A Disease Called Childhood By Marilyn Wedge: Chapter Analysis

Many people have suggested improvements that American could make to its education system. In chapter 6 of her book, A Disease Called Childhood, Marilyn Wedge addresses this issue from the perspective of a child psychologist writing about the spread of ADHD in America. Her book’s overall thesis is that ADHD has gained prevalence in the United States because of our negative societal views of hyperactive children. In chapter 6, Wedge describes how the American education system has contributed to the recent increase in ADHD diagnoses, and she makes suggestions about how American could fix the problems she identifies. She uses a variety of rhetorical devices to convince her audience that her argument is valid and her changes would help. She begins by using Huckleberry Finn as a relatable …show more content…
Alluding to the classic American novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, helps Wedge to establish a shared understanding with her readers because they are likely familiar with Huck even if they don’t personally know a child with ADHD. Wedge also uses this reference to strengthen her argument that ADHD symptoms are not necessarily harmful or negative. Huck is beloved for his mischievous nature and high spirits, the same qualities that a doctor would flag as ADHD symptoms, suggesting that these qualities are not as disastrous as pharmaceutical companies present them to be. The author writes that the education system in Finland would allow Huck to grow and thrive because of its individualized care for students and its support services for hyperactive children, most of whom grow out of their inattentive behaviors with assistance (117-118). This supports her broader argument that ADHD symptoms are not permanent, and provides a logical transition into her comparison of American and Finnish education