Who thinks it is ridiculous when someone says his/her child is bored in school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, boredom does not mean giftedness, but by the same token, the mere fact of curiosity even in the truly gifted does not mean it will somehow automagically express itself in a positive and constructive way. That curiosity even in highly gifted kids can manifest itself in disruptive ways or by going down non-constructive and even negative rabbit holes. Also, gifted kids can get into a deep depression as, given they may find it hard to find common interests with their classmates and have little or no positive guidance to focus their curiosity and intellectual energy.

This is why it's far better to have a guiding hand to channel all of that energy and capability into positive and constructive things, i.e. G&T programs. G&T kids, while they have great capability, aren't born with a wired-in instruction manual and academic plan for discovery already in their brains.

Once again, the issue is not whether gifted - in fact, all - kids get bored in school. To the extent this thread had been at all constructive, it has been the debate over WHAT TO DO ABOUT this boredom. Nobody here has ever said that G&T programs are bad, or not part of the solution. But newsflash: even G&T programs have boring moments, which my family knows from actual experience, because school is not Disneyland, nor should it be.

Many of us have argued repeatedly that some boredom can be a good thing, because without it kids are never going to learn to sit still in class or rely on their own resources - the very same "problems" you cite above. No kids should be treated like a snowflake who "needs a guiding hand" to avoid confronting behavioral issues.

This is a waste of my time, good bye.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, boredom does not mean giftedness, but by the same token, the mere fact of curiosity even in the truly gifted does not mean it will somehow automagically express itself in a positive and constructive way. That curiosity even in highly gifted kids can manifest itself in disruptive ways or by going down non-constructive and even negative rabbit holes. Also, gifted kids can get into a deep depression as, given they may find it hard to find common interests with their classmates and have little or no positive guidance to focus their curiosity and intellectual energy.

This is why it's far better to have a guiding hand to channel all of that energy and capability into positive and constructive things, i.e. G&T programs. G&T kids, while they have great capability, aren't born with a wired-in instruction manual and academic plan for discovery already in their brains.

I don't think the scholarship empirical evidence supports that. Generally, trouble-makers are just trouble-makers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, boredom does not mean giftedness, but by the same token, the mere fact of curiosity even in the truly gifted does not mean it will somehow automagically express itself in a positive and constructive way. That curiosity even in highly gifted kids can manifest itself in disruptive ways or by going down non-constructive and even negative rabbit holes. Also, gifted kids can get into a deep depression as, given they may find it hard to find common interests with their classmates and have little or no positive guidance to focus their curiosity and intellectual energy.

I don't think the scholarship empirical evidence supports that. Generally, trouble-makers are just trouble-makers.

This thread makes me sad--have we made no progress in the last 30 years in understanding differences among kids and how to handle these in schools?

Gifted kids don't get bored (ergo, if your kid says she is bored, she can't be gifted--no supports for her!). Gifted kids don't get in trouble (ergo, if your kid is acting out, he can't be gifted--no supports for him!) Parents who use "bored" as shorthand to describe a concern with their kid's education must be showing off (That bitch! No supports for any of you!!!!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread makes me sad--have we made no progress in the last 30 years in understanding differences among kids and how to handle these in schools?

Gifted kids don't get bored (ergo, if your kid says she is bored, she can't be gifted--no supports for her!). Gifted kids don't get in trouble (ergo, if your kid is acting out, he can't be gifted--no supports for him!) Parents who use "bored" as shorthand to describe a concern with their kid's education must be showing off (That bitch! No supports for any of you!!!!)

You must be the poster who manipulates and distorts everything everybody else says. News flash: you're not as clever as you think, because we can all see right through your distortions of earlier posts. (Example: just a few posts ago PP stated support for gifted programs.)

You make me sad. You perpetuate the stereotype of the manipulative, needy mom who lives through her gifted kid and needs to stir up melodrama. Believe me, the cause doesn't need this behavior. If you want support for your goals (which to some extent are my goals, which you're undermining) -- lose the drama, petulance and manipulative behavior.

Sorry I had to say this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You must be the poster who manipulates and distorts everything everybody else says. News flash: you're not as clever as you think, because we can all see right through your distortions of earlier posts. (Example: just a few posts ago PP stated support for gifted programs.)

You make me sad. You perpetuate the stereotype of the manipulative, needy mom who lives through her gifted kid and needs to stir up melodrama. Believe me, the cause doesn't need this behavior. If you want support for your goals (which to some extent are my goals, which you're undermining) -- lose the drama, petulance and manipulative behavior.

Sorry I had to say this.

Manipulates and distorts? Below are quotes from this thread. And if you think these attitudes aren't pervasive and damaging to getting support for GT programs, then you are nuts.

