The kids were just back from taking their drugs, and here I was trying to teach them that they shouldn't take drugs to modify their behavior. Some experts echo her concerns. Fadel was so concerned that she called police. Portage Police Detective Michele Wright investigated and determined that the school was handling the medication properly. Most school counselors and teachers in Metro Detroit defend Ritalin's use and their schools' role in getting kids on it.
Teachers go into teaching because they want to make a difference in children's lives.
If this medication helps those kids learn, then that's what they want. Studies have shown the ability to concentrate and shut out distractions improves for 70 percent to 80 percent of people who take Ritalin. Teachers at most schools in Metro Detroit routinely watch for students who frequently disrupt class, have trouble following instructions or ask questions that do not pertain to class assignments. As in most schools, teachers at Grosse Pointe South contact counselors such as Lynch when they notice such problems. Lynch meets with the student in her office and discusses how the problems manifest themselves both in and out of school.