It's just a way of sorting wheat and chaff. Being "gifted" literally means you passed an IQ test. Its a program to pluck up some chosen few and give them access to resources that other kids also need. Gifted kids should unironically read theory, it will help them understand the world in a more advanced, scientific way. It will help them understand themselves and their place in American society. If this sounds sympathetic, its cuz I kinda am, but I also believe in tough love for kids who had gifted learning classes, cuz they sorta get special treatment during their childhoods
You definitely get a lot of neurodivergent kids in those classes, but they dont teach you about neurodivergency. Its a class about IQ and fast tracking you to college
This exactly, and your other comment as well. They really do need to read theory. I think something that happens is that kids that get labeled as gifted often have any underlying neurodivergence swept under the rug in the name of the meritocratic myth: if my kid is the pinnacle then they can't be "sick" too. It's an awful way to try and comprehend neurodivergence but I think it's prevalent. Giftedness often means "whatever amalgamation of effects that causes a five year old to perform exceedingly well on a measure of cultural fit and knowledge + pattern matching." Even the fast tracking to college is expressed as a commodification and dehumanization of the kid in question. It rarely yields any real help to them, beyond increasing social isolation.
yeah, same, except for us an IQ test was part of it. Getting to leave class and play games once a week was the special resources you got. Your class got more enrichment than the other kids, which they could have probably also used
Have a little sympathy, they're rarely better off, and are usually alienated as fuck.
It's just a way of sorting wheat and chaff. Being "gifted" literally means you passed an IQ test. Its a program to pluck up some chosen few and give them access to resources that other kids also need. Gifted kids should unironically read theory, it will help them understand the world in a more advanced, scientific way. It will help them understand themselves and their place in American society. If this sounds sympathetic, its cuz I kinda am, but I also believe in tough love for kids who had gifted learning classes, cuz they sorta get special treatment during their childhoods
Big facts.
You definitely get a lot of neurodivergent kids in those classes, but they dont teach you about neurodivergency. Its a class about IQ and fast tracking you to college
This exactly, and your other comment as well. They really do need to read theory. I think something that happens is that kids that get labeled as gifted often have any underlying neurodivergence swept under the rug in the name of the meritocratic myth: if my kid is the pinnacle then they can't be "sick" too. It's an awful way to try and comprehend neurodivergence but I think it's prevalent. Giftedness often means "whatever amalgamation of effects that causes a five year old to perform exceedingly well on a measure of cultural fit and knowledge + pattern matching." Even the fast tracking to college is expressed as a commodification and dehumanization of the kid in question. It rarely yields any real help to them, beyond increasing social isolation.
I agree 100%!
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yeah, same, except for us an IQ test was part of it. Getting to leave class and play games once a week was the special resources you got. Your class got more enrichment than the other kids, which they could have probably also used