Anonymous wrote:I'm the 11:02 poster, I also am not a helicopter parent and it has been VERY difficult for me to contact staff and administration.

I also have empathy for this child, you know this child does not want to be this way, but this childs actions are way beyond misbehavior and negatively affect her victims and the children who witness the abuse. This child has physically attacked other students on multiple occasions. If it were not for parents emailing in reports on multiple occasions this child would have gotten away with it, because the victims are embarrassed to tell or don't want to cause problems and bring attention to themselves.

It's just obnoxious to wonder about LDs. An LD is a learning disability, not a behavioral disability. Some things are co-morbid, but let's try not to paint all LD kids as behavior problems.

I think everyone agrees OP can and should speak up about her concerns regarding disruptions and rough behavior in the classroom. I just don't think it's appropriate to speculate on kids' learning disabilities, and also not really germaine to the topic.

I am the 11;02 poster, one last thing...

I have had 4 children go through MCPS schools, the one in the HGC is my youngest. I've never seen/heard of a child with this degree of constant aggressive behavior prior to this year.

The OP is not expecting a perfect environment, this is way beyond normal especially for 4th and 5th grade behavior.

I'm the 11:02 poster, I also am not a helicopter parent and it has been VERY difficult for me to contact staff and administration.

I also have empathy for this child, you know this child does not want to be this way, but this childs actions are way beyond misbehavior and negatively affect her victims and the children who witness the abuse. This child has physically attacked other students on multiple occasions. If it were not for parents emailing in reports on multiple occasions this child would have gotten away with it, because the victims are embarrassed to tell or don't want to cause problems and bring attention to themselves.

OP here.

To 11:02 poster, thank you. I appreciate your comments. And I absolutely do not assume all GT/LD kids are violent. Not at all. I know LDs come in all sorts. I will keep my ear open as to what is going on in that class. At the moment, I'm not concerned enough to raise the issue with the teacher. I am not a helicopter parent that expects a perfect learning environment for my kids. I only posted this to clarify whether GT/LDs could be mixed in with the HGC class. Thanks.

I think your child must be in the same HGC class as mine. BTW my DC is GT/LD, has an IEP, I know of one other child who has an IEP in the class, in addition the violent child (who also has an IEP). My DC and the other GT/LD child behave perfectly, are very well mannered and never have caused any problems ever in school.

This verbally aggressive and physically violent child is a serious problem, both in the HGC and to other students in the school. I can appreciate how disturbing the behavior is to the poster because I am bothered by it also. According to a parent from this child's home school and the child was a terror in the homeschool also. I have "heard" that all the violent behavior was not passed in the child's information folder to the principal. I also would have preferred to have this child screened out due to her violent past but not because she is GT/LD. Parents in the regular school program are also upset that such an aggressive child was transferred in, because of the physical and verbal aggression meted out to their children during recces.

I would just ask the OP to not label all GT/LD kids as undesirable, because the vast majority of them are not. Since the HGC kids spend so much time together and are in the same class I know of some of the other problem kids who do not have IEP's and have disturbing behavior, but not to the extent like the child that the poster is describing.

People who are being harsh to the OP really don't understand how out of whack this child's behavior is or why the poster is upset. I do, but don't like the labeling of GT/LD kids as a problem. I do think a child with a history of aggression and violence should not have been allowed into the HGC.

What do you tell your DC about this child not receiving the same consequences or being held to the same standards as your child? I don't know. I can appreciate the position the teacher is in, if they come down to hard on this child she will blow up. My DC just accepts that the child is this way and stays away, my DC has seen bullies in school all her life, so far the concept of equal treatment has not been brought up.

2. Since your child is affected by classroom disruptions, you are entitled to an explanation from the teacher as to what steps she is taking to guard against them. As you know, the teacher is not allowed to discuss a particular student's special needs. Let me reiterate that many gifted students with problematic behaviors are not evaluated or diagnosed, because their quirks are explained away as part of their gifted characteristics. However you will probably be able to infer from the teacher's actions and your child's reports whether this student can be disciplined and improve rapidly, or if these behaviors will need to be managed over time. Don't be afraid of being the squeaky wheel as you advocate for your child!

This is very good advice, and something that I (and I know others have done) when our DC's have witnessed aggressive behavior that staff did not see.

Also to the poster who I quoted above and wrote (2.) I completely agree that quirky behavior goes hand in hand with High IQ, but this child's behavior goes way beyond quirky. A GT/LD classroom also would not be appropriate for the child, violent kids are not the norm there either. If this child''s parents were not affluent and working the system I believe the child would have been placed at Ivymount by MCPS long ago.

Mommy why does x hit the wall all the time, run in circles while we are in reading groups and push children down at recess? Honey, thats none of our business, dcum told me so. Now go to school.

It's your responsibility to bring this up to the staff and administration of the school. Until they have parents complain, the school won't take action, I know this from experience. It is your business if it affects your child.