Just read this article about giftedness/education system in Australia

[LMD]

My state recently had a parliamentary inquiry into the education of gifted and talented children. It barely made any news. Here is an article in a reputable Australian newspaper, thought you might be interested!

 

When a gift is a burden.

 

Basically, it talks about how the system fails them by refusing to individualise their education, that parents need to be 'pushy' to advocate for their children, and that there is a really bad attitude towards gifted/talented children (just read the comments :( ).

[Rosie_0801]

I don't know much about gifted education, only the dribs and drabs from an acquaintance in Ballarat. Her daughter is in a gifted program where they skip either year 8 or 9. Last I heard she was happy with it. If you are interested, I can give her a yell.

[LMD]

Thanks Rosie, my DH was schooled in ballarat for a while!

I posted more as an interesting topic starter rather than personal issue, my kids aren't gifted, they are accelerated, and won't be attending school anytime soon. :)

[Rosie_0801]

I meant interested purely from a philosophical pov. :p I find it interesting that there could be any program this acquaintance would be happy with. She's an interesting person.

[SorrelZG]

Reading one of the comments gave me flashbacks to childhood.

 

Australians pride themselves on pulling gifted/special talented people back into the pack - its called tall poppy syndrome.

"dont give 'em a big head"

"gee, heez arrogant"

"yeah, sheez full of herself"

"and heez up himself"

"awww, dont let her get ahead of herself"

Its an inferiority complex, that breeds ordinary living - as apposed to extrordinary living.

WELL DONE AUSTRALIA!!....eerr, i mean NOT BAD AUSTRALIA!!

 

In my memories, noticing and liking (or appearing to like) that you stuck out of the crowd for something "good" would earn these comments which were considered pretty bad insults. How prevalent is that attitude there these days among the children? From adults?

 

Very generally speaking, it has appeared that the school children in the U.S. seem to compete for just how much "full of themselves" they can be (granted, not in the intellectual arena in the circles I've had contact with) and I was wondering if times had just changed (I'm getting old?!?) or if it was a difference in the cultures.

[SKL]

 

In my memories, noticing and liking (or appearing to like) that you stuck out of the crowd for something "good" would earn these comments which were considered pretty bad insults. How prevalent is that attitude there these days among the children? From adults?

 

Very generally speaking, it has appeared that the school children in the U.S. seem to compete for just how much "full of themselves" they can be (granted, not in the intellectual arena in the circles I've had contact with) and I was wondering if times had just changed (I'm getting old?!?) or if it was a difference in the cultures.

 

 

When I was a kid (midwest USA) it was forbidden to discuss your grades/scores with your classmates. At home, my mom would say things like "you're fishing for compliments" or "stop tooting your own horn" when I was little and told anyone I'd done well.

 

My teen niece and nephew both test gifted. Niece is pretty full of herself, I must say. But that could just be her personality or upbringing. I suspect that if she had average IQ she'd still show off about whatever talent she did have. Nephew, who is extremely intelligent, keeps a very low profile and never volunteers anything that could be mistaken as a compliment to self.

 

My dd who is gifted is very shy. She definitely knows she's smart and talented, but I highly doubt she's showing off about it. She's more likely to act dumb than to act smart. Her sister, who probably isn't "gifted," is proud to go on stage and show her stuff, but I wouldn't really call it showing off. It's more a desire to participate and demonstrate competence than to appear better than others. Seems healthy to me.

[MinivanMom]

Very interesting article. It's sad that so many gifted children are facing these same challenges. Sometimes it feels like an American problem.

 

When I was a kid (midwest USA) it was forbidden to discuss your grades/scores with your classmates. At home, my mom would say things like "you're fishing for compliments" or "stop tooting your own horn" when I was little and told anyone I'd done well.

snip

 

 

I agree. It was not acceptable to brag about intelligence, test scores, grades, or any kind of academic achievement when I was in school. It was a different standard for sports and music, though. American children (and their obnoxious parents) can be terrible when it comes to bragging about non-academic accomplishments.

 

I do think there has been a change more recently. I don't hear people bragging about academic achievements in real life, but I have started to see it on blogs and on the internet. That does feel like a cultural shift to me. I've even started to see "Duke TIP" magnets on the backs of cars. I can't imagine that happening back in the day.

[jenbrdsly]

Wonderful article! (Although I have no idea who Nathan Buckley is.) :)

[Pod's mum]

Nathan Buckley is a footballer (I think).

We just went to a grade 7 graduation where most of the talk for each kid was their sporting achievments, and the rest about their good manners.

 

Thanks for this, just sent it to my sister. Her youngest's teacher told her she did NOT need another full year in Reception (Kinder?). Half a year was more than enough.

That teacher was removed from the school for the last of the year and the school will not discuss this with my sister.

She goes in to hear reading. Her child is miles ahead yet must spend another full year with kids learning ltheir etters.

Apparently the school has test results that place her kids up where they've not seen, but they will not discuss grade jumping or allowances.

She's not sure if they'll try again with another school next year or not.

Other siblings of mine have faced this is various states of Australia with their kids. They coast and learn to put no effort into anything. (Sadly like their parents did, things aren't all that different really).

[LMD]

I meant interested purely from a philosophical pov. :p I find it interesting that there could be any program this acquaintance would be happy with. She's an interesting person.

 

:lol: It would be interesting to hear what a school is getting right in terms of gifted education!

 

I honestly don't know how schools can improve in this area, I think we need a cultural shift first. Some of those comments along the lines of 'stealing their childhood' & 'pushy parents' were so disheartening. My DD would literally be in tears if I kept her on grade level to her age, ask me how I know...

[Rosie_0801]

People think everyone else holds their view of what childhood means or is for, I suppose. I have got the "bitch mother" comment from more than one person. I have got the learning difficulty and consequences of it = bad mother comment from more than one person.

 

I think one thing that could be done is to make early education more like those woodland schools in Germany. I suppose it is delaying the inevitable, but that's better than starting it at once! Even highly gifted kids should benefit from running about outside, looking at bugs and throwing rocks into ponds. It's not solving the academic issue, but I suppose side stepping it is better than locking it up. More focus on choices would be good too. More choices would be good. There are a few non-mainstream schools around, but not many. Is there still the stigma against quitting high school and going to Tafe? Are kids able to test out of high school a year or two early and go to uni? Are you in Vic? Maybe more schools like MacRob? More scholarships available for brighter kids?