We all have those emotional buttons, even if they have nothing to do with school/GT/etc! There is always something! I'm just glad we can talk through these things. Enjoy your summer. I have a busy week myself coming up, and hope to spend less time in here myself. (I think I need a 12 step program...)

(And I'm literally cringing at that teacher's "rub off" comment, !)

What an absolutely HORRIBLE thing for a teacher to say kids. I can't believe that!!!

I'm glad you didn't delete your post CFK!

Disagreement on the board is totally acceptable. You voiced your thoughts in a very respectful and unassuming way. You had a good and valid point and you were not attacking in the slightest.

So, if you decide to stay away from your keyboard, don't let this be the reason!

I wasn't sure where to put this, but it seems to fit "enough" here. Interesting article...

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/unwrapping_the_gifted/2008/07/that_mythological_place_of_is.html

Ironic, isn't it? It's okay to be fantastically good at sports in American society, but as a kid, not so well-respected with being fantastically smart? It's really a cultural thing. I guess b/c for the most part, there's no way for public accolades for being smart, except for winning contests, but they don't happen two or three times a week as school sporting events do. Also, varsity athletes are separated from the general PE classes, so no one feels badly if they don't compete at the same level (well, certainly kids feel badly when they don't make the team, but the gym teacher never says why can't you be like so and so?)

Thanks, Dottie. I like that one.

Good point Questions. Sometimes I wonder if it's just more socially acceptable to give accolades and special treatment to kids who are good at sports rather than it being more respected. It's almost like "smart" is viewed as a basic trait that some equate with self-worth, along with "attractive" or "nice" rather than a more peripheral trait like "athletic" or "artistic". Perhaps some people view special programs for gifted kids the same as they would a special program for good-looking kids. KWIM?

Hey, Jool, I'm going to start a new thread.

Dazey started one here, if it's tied to the article...

http://giftedissues.gt-cybersource.org/BB/ubbthreads.php/topics/21227/What_Gifted_is_NOT#Post21227