[stevepaa]

Rick, I think asking how they got there is a fundamental part of how we treat the problem.

Sometimes in teaching kids, you learn that they have issues you never thought of, poor nutrition, various learning disorders, emotional issues when their parents divorce or medical issues-mild epileptic seizures. Or maybe they just can't get it at that time. It's like calculus, all of a sudden the light comes on. I taught kids who had all those issues.

We recognize some aspects of this in the general workforce. When people get cancer we allow a time period during which their productivity is lessened as they cope with radiation/surgery/chemo therapy. Or with a death of a parent. Or with a child's illness. All in my group this past year.

For people who are bipolar, it can be deadly. It takes constant checking and alterations of medicine dosage and therapy for them to function properly.

Understanding how they got where they are enables us to provide the right support/assistance to get them self sufficient again. It is like parenting on a grand scale. Any parent who just gives money to their kids because they can't hold a job is not doing the child any favor. Any parent who thinks their failing child just needs to study harder is missing the boat.