Anonymous wrote:
I just don't think really bright kids get bored. (I do think kids/parents use the term as an excuse when there are behavioral issues.)

Agreed. I have one friend who says her son is bored, so he acts out. There are lots of smart kids in class that DON'T act out.

When someone tells you their kid is bored in school it seems like a humble brag.

I don't think truly bright kids get bored.

I think it's ridiculous because usually they are implying that their child is gifted or advanced. But, as more than one teacher has said to me, truly gifted children are never bored in school because they're always finding something to investigate.

I always kind of find it amusing how everyone insists their kid is smart -- as in smarter than average. So it's either my kid is never bored because he/she is so gifted or my kid is bored because he/she is gifted and the horrible school doesn't "engage" her/him enough.

boring people are often bored.

"Boredom" is usually an excuse for behavior issues. Everyone I went to school with who were excellent students all tended to be well behaved as well and were never trouble makers.

Also, when a parent talks about how "bored" their 4, 5, 6... Year old is, it almost always means that the kid cannot behave with an inference that the kid is really smart.

My concern isn't that all of these kids are bored in class; it's that all of these kids are going to grow up to be adults convinced they are special and better than everyone else.

I think those who claim a bored kid due to being sooooo bright is just not challenged enough is a kid who acts out in many settings, and just has behavioral and impulse issues.

YOU can't understand that TRULY bright kids are rarely bored, because they are so curious that they need to explore.

I think so many parents are doing their children a great disservice with this insistence on "my child is so gifted and isn't challenged enough."

[Anonymous]

So you missed ALL the posts urging parents to work with their kids' teachers? You missed the posts supporting GT programs?

Frankly, the post you clipped, which wasn't me, makes some good points. Intelligence and behavior problems can and should be separated.

I find it fascinating that you are so focussed on proving a link between intelligence and bad behavior, combined with hand-holding as a solution to bad behavior. There has been precious little debate over the real value of gifted education - that it lets bright minds reach their potential. But apparently that angle is of no interest to you.

Sorry if this doesn't gel with your conviction that your kid's behavior problems are "proof" of his intelligence. You will not convince the rest of us this is true, however. We will go on thinking that you are manipulative and wrong.

[Anonymous]

I talked with a mom of a TJ student recently. She said that her DS, who is too polite to say "bored" really wanted to go to TJ because "it was just too easy to get A+ at his current school" He wanted more out of his education. he wanted to go forward and learn new things, and tired of waiting around for something interesting to happen. He is very happy at TJ. they can give him what he wants at school. He is not your average kid. His parents are not your average people, either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, boredom does not mean giftedness, but by the same token, the mere fact of curiosity even in the truly gifted does not mean it will somehow automagically express itself in a positive and constructive way. That curiosity even in highly gifted kids can manifest itself in disruptive ways or by going down non-constructive and even negative rabbit holes. Also, gifted kids can get into a deep depression as, given they may find it hard to find common interests with their classmates and have little or no positive guidance to focus their curiosity and intellectual energy.

This is why it's far better to have a guiding hand to channel all of that energy and capability into positive and constructive things, i.e. G&T programs. G&T kids, while they have great capability, aren't born with a wired-in instruction manual and academic plan for discovery already in their brains.

I don't think the scholarship empirical evidence supports that. Generally, trouble-makers are just trouble-makers.

You are mistaken.

You might want to check out Barbara Kerr's work, particularly "Smart Boys."

http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Boys-Talent-Manhood-Meaning/dp/091070743X

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread makes me sad--have we made no progress in the last 30 years in understanding differences among kids and how to handle these in schools?

Gifted kids don't get bored (ergo, if your kid says she is bored, she can't be gifted--no supports for her!). Gifted kids don't get in trouble (ergo, if your kid is acting out, he can't be gifted--no supports for him!) Parents who use "bored" as shorthand to describe a concern with their kid's education must be showing off (That bitch! No supports for any of you!!!!)

You must be the poster who manipulates and distorts everything everybody else says. News flash: you're not as clever as you think, because we can all see right through your distortions of earlier posts. (Example: just a few posts ago PP stated support for gifted programs.)

You make me sad. You perpetuate the stereotype of the manipulative, needy mom who lives through her gifted kid and needs to stir up melodrama. Believe me, the cause doesn't need this behavior. If you want support for your goals (which to some extent are my goals, which you're undermining) -- lose the drama, petulance and manipulative behavior.

Sorry I had to say this.

