 10 percent of the school-age population, are prescribed drugs, such as Ritalin, for learning and attention difficulties. Children of color, especially African American boys, are much more likely to have these behavior- and mind-altering drugs prescribed for them.
In fact, a recent study in the state of New York showed that "minority boys" are 11 times more likely to be on mind-altering medications than the general student body.
…In fact, many behavior problems displayed in children labeled with "learning disabilities" are also the same types of behavior problems caused by a poor diet, high mercury and lead levels, exposure to pesticides and other toxins and iron deficiency.
Labeling a child with these "disorders" has led to cases in which school personnel have coerced parents into accepting psychiatric diagnoses for their child's behavior or learning problems and insisting that parents place their child on psychiatric drugs.