Why we need to label children

courtesy of google

Imagine you become a gardener and start to give each plant the same amount of water and sun. Most will survive and do well but some will do not well or even die. Than somebody gives you the name of that plant which is not doing well, and you look it up. You find out that this plant needs a whole different treatment. More sun or less water etc. The plant survives because of its label. Yes you say, that's all fine but when you give children a label it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. Oh, but does it not when they are labelled stupid, lazy or dumb because they can't do the things in the same way others do, because they learn differently? When we know how to accommodate these children and how to help them they are able to learn and live just like these special plants. Most children with learning disabilities have a gift as well. The are often lateral thinkers, more creative and intuitive. If you focus on how special they are they won't focus on their problems they become proud to wear their label. Some have already discovered these gifts and know how much there skills are needed . A dyslexic engineer told me once that they often prefer engineers who are dyslexic because they are visual thinkers and therefore good in what they do. Microsoft knows that some of their best people have Asperger. They provide health coverage for free therapy for children with autism. Good on ya Microsoft. May others follow, marja