NP here. I am not the only one to recognize your hostility and writing style. I assure you that you have adequately made your point. I am glad to see their have been others here who disagree quite eloquently and without stooping to name calling and your level of dramatics and whining. I'll just add that you seem to be irritated by parents who think their kids are advanced. I think you need to ask yourself why. This obsession cannot possibly be healthy for you are your children. Let parents do and think what they want. You should not let it have such an effect on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I am not the only one to recognize your hostility and writing style. I assure you that you have adequately made your point. I am glad to see their have been others here who disagree quite eloquently and without stooping to name calling and your level of dramatics and whining. I'll just add that you seem to be irritated by parents who think their kids are advanced. I think you need to ask yourself why. This obsession cannot possibly be healthy for you are your children. Let parents do and think what they want. You should not let it have such an effect on you.

Thanks for posting this!

I'm embarrassed to realize I was feeding a troll with my earlier response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I am not the only one to recognize your hostility and writing style. I assure you that you have adequately made your point. I am glad to see their have been others here who disagree quite eloquently and without stooping to name calling and your level of dramatics and whining. I'll just add that you seem to be irritated by parents who think their kids are advanced. I think you need to ask yourself why. This obsession cannot possibly be healthy for you are your children. Let parents do and think what they want. You should not let it have such an effect on you.

Yes, exactly. And I apologize for feeding the troll earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, boredom does not mean giftedness, but by the same token, the mere fact of curiosity even in the truly gifted does not mean it will somehow automagically express itself in a positive and constructive way. That curiosity even in highly gifted kids can manifest itself in disruptive ways or by going down non-constructive and even negative rabbit holes. Also, gifted kids can get into a deep depression as, given they may find it hard to find common interests with their classmates and have little or no positive guidance to focus their curiosity and intellectual energy.

This is why it's far better to have a guiding hand to channel all of that energy and capability into positive and constructive things, i.e. G&T programs. G&T kids, while they have great capability, aren't born with a wired-in instruction manual and academic plan for discovery already in their brains.

Once again, the issue is not whether gifted - in fact, all - kids get bored in school. To the extent this thread had been at all constructive, it has been the debate over WHAT TO DO ABOUT this boredom. Nobody here has ever said that G&T programs are bad, or not part of the solution. But newsflash: even G&T programs have boring moments, which my family knows from actual experience, because school is not Disneyland, nor should it be.

Many of us have argued repeatedly that some boredom can be a good thing, because without it kids are never going to learn to sit still in class or rely on their own resources - the very same "problems" you cite above. No kids should be treated like a snowflake who "needs a guiding hand" to avoid confronting behavioral issues.

This is a waste of my time, good bye.

It's only a "waste of your time" because you clearly don't get it. Clearly you were never a gifted child yourself, nor are you the parent of a gifted child. Essentially, the situation for a G&T child would be like putting a high school student into a 4th grade classroom and expecting him to get something productive and useful out of it. Good luck with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It's only a "waste of your time" because you clearly don't get it. Clearly you were never a gifted child yourself, nor are you the parent of a gifted child. Essentially, the situation for a G&T child would be like putting a high school student into a 4th grade classroom and expecting him to get something productive and useful out of it. Good luck with that.

This is quite unbelievable. I say this only because I feel I have to: I was tagged gifted, I'm a national merit scholar, and my kids are both in magnet programs. I have experience; you don't want to hear it. So you resort to that stupid old canard about my kids and me being stupid.

Boy oh boy. You are not only manipulative, you're a rude ASSHAT. I feel sorry for your kids with a parent who is so obviously an ASSHAT as you are.

Over and out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I am not the only one to recognize your hostility and writing style. I assure you that you have adequately made your point. I am glad to see their have been others here who disagree quite eloquently and without stooping to name calling and your level of dramatics and whining. I'll just add that you seem to be irritated by parents who think their kids are advanced. I think you need to ask yourself why. This obsession cannot possibly be healthy for you are your children. Let parents do and think what they want. You should not let it have such an effect on you.

Thanks for posting this!

I'm embarrassed to realize I was feeding a troll with my earlier response.

DCUM telepathy fail. There are several of us posting against you here today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's only a "waste of your time" because you clearly don't get it. Clearly you were never a gifted child yourself, nor are you the parent of a gifted child. Essentially, the situation for a G&T child would be like putting a high school student into a 4th grade classroom and expecting him to get something productive and useful out of it. Good luck with that.

This is quite unbelievable. I say this only because I feel I have to: I was tagged gifted, I'm a national merit scholar, and my kids are both in magnet programs. I have experience; you don't want to hear it. So you resort to that stupid old canard about my kids and me being stupid.

Boy oh boy. You are not only manipulative, you're a rude ASSHAT. I feel sorry for your kids with a parent who is so obviously an ASSHAT as you are.

Over and out.

Sorry, first PP, but you totally deserved this. If you can't conduct yourself on the interwebs without insulting other posters' and their kids' intelligence, you deserve to be flamed. You have no business talking with the adults.