Some hard to teach because of genetics

[The Straight Story]

Some hard to teach because of genetics

DURHAM, N.C., Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Some students are hard to teach for genetic reasons, U.S. and British researchers say.

Researchers at Duke University in Durham, N.C., the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and King's College London found children who were more challenging at age 5 also required greater effort from their teacher at age 12.

"What happens in the classroom isn't just a function of the teacher. It's also the kids who are in the classroom," Duke researcher Renate Houts says in a statement."It might be smart to spread the challenging students evenly between classes, for example."

The twin study, published in Psychological Science, suggested it was something about the children that made them more of a challenge for the teachers -- something inherited.

"Parents and teachers should consider working with children early on their challenging behaviors, so they don't cause as much trouble for teachers later," Houts says. "If a teacher has to take time out to give individual attention to five challenging kids in her classroom, she can't focus on the whole classroom."

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2010/12/21/Some-hard-to-teach-because-of-genetics/UPI-50011292991272/

[Vincardog]

1. DUH who needed a study to know this?

[The Straight Story]

2. The folks who did the study were probably hard to teach

;)

[Demeter]

3. It's called autism

for those that aren't psychologically damaged sociopaths.

And totally different handling is required for the two different causes.

But modern educational theory insists that children are identical widgets, all to be handled the same way....

and that, boys and girls, is why public education is going down in flames.

[Odin2005]

10. This autistic person pretty much taught himself.

[lumberjack_jeff]

11. Actually, the genetic difference is the Y chromosome.

[patrice]

4. Teachers are told to be everything to everyone and, guess what, it doesn't work. nt

[HereSince1628]

8. But it is rational to screw the things you can, well maybe...

It's for certain that if you only have a screwdriver you go around looking for screws to screw.

Within elementary and secondary education the only tool the administrators seem to have is MONEY. Being that they are ALWAYS looking for ways to reduce spending they are looking for places and people that they can screw out of money. Teachers and low-level staff get the screwdrivers put to them.

[HereSince1628]

5. Science Digest has a story about synapse proteins

that are involved in many disorders of the brain including autism, ADD, and learning difficulties.
Of course, being proteins, there are genetic correlates. Interestingly the genetic correlates are very highly conserved and are evolving slower than might be expected, giving those researchers the impression that many brain disorders including psychological and behavioral, as well as learning disorders have been around unchanged for millions of years.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

6. ...and some are easy to teach beacuase of gentics?

[walldude]

7. Gee I don't know.. how about we

FUND EDUCATION so there isn't 30 fucking kids in a classroom. How about we care enough about the future that we put 15 kids in a classroom so the teachers can do their jobs properly and kids who need special attention actually have someone who can give it to them.

[gratuitous]

9. Put 'em in charter schools

Then, when the kids wash out, we can just pretend they don't exist. At least, until they commit a crime, driven by desperation or alienation or something else, then we can lock 'em up and throw away the key. That'll teach them how to fit into society. Oh, and no abortions, either; we're pro life!

[Elmore Furth]

12. I've had three of my five children who had learning disabilities.

I feel guilty but I know there must be a genetic component

But I think it is important to recognize that not all students learn the same way.

Individualizing educational approaches can compensate for these problems.

All of my children have graduated from college. There is hope if you recognize the problems early.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

13. I agree, taking valuable time to focus on a few problematic individuals makes it hard to deal...

with larger issues.