I just think you should be allowed to try stuff. And in this case there's already an unusual education history. If the mother thinks he can handle the class and she knows the school he's leaving has higher standards than the plain public school. She might be right. She might be wrong. Especially in this case because Montessori is self paced and gifted classes aren't, private schools have lower teacher:students and public schools don't. He really might sink in a public gifted class environment. The mother thinks the quantity of information in the public class won't be enough. Montessori does overkill in the amount. The gifted class could feed that sized appetite. She really needs to go talk to live people. This time it isn't just a test score it's culture shock to consider.
To me she doesn't sound like the pushy parent who would abandon here kid into a gifted class and tell the world to change for him. She sounds to me like she'd pull him out if she turned out wrong on this. She's probably one of those parents that, "the child's needs comes first.". And she'd pull him out and homeschool him somehow, if worse come to worse. Or move to a third world country and live without water if that was somehow best for the kid. But he has unusual educational needs, an alternative education history. There is no cut and dry place for him at this point. No easy answers. She already said she's worried. This is an enigmatic choice. (did I use that word right?). Oh, Lady, if you're going to go down there. Tell them what you can about how he did in the Montessori. Was his pace fast or meticulous? (aggression and precision are both nice, which way does his scale tip?) How does he surprise you and other adults with the things he comes up with at home?
I really like judging people and making up scenarios about them. I have an active imagination.
