While we are on the topic, I have been feeling like I shouldn't really participate in this forum because I do not have a PG child. How do people feel about people with children who are only gifted or HG participating?
the forum has traditionally be open to anyone with questions about giftedness.
Well, I think the forum has changed quite a bit recently. Personally, as someone whose kids have not been formally tested, I do not feel comfortable posting much, if at all anymore. One of the issues that I found fascinating when I first joined the forums was the issue of whether to test at all, an in depth discussion of the pros and cons. Frankly, I'm embarrassed to have suggested the forum to acquaintances and friends who had questions or wanted advice about gifted issues.
cricket3, I am really sorry that you feel that way about the forum. I've gotten so much insight from other people here, everything from how to best advocate for DS to how to help me interpret test results. While I can't speak from the same position as you (I came here
because I received test results), it saddens me to think you don't feel as welcome as someone who has had their DC tested.
This whole emphasis that some may put on identifying a child with a particular LOG is, in my opinion, a distraction. Really, the only important thing to know about LOG is that it is essentially a graph. Generally, as IQ increases along one axis, educational needs increase along the other. Where exactly you put the hash marks along the IQ axis (i.e., MG, HG, EG, PG) is far less important than realizing that someone far down the IQ axis is much more likely to have greater needs.
But even then, it's only so useful, as it's only one model and certainly not the only factor that determines needs. There the "2e" factor as well, which is not really a single dimension unto itself but multiple. And then there is the fact that every child has his/her own strengths and weaknesses, some of which
may be reflected in test scores but others may be hidden.
With all of that said, it's complicated and only limited in value. Meanwhile, can we please,
please focus on being accepting of one another, listening to each other, and creating a safe space? Thanks.
cricket3, I want you to feel welcome and not feel afraid to post. What can we do to help increase your confidence in this online community?
