There have been a couple of studies done on Hunter kids. Like 40 years longitudinal studies.
They have found that the gifted classrooms can be a problem for gifted kids. They have less drive, less successful than gifted kids that have to push for opportunities.
I am sure part of it comes from parents. The kids that push for opportunities wouldn't know they were there unless the parents are very involved and helping push the child. And the Hunter parents have this gifted kid that is "special" and should be taken care of in this great gifted school.
I know that if DD had cooperated and gotten in, I would have had a much more laissez faire approach. I know that going through the process for the citywide schools again this year, DD gets it. I talk to her why we are doing this OLSAT test again. The school options. And after 5th grade, she will have to do it again. Not IQ test, but achievement scores again. So there is this message, if she wants it, she will have to work for it.
I can definitely see the difference in how I would have dealt with her options. And that translates into the message I give my kid, whether I want to or not.
Ren
