A lot of "GT teachers" aren't educated or experienced in teaching gifted kids. They can have the same backward ideas about giftedness that most general ed teachers have and their opinions often don't count for much.
OHGrandma has hit the nail on the head with acceleration: gifted kids have few or no peers, which is what makes it difficult to make friends; it has nothing to do with age. Unfortunately, they won't have many peers in a higher class either - older kids, like adults, may be able to match or exceed their knowledge, but they will never match gifted kids' intelligence. Therefore, I say it's best to choose their educational path based on its academic merit, not its social.
