The School Relevance in the Higher Mental Functions Development: Countering Medicalization

Abstract

The present study, of conceptual bibliographic nature, was based on the theoretical assumptions of Historical-Cultural Psychology. Its objective was to defend the relevance of the higher mental functions development, from school education, in opposition to the hegemonic vision that culminates in the medicalization of students. We identified that school education is the pivotal point for the good higher mental functions development, such as attention, which allows us to criticize the common practice of diagnosing students with difficulties in the schooling process as neurological “disorders”, such as ADHD, with indication of medication (methylphenidate) for treatment. We conclude that we are not facing an alarming rate of children with pathologies or neurological disorders who need medication in order to advance their schooling process, but rather children lacking, above all, a quality school education, guided by public policies that guarantee the higher mental functions development.