Anonymous wrote:
Yup. I was the PP who dared suggest that super bright kids might actually learn something from helping kids who aren't at their academic level. I know that because I was that kid back in the day. Schoolwork was easy, I was always ahead, etc. I helped the teacher, I helped other kids and they helped me. The outgoing ones taught me how to get along better with other kids and even spoke for me when I was too shy to say anything in front of class. From the ones who struggled with reading or math, I learned to appreciate that not everything comes easily for everyone. I also learned that the measure of a person is not how they perform in school.
I can't help but think that these lessons are still as valuable today as they were back when. I had a son in the GT and I watched him and his classmates struggle with the imbalance between their super-developed brains and under-developed social skills. I can't help but think they might have benefitted a little hanging out with average kids who could get along with anyone. You can talk about more competition today and kids needing to meet certain benchmarks to position themselves for college and beyond, but facts can always be learned. I have yet to meet a gifted kid who isn't constantly learning new things-- often on his/her own. But I have met quite a few where I wonder how they'll ever get along in life with a complete inability to relate to other people. It's not all about gifted kids academic advancement and I feel sorry for the parents who have convinced themselves that it is. IMO,they've bought into a silly race to nowhere and the people who ultimately suffer will be their kids.
WELL SAID. +100
+100!? Whoa there big spender. You must be really ready for Fall to get so excited about such an obvious straw man.
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