Why obsess over getting into gifted program?

[Anonymous]

Who is driving the economics of big time sports? The Vietnamese. I guess America and the Americans are not the driver here. World athletes (the best and the gifted) seek other lands to train, school and to play Pro!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who is driving the economics of big time sports? The Vietnamese. I guess America and the Americans are not the driver here. World athletes (the best and the gifted) seek other lands to train, school and to play Pro!

WTF?!?

What planet are you from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who is driving the economics of big time sports? The Vietnamese. I guess America and the Americans are not the driver here. World athletes (the best and the gifted) seek other lands to train, school and to play Pro!

Really?! I don't follow sports, so I didn't know that about the Vietnamese. Not the topic of this thread, of course, but interesting none the less. What sports are we talking about here?

[Anonymous]

Actually, I highly doubt that their drive and persistence would be considered unhealthy by most. Their success shows that they had the talent for their hard work to achieve that ultimate success. Michael Phelps was identified by his coaches at an early age as extraordinarily talented. Not everyone has that level of talent. It would be unhealthy for the parent of a athlete of average talent to try to get their child into an elite training program, because even if they got him into the program, he would not be able to keep up. Happens all the time, of course, just as it happens with the AAP program, but doesn't make it right.

There are plenty of ways for athletes to learn and grow on the local teams, just as there are plenty of ways to learn and grow in the regular educational system. It's all about meeting the needs of the individual child.

The unhealthy part is only present when the parent is trying to put the child into a situation that is inappropriate for that child.

More DCUM folklore. Michael, just an hour due North, was put in the pool by mom (a then Baltimore middle school principal) because of academic difficulties and ADHD. Swimming was a therapeutic design to sap excessive energy and smooth the early ups and downs of elementary school education and beyond. The hours in the pool was not through any special identification of any talent but therapy for ADHD. If you put in hours in the pool early on (and you can walk and chew gum) you will get identified since few 5, 6, 7 and 8 year-olds have put in 3 to 10 hours/ week year round in a pool. If you can walk and chew gum you get the same results with pool prep that one gets with AAP or SAT prep! This is not rocket science.

[Anonymous]

WTF?!?

What planet are you from?

My dear, it's called planet America.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Actually, I highly doubt that their drive and persistence would be considered unhealthy by most. Their success shows that they had the talent for their hard work to achieve that ultimate success. Michael Phelps was identified by his coaches at an early age as extraordinarily talented. Not everyone has that level of talent. It would be unhealthy for the parent of a athlete of average talent to try to get their child into an elite training program, because even if they got him into the program, he would not be able to keep up. Happens all the time, of course, just as it happens with the AAP program, but doesn't make it right.

There are plenty of ways for athletes to learn and grow on the local teams, just as there are plenty of ways to learn and grow in the regular educational system. It's all about meeting the needs of the individual child.

The unhealthy part is only present when the parent is trying to put the child into a situation that is inappropriate for that child.

More DCUM folklore. Michael, just an hour due North, was put in the pool by mom (a then Baltimore middle school principal) because of academic difficulties and ADHD. Swimming was a therapeutic design to sap excessive energy and smooth the early ups and downs of elementary school education and beyond. The hours in the pool was not through any special identification of any talent but therapy for ADHD. If you put in hours in the pool early on (and you can walk and chew gum) you will get identified since few 5, 6, 7 and 8 year-olds have put in 3 to 10 hours/ week year round in a pool. If you can walk and chew gum you get the same results with pool prep that one gets with AAP or SAT prep! This is not rocket science.

Yes, that is exactly how he initially got started, but his coach saw his talent right away. He swam faster than the other kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Actually, I highly doubt that their drive and persistence would be considered unhealthy by most. Their success shows that they had the talent for their hard work to achieve that ultimate success. Michael Phelps was identified by his coaches at an early age as extraordinarily talented. Not everyone has that level of talent. It would be unhealthy for the parent of a athlete of average talent to try to get their child into an elite training program, because even if they got him into the program, he would not be able to keep up. Happens all the time, of course, just as it happens with the AAP program, but doesn't make it right.

There are plenty of ways for athletes to learn and grow on the local teams, just as there are plenty of ways to learn and grow in the regular educational system. It's all about meeting the needs of the individual child.

The unhealthy part is only present when the parent is trying to put the child into a situation that is inappropriate for that child.

