Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy child not allowed to work ahead - response?

Trying to help a friend and need some fast advice. Does anyone have any pithy responses to the rule that a child is not allowed to work ahead in the book/workbook or whatever (having already completed the task at hand and waiting for the other kids)? Indeed that the child might be disciplined(!) for doing so? (Context: public elementary school.)

(also, the ideal response will not put the teacher any further on the defensive, though maybe that's impossible)

It's so obvious to me that I can't remember how to articulate the response. I'll pop over to hoagies and see if there are any articles, but I'm trying to work fast...

thanks, I know someone here will know the answer right away

I like the analogy to walking readiness in toddlers: Would you hold a child back from walking just because the house isn't childproof yet? The time for a child to learn something is when he is developmentally ready to learn it - not when it's convenient for adults.

Thanks ladies, I appreciate the help. I think that he can read books (fiction), though apparently that's been going on for hours on end. Maybe that's a good question for the teacher - if he can have other materials in the desk besides regular reading books.

Now why didn't I think of that? Thanks for the great idea!