Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy Is there another country for gifties?

I've read many times of PS in not so great places being really good for gifted kids. They can better acknowledge differences in kids and are better at differeniating and are more willing to grade skip than PS in more affluent areas and even private schools. IT seems the more the school thinks it's doing a great job for all students, the less it is will to differentiate b/c it sees no reason.

Wow! I was just thinking the same thing. Recently decided it would be better for everyone if I focused on what I could do rather than try to change the minds of all the MEATHEADS in the PS.
We spent yesterday at an Art Museum where my son learned more than he has in all 100 days of 1st grade. Don't get me started on the stupid 100 day craft project! So for me it seems the nation of HS is the way to go.
On the Montessori - I will say from personal experience - you have to be very careful. There are schools out there that call themselves Montessori but are #1 not certified (don't have to be certified by Montessori to call the school Montessori) and #2 have no concept of child-centered education. My son was reading at 3 when he entered the Montessori. He wanted to read & do the same work as the older Kindergarten kids in his class. The teacher would not allow him to access the older kid's books or materials until he completed (not just demonstrate proficiency) each step of their curriculum! They had a rigid curriculum from the local PS that they were using. Even at 3 my son was asking why he had to do worksheets if he already knew how to read.
Too bad there are not more Sudbury Schools in this country. I hear so many wonderful things about the Sudbury Method.

I'd be interested to hear about how rewards are used (or not) in Swiss schools and how they approach grading and assessment.

Thanks for posting this, kcab. It's always interesting to hear how things are done in other countries. IMHO, the culture of rewards is completely out of hand here in the US.

Yes, I agree. Perhaps I am the only one who thinks fleeing the country is rather silly. Perhaps you are only joking.

There is no perfect school district in any state OR country. Period. There are plenty of wonderful schools out there that support the needs of gifted students that won't require you to get a passport. Come to mine. It's a great school, supports acceleration and everything.

Just had to share....(I can't remember who recommended it to me but)....I just finished the most amazing book that just came out called "the new Global Student...Skip the SAT, save thousands on tuition, and get a truly International Education" by Maya Frost - it's about a famiy that escaped all the stress of AP, SAT, college applications, running the rat race of highschool - they pulled their 3 teenagers out of highschool and sold everything and just left the country - the mom wrote the book to help other families realize that there is a way to get an amazing well rounded education outside of the US and then come back with well rounded, world traveled young people who have had an opportunity to travel abroad, have a universal outlook about people and places and events happening around the world...they also explain other options instead of AP...the use of enrolling in community college classes with dual enrollment... this book was just packed with amazing information and she was an excellent write...I highly recommend it for anyone who is looking at out of the box children and other options for education :-) My family has honestly been looking at other options in a few ears outside of the US...my father just left the country 2 years ago and they are now citizens of New Zealand and love it. :-)

My 2 cents: We lived in Sweden for a period of time and I wouldn't recommend their educational system (except that college is free there). IMO, they work really hard to make everyone equal. Also, we've got friends in Ireland with a very gifted child and although the schools will allow acceleration, no other accommodations are made for gifted children.

Nevertheless, I completely agree that travelling to other places or even living there is a fabulous learning opportunity but I'm not sure that there is an ideal place for a public education. (Yes, we HS too!)