Chris, I feel the same way when people give me a hard time about "pushing" my kids and "isolating them from the real world" in a gifted center program. I've heard numerous times about how their kids did fine in a regular classroom on an advanced learning plan, implying that my kid would too and that I am making a huge mistake. I used to get defensive now I just smile and say that it's great things have worked so well for their child. If they press, I usually say that based on my research and the experience of the school staff, kids like mine don't thrive in a regular classroom. Usually, they give me an uncomfortable look and shut up at that point.
