100% correct. Brady's high school coach said he wasn't an amazing athlete but he made himself the greatest football player I ever coached (and an amazing baseball player too). He is all work ethic, as many of these guys are. Very few only talent folks, including musicians. And it is a good message to kids. Work hard, put in the extra effort and you can reap the results.

Anonymous wrote:

But the elementary-school HGC test is an IQ test. Or, at least, that's what most people think it is. And prepping for an IQ test is a waste of time. Furthermore, I don't think anybody here has said that prepping for tests is bad and that their children will never prep for a test -- let alone that working hard is irrelevant, and either you're smart or you're not. The most anybody here has said is that their children did not prep for the elementary-school HGC test.

So what? Because of this 3rd graders can't spend as much time as Phelps spent in the pool per week studyng math, reading, writing and grammer before the HGC test? Is this work a waste of time for the child?

But the elementary-school HGC test is an IQ test. Or, at least, that's what most people think it is. And prepping for an IQ test is a waste of time. Furthermore, I don't think anybody here has said that prepping for tests is bad and that their children will never prep for a test -- let alone that working hard is irrelevant, and either you're smart or you're not. The most anybody here has said is that their children did not prep for the elementary-school HGC test.

I have a different take. "no-prep" attitude is a facade (typical American smokescreen) many prep but can't cut it.

It's like taxes. Americans all pay taxes attitude but ask the prototypical American -- like Romney and his disciples -- and you find out they do not pay taxes and hide their assets in overshore banks. they hate immigrants but hire them to work their estates and corporations

the discussion about my kids got in (magnets, Ivy, etc) without prep (folk living in Montgomery County's fine suburbs) is a symptom of the same disease.

at least it provides makes for laughs both abroad and at home.

That's pretty rough - I worked hard as a kid in school, no parental pressure, no extra prep courses, not even any input into where I wanted to go to college....yet I ended up a high achiever.

This sort of statement assumes some pretty low expectations of a child's inner drive to succeed or own self esteem. All kids are different of course - but not all high achievers are that way because of an external drive instilled by parents. Some kids have this on their own. (and some don't, of course) Some learn it from parents setting an example of working hard and taking pride in acheivements. There are other sources that keep them from being bums on a couch.

We just disagree....period. And that's okay. You do what you think is best for your child and that's okay too. But it may not be what's best for others...

This whole no-prep is the best attitude is why Americans score so low internationally. For some reason, the kids have to be good at academics not by working hard but by born smart. I didn't grow up in this country. When I was in schools the highest praise everyone wants to get is working hard. That is also the first thing people think of when someone achieved something academically.

The fact is very few people are operating at Phelps level. Those are the potential Nobel Prize winners. But a lot more people can become college professors, doctors, and engineers. This is where working hard will set a child apart.

Anonymous wrote:

Phelps is arguably the best swimmer in the world. So, you are saying that prepping your kid for an HGC test is going to result in them being a Nobel Prize winning scientist, economist or the like? Please! And there are plenty of swimmers that worked their butts off like Phelps that got nothing. And to be honest, let's consider Phelps after outside of swimming - he's had some rough spots - for lack of well roundedness and immaturity.

You are flat out wrong. Phelps was not arguably the best swimmer in the world when he was 7, 8 or 10 years of age and prepping and working hard at NBAC. He wasn't even the best swimmer in his pool or national age group then. Neither was Brady or Manning the best football quarterbacks at 7,8, and 10 years of age. Their longstanding hard work and prep has allowed us to enjoy their talent and skill today. They would all be bums hanging out in their parents' basement without it.

I tell my kids the same thing. If you work hard and prep your potential may take you to the top. Not bad advice. If it's good for Peyton and Michael it's also good for budding mathematicians, violinists and lacrosse players.

Anonymous wrote:This whole no-prep is the best attitude is why Americans score so low internationally. For some reason, the kids have to be good at academics not by working hard but by born smart. I didn't grow up in this country. When I was in schools the highest praise everyone wants to get is working hard. That is also the first thing people think of when someone achieved something academically.

The fact is very few people are operating at Phelps level. Those are the potential Nobel Prize winners. But a lot more people can become college professors, doctors, and engineers. This is where working hard will set a child apart.

Anonymous wrote:

Phelps is arguably the best swimmer in the world. So, you are saying that prepping your kid for an HGC test is going to result in them being a Nobel Prize winning scientist, economist or the like? Please! And there are plenty of swimmers that worked their butts off like Phelps that got nothing. And to be honest, let's consider Phelps after outside of swimming - he's had some rough spots - for lack of well roundedness and immaturity.

You are flat out wrong. Phelps was not arguably the best swimmer in the world when he was 7, 8 or 10 years of age and prepping and working hard at NBAC. He wasn't even the best swimmer in his pool or national age group then. Neither was Brady or Manning the best football quarterbacks at 7,8, and 10 years of age. Their longstanding hard work and prep has allowed us to enjoy their talent and skill today. They would all be bums hanging out in their parents' basement without it.

I tell my kids the same thing. If you work hard and prep your potential may take you to the top. Not bad advice. If it's good for Peyton and Michael it's also good for budding mathematicians, violinists and lacrosse players.

Anonymous wrote:This whole no-prep is the best attitude is why Americans score so low internationally. For some reason, the kids have to be good at academics not by working hard but by born smart. I didn't grow up in this country. When I was in schools the highest praise everyone wants to get is working hard. That is also the first thing people think of when someone achieved something academically.

The fact is very few people are operating at Phelps level. Those are the potential Nobel Prize winners. But a lot more people can become college professors, doctors, and engineers. This is where working hard will set a child apart.

Anonymous wrote:

Phelps is arguably the best swimmer in the world. So, you are saying that prepping your kid for an HGC test is going to result in them being a Nobel Prize winning scientist, economist or the like? Please! And there are plenty of swimmers that worked their butts off like Phelps that got nothing. And to be honest, let's consider Phelps after outside of swimming - he's had some rough spots - for lack of well roundedness and immaturity.

You are flat out wrong. Phelps was not arguably the best swimmer in the world when he was 7, 8 or 10 years of age and prepping and working hard at NBAC. He wasn't even the best swimmer in his pool or national age group then. Neither was Brady or Manning the best football quarterbacks at 7,8, and 10 years of age. Their longstanding hard work and prep has allowed us to enjoy their talent and skill today. They would all be bums hanging out in their parents' basement without it.

I tell my kids the same thing. If you work hard and prep your potential may take you to the top. Not bad advice. If it's good for Peyton and Michael it's also good for budding mathematicians, violinists and lacrosse players.

Why do you assume that people who are saying "I didn't prep my kid for the HGC test, and I don't know if prepping would even make a difference" all have their children in competitive after-school sports 50 hours a week?

Phelps is arguably the best swimmer in the world. So, you are saying that prepping your kid for an HGC test is going to result in them being a Nobel Prize winning scientist, economist or the like? Please! And there are plenty of swimmers that worked their butts off like Phelps that got nothing. And to be honest, let's consider Phelps after outside of swimming - he's had some rough spots - for lack of well roundedness and immaturity.