The Family, Human Rights & Ritalin in Norway

Joar writes that; The medicating of behavioural problems in Norwegian schools is approaching epidemic conditions with regard to diagnosing and treating children with behavioural difficulties.

Joar Tranøy is a criminologist (MA), psychologist (BSc.), historian (BA) and School Counselling Advisor. Previously a researcher/research scholar at the University of Oslo and Senior Scientific Officer at the University College in Østfold.

Joar writes that; The medicating of behavioural problems in Norwegian schools is approaching epidemic conditions with regard to diagnosing and treating children with behavioural difficulties. This is particularly true of the diagnosis Attention Deficit Hyper-activity Disorder (ADHD) and Ritalin where at least 3000 schoolchildren are medicated by means of the central stimulating agent. The number is twice as large as in our neighbouring country Sweden, with twice our population.

This paper can be read here http://www.nkmr.org/english/medicating_of_schoolchildren.htm and is part of a site containing a wealth of papers on the family.

The site is presented by The Nordic Committee for Human Rights – NCHR – For the Protection of Family Rights in the Nordic countries. The Nordic Committee for Human Rights – NCHR – is an international, non-governmental organisation, free from politics and religion.

Their aims and purpose they describe as to;

* Increase the rights and freedoms of private individuals and their families.

* Strengthen respect for basic human rights and fundamental freedoms in the Nordic countries, based upon:

o The UN Declaration of Human Rights;

o The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;

o The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

* Submit yearly reports of suspected violations of families’ rights to the UN organ for Human Rights, to the European Commission for Human Rights and to the UN Child Committee.

* Act resolutely to ensure that civil servants who are found guilty of abuse of power or of violating their fellow citizen’s private and family life be brought to justice or before disciplinary bodies.

* To create public opinion in order to bring about changes in the present policies whereby residents in the Nordic countries suffer unnecessary interference in their private and family life.

Roger’s comment: I share this view since I can see that some students of holistic education will want children to focus on meaning-full learning and meaning-full living – as an alternative to Ritalin and other drugs for healing fractured consciousness!

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Author: Roger - Dr Roger Prentice

Now I write, teach and coach mainly self-understanding. At advanced levels About 21stC 'interfaith as inter-spirituality' - and how we can grow closer to our True Self. In the past I : . 1) I ran courses and give talks at conferences and in universities and colleges in the UK, China, USA, Canada, Scandinavia etc. . 2) I provided materials, outlines and lessons for Schools. . 3) My range of interests include personal development, learning and teaching, photography and film, the arts generally, spirituality and educational practice and theory. . 4) At the same time I continue developing the human-centred studies SunWALK PDS (People Development System) - a whole-person, high-achievement model for individuals, and for use in, NGOs, schools and other organizations. . 5) The key question that continues to animate me and my work remains, "What is it to be fully and positively human?" . Contact me via onesummit AT gmail DOT com (replace At with@ etc.). . All good wishes Roger (Dr Roger Prentice) . For those interested; My first degree is in English and Education. My masters is in Adult and Community Education. My doctorate presented a new holistic meta-model of education called SunWALK. View all posts by Roger - Dr Roger Prentice