But I wonder if he really knows her as well as she thinks he does, and if I should try to give him more info or let it drop?
I'd let it drop. I didn't even attempt to ask anyone at school for a rec when DD applied to DYS. They haven't the slightest clue what she is capable of doing. I asked the teacher from the summer gifted program who told me she was as or more capable of understanding the class concepts than her public school 7th/8th grade students when DD took her class at 7.
What about a private music teacher or something like that?
BTW, this has only stiffened dd's resolve to do the program! But as she said, "I want to do it for myself, not to prove anything to anyone
YAY! Cranky teacher gives dd precious and sometimes fleeting gift of self efficacy in a very young person. I predict: She will get into the program and succeed!
I will say, kudos to the teacher for at least being upfront with you. He could have blasted her and sent in the rec, without giving you an option to find another rec.
