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The material *does* consist of the opinions of skeptics (though backed with
facts). It is revealing that virtually every child development or
psychology expert who has investigated his claims has become such a
skeptic.
Doman is first and foremost a pseudoscientist in the field of child
development. He is without bona fide credentials or publication in
the field, he founded his theories upon grossly mistaken ideas about
neuroanatomy, and he refuses to allow skeptical review or evaluation of his
"results" by child development researchers. You can start with the notes at
the end of Burton White's classic book _First Three Years of Life_. White
excoriates Doman for sloppy methodology and refusal to allow outside
verification of his research.
For more detail, see the review by Prof. Terence Hines (author of
_Pseudoscience and the Paranormal_) of the retitled version of Doman's book
_What to do About Your Brain-Injured Child_ [Skeptical_Inquirer 19:5, Sept
95]. Doman repackaged an unedited older version with a new title that
enumerates virtually every common childhood behavior disorder,
psychopathology, and neuropathology--hardly an honest approach. It's now
titled _What To Do About Your Brain-Injured Child Or Your Brain-damaged,
Mentally Retarded, Mentally Deficient, Cerebral-palsied, Spastic, Flaccid,
Rigid, Epileptic, Autistic, Athetoid, Hyperactive, Down's [sic] Child_
(Avery Publishing Group, Garden City Park, NY, 1994]. The title alone
should reveal that it's selling snake-oil.
It should be noted that Glenn Doman is not affiliated with the "National
Academy for Child Development" which was founded by his nephew, Robert J.
Doman Jr., [http://www.nacd.org]. I don't know if NACD is an honest
organization or not. Even Glenn Doman's original Institutes for the
Achievement of Human Potential are now run by his son.
>In particular I have always wondered how come he never provides evidence
>of any superior achievements of any of his "wonderkids" beyond their
>early childhoods.
Long-term followup is difficult and unavailable in many areas. However,
Doman's errors go far beyond this, to include a theoretical basis which is
simply false and results reporting which cannot be confirmed or replicated.
>And no, don't worry, I don't plan on enriching him since I am making
>all my own cards and stuff, plus I am not by nature inclined to go
>"overboard" about anything. Just having fun with my daughter.
Now that I've said all of these bad things about Doman, he's supposed to be
a personally nice, well-intentioned guy (if he's still alive). I really
*don't* see the harm in any reasonable playing around with flash cards. I
doubt it will have any great effect, but as long as you are interacting
with the baby and heeding her signs of disinterest, I think it's for the
good.
Write us back in 20 years and tell us if this now young man loves to
read. A lot of pushed babies end up hating school and never cracking
a book that isn't assigned.
注意:pushed babies |
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