The speaker talks about his experience with his children, particularly his son Lucas, who has ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). He shares how he and his wife had to navigate the Brazilian education system, which he believes is flawed and doesn't provide adequate support for children with special needs.
The speaker recounts how he and his wife were misinformed by teachers and principals, who attributed Lucas's difficulties to lack of discipline or intelligence. However, after seeking professional help, they discovered that Lucas needed a different approach to learning.
The speaker expresses his frustration with the Brazilian education system, which he believes prioritizes memorization over understanding and doesn't cater to individual learning styles. He emphasizes the importance of teaching methods over content and praises the American education system, which he believes is more inclusive and supportive of children with special needs.
The speaker also shares his own experiences as a student, where he felt forced to memorize information without understanding it, and how this approach failed him. He concludes that the way of teaching is more important than the content being taught and that educators should prioritize creating a supportive environment that encourages students to ask questions and learn at their own pace.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The speaker has a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
2. The speaker's child was having difficulty in school due to their ADHD.
3. A psychologist and a teacher in the US helped the speaker's child by providing a supportive environment.
4. The speaker's child was able to choose where they sat in class and was given extra time to take tests.
5. The speaker's child was able to master the basics of English through online gaming and communication with friends.
6. The speaker has two children, one with ADHD and one without.
7. The speaker sent their children to a public school in California, which they considered to be a good school.
8. The speaker believes that the approach to teaching in Brazilian schools is bad.
9. The speaker thinks that the problem with teaching in Brazilian schools is that teachers speak in a language that is not suitable for children.
10. The speaker believes that the way of teaching is more important than the content being taught.
11. The speaker thinks that teachers should know how to transmit information to students in a way that is easy to understand.
12. The speaker believes that students should not be afraid to ask questions in class if they don't understand something.