New blog entry at Unwrapping the Gifted - Gifted Issues Discussion Forum

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/unwrapping_the_gifted/

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I find a terrifying metaphor of stunted growth in images of the bound feet of Chinese women. We need to quit putting bricks on these kids� heads and let them grow in their learning! There IS a point to putting effort into continued growth... because learning matters.

SWEET!

Maybe, just maybe if they let the smart kids be smart..... we might catch up with the rest of the world!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comprachicos

Austin, that was horrifying. Ugh, vase shaped children!

Love that, kcab! I want those stickers for when people are talking, too.

When a school administrator says, "They all even out at 3rd grade?" Citation needed sticker!

Yes!

Well, if he couldn't produce the article for you to read yourself, then you needed the "Citation needed" sticker for that conversation, too. Just saying "JHU had a study" didn't cut it--you needed the full citation! Think of all the grief you'd have been saved if you had seen the article yourself at the time! There'd be no Lamaze breathing needed for you now if you'd had the sticker then!

Sometimes anger is a very good emotion. It helps us make things happen, make changes that improve, oh, say, the situation our kids are in.

I need to get one of those fine toothed combs. One of my passions is school health and there's a movement called "Two Angry Moms." I like this excerpt from their essay "Why Angy?"
http://www.angrymoms.org/inner/pdfs/why_angry.pdf

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Here�s a short explanation as to why our calling ourselves �angry moms�.
Anger is a misunderstood emotion in our culture. Especially when it comes to women, we are
told from childhood that "nice girls don't get angry" and that conditioning persists into adulthood.
Also, many people associate anger with aggression and violence, but that is only one way to
react to feeling angry.
Anger is often about boundaries. When our boundaries get violated, we get angry. It's a great
feedback mechanism.

Originally Posted by Lorel

Austin, that was horrifying. Ugh, vase shaped children!

Its probably apocryphal. The only reference we have is Victor Hugo. The infamous essay by Rand on Progressivism uses it as a metaphor.

But, the Chinese did do Binding and the Mandan did alter the shapes of their kids' heads. And then there are the Castrati, most of whom were Spanish. They were castrated and then trained to give them some amazing voices.

However, if one takes the school system as the jar and the child's mind as the body, it does seem apt.

Originally Posted by Dottie

The good news is we outlasted him....he recently retired,

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May his epitaph say, "Citation Needed!"

Originally Posted by Dottie

And here I thought I was over all those feelings! Off to try some deep relaxation.....

Feeling your pain, my friend, feeling your pain!

Me too, 'Neato!!

Dottie, it is very helpful to know that you can be in a good place now for both your son and your frame of mind after having several years of frustration and 'not-so-happy feelings' toward the school. It gives the rest of us hope! Thanks for shining a light that the rest of us can follow!

Instead of a comb, I think I need some talisman in the form of a shield and battle ax when going into these meetings. Maybe having one of DS's toy knights in my pocket would help me keep some measure of playfulness in mind when being a warrior/mamma bear.

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If we all brought a similar talisman, it could only remind us of each other and our camaraderie!

Ha! I so like it!! Consider it done. Although I might have to substitute a lego mini-figure Jedi Knight!

May the Force be with you, ebeth!