I do agree with that, Tim.

Both my daughters were identified as gifted by the school district but we kept them at their regular school (which was quite good--yes, I know we are very lucky) instead of busing them to the distant school that housed that district program for gifted children. Both of them did fine in the regular program. Teachers were able to keep them fairly challenged, and if they weren't challenged to their maximum in their early years, I don't really think it had an effect on their development or achievement in later grades. My oldest daughter just graduated from high school. She had a 3.9 GPA, took many AP courses, was plenty challenged, got into every college she applied to, and got an academic scholarship to one of them. Her lack of participation in a gifted program in her elementary school years was not harmful in the least. Although we did consider the gifted program for her, I was really put off by it when I attended a meeting of the parents of children in the gifted program. There were so many obnoxious and demanding and prima donna parents there! It was just terrible. I could hardly stand being in the same room with them, lol. (Not all were like that, of course, but enough!)

I work in the education field myself and sometimes get calls from parents looking for enrichment opportunities for their children that are just not age appropriate. High school parents want students to have college level experiences in the summer and seem put out when we cannot offer this. I tell them, your child is going to get into a really good college and can have these opportunities at that time. He/she can do these things freshman or sophmore year and still be way ahead of most college kids. He/she will have plenty of time to try out opportunities to help him choose his career direction and major. And it's not a disaster if they start as one major their freshman year, discover they don't like that field, and then change majors. This is done all the time. I just want to tell them to chill and don't be in such a rush and don't pressure your kid so much. Some of these parents are just too much. There are so many challenging and interesting things their kids can do without "jumping the gun." What's most telling, I believe, is that the high school kids themselves are rarely making the calls to me. It is their parents who are calling, so it makes me think this is all Mom or Dad's idea, and the child has no interest. Perhaps the kid would rather go to rockclimbing camp in the summer or get a summer job driving an ice cream truck. More power to them! If the student himself takes the trouble to seek out opportunities and call me on the phone or email me for advice, I am much more likely to believe this student is truly motivated and I will spend time talking and advising him/her. For example, I am working with a high school student now who is very interested in doing an epidemiological study for her senior project. I am thrilled about this and eager to help. This is all her own idea. I have never heard from Mom or Dad (perhaps because Mom is a teacher, and knows better).

OK, I need to get off my soapbox now. :Clever: