Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy I was chastised by the principal today

I agree with Zen Scanner: he may not be likely to understand, full stop. How open-minded is this person in general? Is this the first time he's ever spoken in this way? Do you get an impression that your son has done well because you push him, or do you have an impression that he's knowledgeable about giftedness or levels of giftedness?

Your best answer will depend on what your impression of him is. If he's unlikely to understand giftedness, my advice is: don't defend yourself. If you want to email him, put him on the defensive by asking why he's judging your son's interests and your decisions about how to raise him. Otherwise, you could send an "I'm confused about what you said" message that also tells him that you felt like he was judging your son's interests and your decisions.