More DCUM folklore. Michael, just an hour due North, was put in the pool by mom (a then Baltimore middle school principal) because of academic difficulties and ADHD. Swimming was a therapeutic design to sap excessive energy and smooth the early ups and downs of elementary school education and beyond. The hours in the pool was not through any special identification of any talent but therapy for ADHD. If you put in hours in the pool early on (and you can walk and chew gum) you will get identified since few 5, 6, 7 and 8 year-olds have put in 3 to 10 hours/ week year round in a pool. If you can walk and chew gum you get the same results with pool prep that one gets with AAP or SAT prep! This is not rocket science.

No, talk to a swim coach. You will not get the same results Michael Phelps got unless you have the same talent and body that he has.

[Anonymous]

Really?! I don't follow sports, so I didn't know that about the Vietnamese. Not the topic of this thread, of course, but interesting none the less. What sports are we talking about here?

You missed the PP sarcasm. We all know who the biggest driver/magnet of big time sports? It's clearly not Vietnam. Those worshippers live in another land?

[Anonymous]

No, talk to a swim coach. You will not get the same results Michael Phelps got unless you have the same talent and body that he has.

Scrap. Are you even suggesting that Phelps wasted his early infant and childhood years obssessed with swimming all those interminable hours in the pool when he could have taken it easy due to his talent and body? By the age of 10 he had already put in more hours in the pool than most mortals. Was this really necessary given his body, genes and talent? Why does someone so gifted (like with IQ and smarts) have to live in the pool for 20 years to win a few medals? Just think about the rest of us who do not have his genes, body, talents or gifts; If Michael trains and preps 8 hours a day all week long what do the rest of us mortals have to do to compete with him?

I guess a little AAP, SAT, WPSSI prep pales compared to the innumerable hours put in the pool at such a young age (for such a long time) by someone as extraordinarily gifted and talented and Phelps?

In other words, if Phelps, his mom and Coach can prep, train, such a rare talent at such a tender age do you have a problem with gifted students putting in a mere 1/10 the prep time Phelp's does to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Really?! I don't follow sports, so I didn't know that about the Vietnamese. Not the topic of this thread, of course, but interesting none the less. What sports are we talking about here?

You missed the PP sarcasm. We all know who the biggest driver/magnet of big time sports? It's clearly not Vietnam. Those worshippers live in another land?

I don't know, I read that China was crazy about an NBA player here last year. I don't follow sports, so I can't remember the name, but I saw pictures last year of people in China watching this man play- and they were very excited for him and supportive.

Sports are popular worldwide. What we call soccer and other countries call football is followed by millions. Different countries have their favorites, but athletic competition is enjoyed worldwide.

[Anonymous]

I wonder why the impetus and drive to market the NBA (an American brand) to China came from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

No, talk to a swim coach. You will not get the same results Michael Phelps got unless you have the same talent and body that he has.

Scrap. Are you even suggesting that Phelps wasted his early infant and childhood years obssessed with swimming all those interminable hours in the pool when he could have taken it easy due to his talent and body? By the age of 10 he had already put in more hours in the pool than most mortals. Was this really necessary given his body, genes and talent? Why does someone so gifted (like with IQ and smarts) have to live in the pool for 20 years to win a few medals? Just think about the rest of us who do not have his genes, body, talents or gifts; If Michael trains and preps 8 hours a day all week long what do the rest of us mortals have to do to compete with him?

I guess a little AAP, SAT, WPSSI prep pales compared to the innumerable hours put in the pool at such a young age (for such a long time) by someone as extraordinarily gifted and talented and Phelps?

In other words, if Phelps, his mom and Coach can prep, train, such a rare talent at such a tender age do you have a problem with gifted students putting in a mere 1/10 the prep time Phelp's does to?

No, no one is saying Phelps would be where he is without hard work and that he wasted his time. What is being said is that his hard work would only get him so far without talent and the correct body type. Most of the rest of us do not compete with Michael Phelps. We can certainly enjoy swimming but we will never reach his level. That is why most of us don't have numerous Olympic medals hanging on our walls.

[Anonymous]

The moral of the story: even the "most highly gifted and naturally talented born athlete" (eg, Phelps, Jordan and Kobe) must prep, train and hone their craft through hard work (competing and preparing for many tests, games, meets and invitationals) for long hours and years (whether identified or not identified by some delphi oracle). The same holds true for gifted students. For the "nongifted" athlete and student; beware, you may just decide it is wise to also prep, train and work hard and not listen to DCUM folly that you don't belong or deserve to compete if you have to prep and train. Do not be fooled by "trickle down" ruse and deception on these Boards.

[Anonymous]

and it goes on, and on, and on...
Hey, did any of you happen to notice how many of this years olympians were from the MD, DC, VA area!!!?

[Anonymous]

There is nothing wrong (ethically, morally, legally or philosophically) for preparing for any potential admission into a program like AAP. Some do some don't like many choices in life.