The Parents’ Association has asked parents to report any incidents in which teachers or schools threaten to expel students who do not take Ritalin or other drugs meant to assist children with learning difficulties. Parents have the right to decide not to give their child Ritalin, the association said.
Education Ministry officials signed an order one year ago forbidding school officials from recommending or requiring the use of Ritalin and similar medications. The medications can have serious side effects and only a medical expert can determine when they should be used, officials said. The order was initiated by MK Sofa Landver (Yisrael Beiteinu), who has made several efforts to control the use of psychiatric medications among children.
Despite the order, Parents’ Association members said, several parents have complained that schools have threatened to stop teaching their children if the children were not given psychiatric drugs. Parents who encounter such a situation should send a fax to the Parents’ Association explaining what happened and giving their contact information, association workers said.