Drugging our kids.(Letters to the Editor)

My husband's co-worker recently gave me a copy of the August 25th issue of THE NEW AMERICAN so that I could read William Norman Grigg's article "Drugging Our Kids." While I do not currently subscribe to your magazine, I now plan to.

I was basically strong-armed by the school system to either put my 10-year-old daughter Ashley on Ritalin or enroll her in a behavior modification class. If I did neither, neglect charges could be brought against me. When I read about Shaina Dunkle in "Drugging Our Kids," it was like reading about my times with the school.

I am blessed to say that we never put Ashley on any medication, and she is now in regular classes. Honestly, I do not feel the behavior modification class was the best recourse, but what is a parent to do?

Ashley grew up as an only child and was always on a one-to-one basis with me or her in-home care provider, whom I knew personally. I never put her in a "child-care" facility. She was with the provider and then went directly into school. Of course, this may cause some problems, but not enough to put her on Ritalin.

I now have a nephew who has taken medication, is facing kidney/urinary problems, and is failing school because of all the surgeries he has had to have. I personally would love to become some sort of advocate for the children and parents forced by the school systems to take this medication.

Thank you for the wonderful article. I plan to share it with many of my friends and family.

TONYA R. HARRIS