| Abstract: Don’t Dis Kids: Embracing Normal Variation in Educational Systems Variation is a feature of all life forms and the source of change at the five levels of selection by consequences. Limiting or branding variation as abnormal leads to problems of adaptation. This paper will cover the inadequacies found in most educational systems in the United States relative to variations in what are called ‘learning styles’ of children. The rates of these variations are about the same across cultures, indicating they have been preciously selected at the genetic and epigenetic levels, but cultural environments can steer children’s lives in widely differing ways. Some variations may not work well for a child in any environment, but branding all variants as disorders (dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADD, sensory processing disorders, etc.) can result in focusing on medical conditions instead of behavior- environment interactions. This may lead to a lifetime of failure for some children, and many unnecessary costs to society. We are a social species and these variations allow for multiple skill sets within groups. Group survival can be enhanced by them. Mediation through teaching methodologies and changing the culture of colleges of education will be a main focus. |