Kindergartner Becomes Mensa Member (has IQ of 147)

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2013/04/25/kindergartner-becomes-mensa-member/

by Egregore • 13 years ago

5 4 13 years ago

abcnews.go.com

incision2• 13 years ago

Dorman has lobbied his school district to provide special advanced education for his son. But Dorman said it’s unlikely Gus would receive special treatment.

“I know there’s no money for gifted programs in Illinois,” he said.

That's unfortunate, I count testing into a GT (gifted and talented) program in elementary school on the short list of the best experiences of my life.

What I don't understand is why general public education isn't structured more like the GT program I went through?

astrodust2• 13 years ago

Kids like this are usually doomed unless they can get proper mentorship. In an academic environment where the outliers are picked on relentlessly, they'll develop a talent for appearing "adequate" and nothing more. Being unusually smart is just as big as social liability as being unusually stupid.

"Gifted" programs are a start, but these often include children with wildly varying skills, from extreme right-brain thinkers (highly artistic, under-developed math and language skills) and left-brain thinkers (highly analytical, poor artistic skills) means it's very hard to keep all members of that group sufficiently challenged. What is effortless for some students, is nearly impossible for others, and vice-versa.

I went through a program like this. The learning experience was terrible, but at least as a collective group you didn't have to be too concerned about being an outlier. You were in a whole group of them, safety in numbers and all that.

Unfortunately, the best plan for the parents is to move to a better school district.

incision2• 13 years ago

>Kids like this are usually doomed unless they can get proper mentorship. In an academic environment where the outliers are picked on relentlessly, they'll develop a talent for appearing "adequate" and nothing more. Being unusually smart is just as big as social liability as being unusually stupid.

Maybe.

I came up through the public school system and worked in it for a while as an adult. Based on my experience, I'd say you're overstating that that liability a bit.

>"Gifted" programs are a start, but these often include children with wildly varying skills, from extreme right-brain thinkers (highly artistic, under-developed math and language skills) and left-brain thinkers (highly analytical, poor artistic skills) means it's very hard to keep all members of that group sufficiently challenged. What is effortless for some students, is nearly impossible for others, and vice-versa.

Again, I I'm not sure how you would qualify saying "often".

>I went through a program like this. The learning experience was terrible, but at least as a collective group you didn't have to be too concerned about being an outlier. You were in a whole group of them, safety in numbers and all that.

Of course we're different people and programs, but that surprises me.

My social experience was miserable at times, but the teaching was great with few exceptions.

Kindergartner Becomes Mensa Member (has IQ of 147)

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