Are "Study Drugs" the same as steroids?
A new and disturbing trend in college is the use of study drugs. In an article in the SentinelSource.com, they discuss this very touchy issue.
(http://sentinelsource.com/articles/2010/11/06/news/national/free/id_417754.txt)
The argument is made that taking any kind of drug to improve on a test result is flat out cheating, no different than an athlete taking steroids. But if you think this is just in college, you are sadly mistaken.
Recently, I have heard of a disturbing trend: parents having their child tested for various learning conditions and attention disorders for reasons other than an inability to learn. The reason for all this testing is not so much to address any real underlying learning disability but rather to give the child a leg up on exams. What many people may not be aware of is that any child with a documented condition related to their ability to take tests is given extra time on tests, including the all important SAT. If that child has an inability to focus, medication may also be included with this.
Before everyone gets all riled up, I am not saying that students with bona fied learning disability should not be given all the time they are entitled to. What I am saying is that there is now a whole group of students who are taking advantage of the system by having themselves labeled with a disability when one really doesn't exist. How surprised should be then when one of these kids shares his medication with one of his friends?
Is taking one of these drug really cheating? I would love to hear what you have to say.
Paul.
(http://sentinelsource.com/articles/2010/11/06/news/national/free/id_417754.txt)
The argument is made that taking any kind of drug to improve on a test result is flat out cheating, no different than an athlete taking steroids. But if you think this is just in college, you are sadly mistaken.
Recently, I have heard of a disturbing trend: parents having their child tested for various learning conditions and attention disorders for reasons other than an inability to learn. The reason for all this testing is not so much to address any real underlying learning disability but rather to give the child a leg up on exams. What many people may not be aware of is that any child with a documented condition related to their ability to take tests is given extra time on tests, including the all important SAT. If that child has an inability to focus, medication may also be included with this.
Before everyone gets all riled up, I am not saying that students with bona fied learning disability should not be given all the time they are entitled to. What I am saying is that there is now a whole group of students who are taking advantage of the system by having themselves labeled with a disability when one really doesn't exist. How surprised should be then when one of these kids shares his medication with one of his friends?
Is taking one of these drug really cheating? I would love to hear what you have to say.
Paul.
posted by Nickie's Blog @ 12:25 PM
2 Comments
2 Comments:
If everybody can access the drugs, then it is not cheating. However, not everybody can get the drugs.
Isn't a doctor supposed to know the difference though? If the doctor diagnoses that there is a problem when there is not, then that could cause serious problems in the child who is taking medication that it doesn't need. So either there are just a lot of people with learning disorders or the doctor's are misusing the system as well. Also, is it really the students who are taking advantage of the system or their parents? If mom says you hve to take a certain medicine, you have to take that medicine at least until you're 18 and can leave.
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