Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy MY FIRST POST

Honestly I think it goes a lot deeper than money or lack of training. Most of the people I have run into have deep commitment to children. I think it's a reflection of where we are as a species, the place where "otherness" is just too threatening. Any kind of "otherness" at all. Leftover from mammal heritage of social behavior? Perhaps - But not our fate, only our current moment, our big rock to roll today. My life is entirely better and different with support and community. Changes that are this big are slow and painful. the cost is way to high - but - it's the fight we were handed.

Thanks for the sympathy - I'm so glad for every kid who is well cared for!

trinity

I can't argue with you on that. Some teachers don't seem to have truly been called to teach.... just as some doctors shouldn't be doctors etc.

So many many reasons - I don't think we can attribute it all to any one. However, one might argue that that problem with 'different' might well be the source of many of the other problems we see.

Mary

Mary,

I think "different" is the source of many problems......not just gifted So I would definitely agree with your argument. I also think that teachers are really not given much training on what gifted means, let alone how to teach them. I guess my hope is that as we advocate for our kids, the "system/world" might eventually come to realize that different is just that.........different..........and that is ok

[I'm so glad for you that the Young Scholars Program will be availible! ((((smiling heart picture)))

Trinity.........how did you know

HE MADE IT Just go the letter yesterday!!!

I had a very similar experience with my 10 year old PG son in the San Francisco Bay Area. We have not applied yet to Davidson. He has attended public schools for four years now.

Really Abby - how strange!
What kind of school situation do you have for him? What are your hopes and plans?

Hi Trinity and all,

Thanks for this thread and Trinity thanks for sharing this story.

We also live in the San Francisco and it has been tough for us as well. Both private and public schools are not equipped to handle gifted children.

I am in the process of applying to Davidson Young Scholar Program as we need full family support. I hope this does not sound strange, but the gift of giftedness is quite stressful on the entire family and there is little support.

Thanks,

The gift of giftedness is stressful! I'll never forget the backhanded complement I got from an "experienced" mother of three, who overcame her jealousy to offer support. Her youngest is DS9's age. Back then the kids were age 5, and she had to put up with a lot of DS9 stories from her family members. One time, when we were together at a 4 hour event, she said: "I always hear, 'X____ this and X_____ that,' but you know what? Your kid is a handful!"

Up till then I was in total denial about his giftedness, and just thought I was "a bad mom." What a relief! LOL ((big grin))
Trin

If you are looking for schools ANYWHERE, the only one I've heard about and been truly impressed with, is in MN, where someone I know on-line lives, and it is truly impressive what she has said about it. But SMALL.

Otherwise, I would look very carefully. The "best" schools often turn around and bite you in the backside. My son was in a very nice private school, small classes, principal was familiar with gifted (has a masters in gifted ed, and raised her own gifted kids), and I still believe my son was not challenged there. They customized -- but he had the primary teacher wrapped around his little finger, and was allowed to just mentally take vacations all the time. Four years later, we are FINALLY overcoming that issue! (I hope -- I don't say it is a done-deal yet, but looking good so far.)

But I think my testing cost beat yours -- the school did it (the WISCIII, also). Apparently in FL, you can request it, even if your child isn't in the school. (Actually, the WISC he was in there, briefly, when they did it, but before that, I had requested it, and to get the ball rolling, they do a parent and teacher questionaire, then after jumping that hoop, gave him the Slosson Full-Range Intellegence Test, THEN the one that officially got him in the gifted program was the WISC-III. I always wonder about what his "real" score should be, though. There was a 25 pt difference between the two tests. Both gifted range, but that's a big discrepency!

I believe we are on the same list...... P & P? Ande was writing about a small school in MN