Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Code Phrases

I was just reading another post where someone refered to "Verbal" being code word for smart and I thought it would be interesting to see what other "code phrases" have come into play as we navigate the education of our kids.

My favorite is: Her Family is VERY supportive (code phrase for WATCH OUT! This kid has THAT parent!)

I'm not sure if this is what you meant, but....

I once had a conversation with the mother of a child in my daughter's pre-school class. She very casually mentioned her daughter had been an early reader; I think she said something like my "daughter started to read at 2" and then looked at me really quickly to see if I would get "the code". Well of course I didn't, and said something like wow - that must have amazed you all... Looking back at it, I think she was trying to bring up giftedness, without having to say the "g" word. And of course I didn't get it. I just thought some kids read early, some do division early. Like it would all even out in the end..

How about: "You've provided opportunities and experiences for your child that other parents are not able to provide." (Code for pushy parent or your kid might not actually be that smart.)

Also, "I haven't been able to work with my child outside of school." (Code for my kid is as smart as yours but I dont' hothouse mine.)

Both of these get my goat because they come from people who don't know that my kids learn with almost no help from me!

At our school, there is a weird tension between parents who have their kids in traditional classrooms and those who have their kids in the gt center. I have friends in both camps. Over the years I have come to the conclusion that "GT parent" is a code for "pushy, overachievers who won't let their kids be kids." I even hear gt parents describe other gt parents this way, i.e "Sue has Jane in an 8 week Mandarin class this summer -- doesn't that seem a little much?" Funny though, no one ever seems to think of themselves as a "GT parent."

My dd says that GT class is code word for Nap Time.

We live in a school district that really struggles with parent apathy. 'Round here, "VERY supportive" means showing up for the parent/teacher conference and making sure the kids get their homework done!

Instead of hearing that so and so is "gifted" I've been hearing that so and so is very "able" ...

Resource is still used for kids who struggle but it is applied to kids who struggle to keep up AND for kids who struggle to stay at grade level rather than acelerated!

Where I am, they lament about parent apathy and beg for parent involvement where they can't get it and they try to steamroll the parents that are involved.

Oh I could do with some positive ones of those as I am searching for a niche for my DS. I really don't want to alienate people too much.