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 March 31, 2012
 
Word of the Week--"Hyperactive"
Definition--Hyperactive- adj. overly active; in constant motion; frantic; often used to refer to children.
Discussion- Hyperactivity is a trait that has been common in children since the beginning of man. Recently, however, we have begun to treat hyperactivity in children as a neurological disorder, often using drugs such as Ritalin. Proponents of such aggressive measures say that the drug helps the children to concentrate better in school, which in turn aids
learning. I am of the opinion that our society is too quick to prescribe drugs, and especially in this case. When I did my student teaching I had several students on Ritalin, and they seemed very groggy and lethargic. That hardly seems to be an effective learning state. Hyperactivity has become a medical catch-phrase since the medical profession diagnosed a new learning disability called ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder). Now it seems children are barely allowed to become excited without being diagnosed. For some children who experience extreme hyperactivity, I believe that drugs such as Ritalin can be a benefit. However, it seems that the widespread use of Ritalin in our schools is overkill.
Etymology--Hyperactive- the prefix hyper comes from the Greek hyper-, meaning beyond, overly. Active comes from the French actif, meaning active or energetic.
As I look at the foreign translations I can't help but wonder how other countries handle hyperactive children. Foreign Translations Dutch:
hyperactief
French:
hyperactif (-ive), suractif (-ive)
German:
hyperaktiv
Italian:
iperattivo
Spanish:
hiperactivo
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