I just checked back and found you all have been having a great conversation while I was away. I think the big conclusion is that I can't have them in the same class. I knew that intuitively, but I thought it might work...kinda. But, I really have to explore other possibilities; maybe the community college down the block from the school (gotta go talk to them--I've been putting it off), maybe the nearby alternative high school (it's reputation is that it's for pregnant girls), or maybe the further away traditional high school. Get DS11 taking an outside class somewhere and DS9 take AoPS in the evening, I suppose. I'm not so thrilled with any of the possibilities and wish there were more than one math teacher at the little school.
The rivalry has been going on for yrs now and abated for the last 2 yrs while they've been at different schools. I wish I could make DS11 not feel threatened, because he's so talented himself and his insecurity is such a self-defeating thing. I have talked to him about it many times--but it doesn't seem to do any good, and I worry that their relationship will never be very strong (DS9 used to be destroyed by it--why is E so mean to me? He used to be the best brother).
