One of the best things I ever heard a parent say was "I just want my kid to work as hard, and as long, as everyone else in the class." Now THAT is teaching work ethic.
I'm starting to think this approach might be the best way to get through to educators who are opposed to gifted-specific options. Truly, I think this is what most parents want for their children--to develop fully as (in hackneyed edu-speak) "whole" students.
Every other student in the class is learning perseverance, executive function, coping with failure, resilience, and work ethic. If a gifted child is unchallenged, that child is being deprived of FAR MORE life lessons that correlate with successful life outcomes. The actual academic content is merely an instrument that allows access to those other (often more important) lessons.
When phrased that way, it's especially unconscionable of educators to deny students their right to PERSONAL development in school. Would we deny children on the autism spectrum access to social skills classes, or children with physical disabilities physical therapy, when those are necessary life skills?
To the OP I will add--it's not an issue of work ethic, it's an issue of inappropriate curriculum. The perceived "problem" with the former will, in all likelihood, disappear when the appropriate level curriculum is provided to your DD.
