Sorry, our posts crossed paths, kcab. I think that's a good one that I hadn't considered--the standardization of kids. Interesting.

Anti-intellectualism leads to inadequate funding of public education in general and GT education in particular.

On the bright side though, there has never been a BETTER time to be a GT child PARENT!!!! Where would we be without the support of our comrades??? I can't imagine doing this without the internet!

"standardization of kids" - oof - I think most teachers would have a problem with that phrase and it scares me too. Much of the push to conform is self-inflicted anyway. I was thinking more about the tendency to consider only one answer correct, maybe that is reinforced by all the standards-based testing.

I agree, Dottie, gotta love the internet.

Sorry, kcab. I didn't mean to misrepresent you with my musings over what you wrote.

But you've got me thinking...When we pulled DS6 out of public school, there was much hue and cry that he would surely be unable to function in society if we did this strange and different thing with his education. I certainly felt pressure--some subtle, some not-at-all subtle!--to conform so that HE would learn to conform. One "friend"--a former teacher, no less!--even argued (loudly!) that there was nothing wrong with DS6's being bored for the next 2 years in public school, until the GT pull-out program began, since dealing with boredom is something that kids need to learn how to do. (And I don't think I need to explain that I know the difference between "I want to watch TV instead of go to school" boredom and "I want to actually learn something" boredom, right?)

I guess you got me thinking along more insidious systemic lines on this point...for better or for worse!

Oh, you got that right! I can't imagine trying to deal with all this without friends and resources like you all. On that point, we sure have it MUCH better than our parents had it! Ohmigosh, yes!