After discussing Leonardo da Vinci’s mental attributes with my 18-year-old high school advanced Psychology student, discussions have arisen in certain circles having to do with ADHD. The biggest question is, are we stymieing the minds of some really brilliant individuals that could change our future with their chaotic thoughts? The thought that some experts are having now actually follow along these lines.
It is difficult though for families when the children of the household have difficulties with even the simplest things like sitting still. Due to media coverage, and even with the No Child Left Behind policies in effect, ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, has become the reason/excuse that experts and even some parents are using as to why children cannot maintain some semblance of concentration.
Although ADHD is a perfectly diagnosed behavioral disorder, some still categorize their child this way just as a reason why their child is not a highly successful standout in the crowd. But what if they are and the world just cannot accept the fact that these children do not think in moderate terms; cannot contain the energy that drives their brains so they are in continual motion?
It is actually frightening to believe that the way that children diagnosed with ADHD struggle with symptoms such as the ability to focus, stay still for any length of time or contain their impulsive behaviors are treated. What if the world had contained or drugged da Vinci? Where would the scientific world be right now without his 210 IQ mind and his continual movement? How could anyone with a thought pattern like his not want to continually move and share with the world all of the ideas that he produced?
Perhaps what we should be focusing on is helping these children to contain their thoughts; be able to communicate what is going on in their ever-busy minds in a more productive manner. There is certainly more than one way to teach and to learn and modernizing our educational systems to encompass children with ADHD should certainly be considered.
Just as we misconstrue that the children that do not color inside the lines in Kindergarten are either one, not listening to directions, or two are simply inept, our world seems to categorize everyone. If they do not fit into one of the nice and neat little packages that we have construed, then they are not successful.
Perhaps our modern day educational system should take some clues from Montessori schools. Of course we cannot let the children simply run amuck, but maybe focus more positively in a direction that could take advantage of what these children may have to offer us in the future.
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