Learning Disabilities: The Myth
by
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The theme that nothing is wrong with the vast majority of students who are labeled disabled is evident throughout the book. With this idea Marchisan weaves a tapestry of hope through her anecdotes about students who survived in a suppressive education system that needs overhauling from the top down.
The topic is controversial and appeals to all, laymen and scholars. Various groups will weigh in on their opinions about what ails the schools, but few will have workable plans. Marchisan reminds us that we have major problems today in education created by societal problems in general, and contributed to by government officials, education departments at universities, the education hierarchy, the medical profession, especially psychiatrists who prescribe drugs as an aide to learning, and psychologists with their non workable plans. She questions the specialist syndrome in education that has cost the tax payer millions of dollars and led to increased labeling of thousands of children in western countries, and reminds us that we are still graduating illiterates. Marchisan points out that the student rarely progresses so that he can apply what he has learned.
Learning Disabilities: The Myth removes the blinders from those who have refused to look at the chaos and non workable plans that exist today in both special education and regular education. It talks about the top-down management, mounds of paperwork and meetings that contribute nothing to the student’s learning. Marchisan poses questions to the reader that will stimulate him to have a look at what is really the problem. She leads the reader to find the answer with real student examples, stories, and a workable technology.
Learning Disabilities: The Myth is an insider’s journey to the truth that has broad public appeal. It is a handbook for teachers with various chapters on topics such as Reading, Math, Writing, Behavior, and Establishing Control with examples of a technology that works. It gives numerous student examples of how students overcame their disabilities. These examples appeal to student and parent readers. Scholars at the universities and politicians will be interested in the chapter that establishes the myth in special education and another chapter on sorting and dividing that discusses the specialization in student labels that has grown to unmanageable proportions. The chapter on “Drugs as an Aide to Learning” might be of particular interest to the medical establishment. Learning Disabilities:The Myth will challenge readers to look at the problems in education and find out the truth for themselves.
Marchisan ends the book with the chapter on “The Student as a Spiritual Being” with true stories. It is a chapter about communication and hope that recognizes the student for who he really is, a spiritual being who can be much more than we have allowed ourselves to believe.
Hope, truth and workable solutions are the foundation of Learning Disabilities: The Myth. The reader will experience a myriad of emotions but will realize that there is hope with the exposure of the myth that is laying waste to millions of children who are our future.
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About the Book
In Learning Disabilities: The Myth, Marta L Marchisan, Ph. D., writes that there is nothing wrong with the vast majority of students who are labeled disabled and placed in special programs.This theme is written in clear, concise language that connects with all those involved in education from preschool teachers to university professors to parents and students. Marchisan candidly questions the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and the use of drugs as a solution. She challenges the theories of the past twenty-five years of how students learn and identifies the core problem. She suggests that more money is not the answer to the mushrooming problem of illiteracy in American education, but rather a workable study technology and the recognition that students are spiritual beings is. Marchisan gives us hope with her anecdotes about students and their struggle to survive in a suppressive education system that has lost touch with who we are teaching.
**Learning Disabilities: The Myth is currently available in German, also from AuthorHouse at www.authorhouse.com.**
About the Author
Marta L Marchisan, Ph. D., has taught in American schools in Italy, Germany and the United States for the past 25 years. During her diversified career, she has taught all ages, populations, and grades. Dr. Marchisan was one of the pioneer teachers of the DODDS Writing Workshop in the Mediterranean Region and used this approach to teach students with writing disabilities. She is dedicated to improving the quality of education for all children and to providing the study technology referenced in Learning Disabilities: The Myth to the indigenous peoples of South America. She lives and works in Germany and is currently working on another book.