🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <Jan09.011315.62346@yuma.ACNS.ColoState.EDU> wayman@lamar.ColoState.EDU (Jeffrey Wayman) writes:
>In article <1993Jan8.222319.19498@sequent.com> petel@sequent.com (Pete Lancashire) writes:
>>
>>Or what about this kid, in a school where (s)he is put down by his, peers,
>>and in some cases by his parents, because he would not 'fit-in'. A kid
>>I was a mentor to this summer, (est IQ over 135) didn't want to get good
>>grades because he felt that he would not have any friends, and he did not
>>want to be a 'nurd and geek' ,his words, Also he had to make a choise between
>>basketball EVERYNIGHT of the week or homework, the school (big into
>>sports) and his parents felt that his basketball was more important and
>>these are direct observations and conservations with the school and his
>>parents, not my opion.
>
>I'm not entirely certain that extracurricular activities aren't as 
>important as academics in the situation of a tremendously gifted child.
>Of course, being pushed into something is another story.  A student
>like this needs balance in his life more than anything.  Athletics
>(that's what was mentioned here) can provide that along with other
>experiences that can teach him as much as any classroom ever could.  if
>the kid likes something other than academics, let him at it. 
>
 Nobody is saying that extracurriculars are not important. However, you
 must realize that in many school a strong anti-intellectual sentiment
 exists. The kids who do well in math, science or other subjects are the
 "geeks and nerds". So waht is happening is that a lot of these kids are
 suppressing their desire to seriously learn these subjects.

 It seems to me like these special schools for the gifted might remedy
 this situation.





>>His math teacher was the only one who seemed to care, but she was new,
>>and (I can't blame her) didn't want to risk loosing her job. Both his
>>history and english teachers were basketball coaches.
>
>The only one who cared about what?  
>
>I think coaches get a bad rap about only caring that kids get into sports.
>Granted, there will be those coaching zealots who only care that a kid
>can play, but I'd guess 98% of the high school coaches have the kid's
>interest in mind.  And yes, I thought about that statement!!  :-)
>
>Jeff              wayman@lamar.colostate.edu

Ishay