Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment I referred someone to the DYS website...

Well, I for one am always happy to see you! I'll send you a PM...

You know, I did always wonder why all you DYS families hung out with us riff raff on the public board! ROLF! I guess we're just a happening crowd!

No offense taken.

I do appreciate this board and the fact that all kinds of families dealing with different gifted issues are welcome here. It means a lot to me, actually, that the DYS families are here on the public board since they add a lot to the mix.

I guess, as a family who did get a "not accepted" letter from DYS and have a kid that could have benefitted from the services (primary opportunities to connect with other HG+ kids since we live in a rural area), I do feel for all the people who almost made it into all kinds of different programs that their kids could have benefitted from. At schools, and camps, and lots of other places there are real cut-off's for all kinds of services. I don't hold that against DYS or any other program because I don't see any alternative; you have to draw the line somewhere. But I think that as long as some people are getting into programs and others aren't, then it is going to be hard to combat the elitist perception.

I'm glad you are working to fight the elitist argument and I'll try to work with you. I'm just not sure that it will be win-able until everyone gets all the services they need. And sadly, that is probably not going to happen for a long time.

I get around this problem by referring to the larger group of bright students. If you count from, say, the 1st standard deviation on IQ tests, you include ~16% of the population. Most everyone in this group could probably handle acceleration in at least one subject, and they're all being held back by a system that won't ability group. When you put it this way, the numbers aren't so elitist-sounding after all.

And I also mention talented athletes.

Val

What an absolutely HORRIBLE thing for a teacher to say kids. I can't believe that!!!

I'm glad you didn't delete your post CFK!

Disagreement on the board is totally acceptable. You voiced your thoughts in a very respectful and unassuming way. You had a good and valid point and you were not attacking in the slightest.

So, if you decide to stay away from your keyboard, don't let this be the reason!

Ironic, isn't it? It's okay to be fantastically good at sports in American society, but as a kid, not so well-respected with being fantastically smart? It's really a cultural thing. I guess b/c for the most part, there's no way for public accolades for being smart, except for winning contests, but they don't happen two or three times a week as school sporting events do. Also, varsity athletes are separated from the general PE classes, so no one feels badly if they don't compete at the same level (well, certainly kids feel badly when they don't make the team, but the gym teacher never says why can't you be like so and so?)

Thanks, Dottie. I like that one.

Good point Questions. Sometimes I wonder if it's just more socially acceptable to give accolades and special treatment to kids who are good at sports rather than it being more respected. It's almost like "smart" is viewed as a basic trait that some equate with self-worth, along with "attractive" or "nice" rather than a more peripheral trait like "athletic" or "artistic". Perhaps some people view special programs for gifted kids the same as they would a special program for good-looking kids. KWIM?

Hey, Jool, I'm going to start a new thread.