s/o on Einstein thread: when is public attention wrong? when is it okay?

[katilac]

I read the '6yr old Einstein' thread with great interest, because a great many posters seemed very opposed to the idea of putting a gifted child in the spotlight.

 

That really intrigued me, because a common refrain on these boards is how unfair it is that parents of athletes can brag about their kids, but parents of intellectually gifted children cannot.

 

Newspaper articles and photos about high achieving children are a daily occurence in most newspapers. I'm a columnist in our community news section, and I have written articles about kids achieving in a great variety of ways: winners of art contests, BMX riders, athletic superstars, etc etc. The television stations often do the same.

 

So, why did this kid being interviewed strike such a negative chord with so many people? Is there a difference between profiling an amazing young artist or athlete versus profiling an amazing young intellectual?

 

If you object to this child being interviewed, do you object to ALL children being interviewed? If not, what is the difference?

 

If you think that it is wrong in all cases, how far does that extend? Is it wrong to send in a photo/info when your kid wins an award, be it athletic or academic? To let your child be the subject of an article?

 

:bigear:

[Jenny in Florida]

My general feeling is that I'm fine with my kids being recognized for something they do, but not for who they "are."

 

So, when my daughter started college at 12 and the local TV station was doing a report about the early entrance program and wanted to interview her, we said fine. (There turned out to be a nasty backlash, by the way, which she weathered better than I did.)

 

When either kiddo is in a theatrical production that gets reviewed or mentioned in the paper, that's fine.

 

But I would be very hesitant to allow either child to be interviewed or noticed just because "he (or she) is smart."

[Ailaena]

I think that negative reactions sometimes come from jealousy and sometimes come from societal beliefs. Sports and entertainment are a "safe" area in our country, these people entertain and provide people a release from their daily drudgery. They are simple and predictable. That's one of the reason every stupid tv show is exactly the same. Use a big word, or have a deep thought and people are immediately uneasy. "Clever things make people feel stupid, and unexpected things make people feel scared." (Philip J Fry)

 

How many people do you think sit down ever and consider what goes into producing a television show or a music album? Or the technology needed? Technology dabbles in the scary area, where the smart people are. Those people talk about things regular people don't understand. People want to live the glamorous, money-filled, fashion trendy lives being waited on hand and foot like the "stars" do, not spend their lives reading or thinking.

 

I think someone the other day (essentially) said that we here on the board are deluding ourselves if we think for a moment this is a representative sample of general homeschoolers or normal people. Thank goodness you are all here, though, or else some of us would feel even more alone!

 

Regarding the original topic... :blushing: I would only ever object to someone being interviewed when they are being exploited or there is only negatice gain to be had for the child. Were this boy's parents doing the interview to gain notoriety for themselves? You know, here's my smart kid, where's my reality show? What was the intent? And what will life be like for this kid now?

 

I don't think it is wrong to be recognized for an accomplishment, academic or atheletic. I think that kids love to be recognized for doing something great and often need a pat on the back. I just hate other people's reactions to things.

 

Jenny, I feel terrible for you guys that there was even the slightest hint of backlash for doing an interview, but I am so glad you did the interview because the general population got to see that ya'll are totally normal people - not freakish, malnourished people with large, pulsating forhead veins who never see the sun for want of drilling math facts and prepping for the spelling bee. Of course, that is my own assumption. If you are freakish hobbits, there is nothing wrong with that:D

 

The college wanted to interview dd for the newspaper when she first started and she said no way. She did not want to walk across campus and be known as "that genius kid" (especially since she does not feel that way). However, she was in an article about climbing for a large newspaper and didn't mind at all. The quote from her right now: "The climbing article was about climbing, but the school article was about me, which was awkward."

 

This was rambly and disjointed because I really wanted to say something, but did not have the time to organize all of my many passionate thoughts on this subject and I am so sorry!

[Catwoman]

I would only ever object to someone being interviewed when they are being exploited or there is only negatice gain to be had for the child. Were this boy's parents doing the interview to gain notoriety for themselves? You know, here's my smart kid, where's my reality show? What was the intent? And what will life be like for this kid now?

 

:iagree::iagree::iagree:

 

I did question the parents' motives along the same lines that you mentioned, and I objected to the child being on the Today Show because it seemed as though he was being trotted out to perform like the horse in the side show who answers math problems with stomps of his hooves.

 

 

I don't think it is wrong to be recognized for an accomplishment, academic or atheletic. I think that kids love to be recognized for doing something great and often need a pat on the back.

 

 

 

I think it's fine to praise a child for his abilities, and to interview him about his special abilities, as well as what he likes to do for fun, his favorite subjects, and other non-sensational topics; I don't think it's ok to quiz him so he can show off everything he knows (or even worse -- to quiz him to try and trip him up, which doesn't appear to have been the case on the Today Show, but could easily happen elsewhere.)

 

Cat