[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Underachievement rates among those gifted children

[Shaun Hately]

On 6 Jun 2002 at 18:18, pengolodh_sc (Christian) wrote:

> The way I interpreted Shaun, he (presuming I got gender correct - 
> sometimes it is difficult to tell with a name) meant that 50% of the 
> gifted were prevented from achieving what they had the ability, 
> opportunity, and desire to achieve - they feel held back.  Case in 
> point (though not directly a case of underachievement by Shaun's 
> definition - I'll explain below):

Yes, I am male, just for the record. And, yes, this is pretty much what I am referring 
to by underachievement - cases where something 'artificial' and external has held 
the child back to an unusual extent.
 
Christian:
> In 9th grade, I was constantly ahead of my class in math, and when I 
> was very far ahead, the teacher dealt with it by ordering me (and one 
> other boy similarly far ahead) to don't work anymore until the class 
> had caught up.  This happened numerous times during the year, and the 
> one-two weeks the class needed to catch up each time, I and Frank 
> would spend chatting quietly enough to not disturb the rest of the 
> class.  

Sheesh. Yep - this isn't that unusual. At times, it has been official policy in some 
schools.

Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately |webpage: http://www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       |email: drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in
common. They don't alter their views to fit the facts. They alter
the facts to fit the views. Which can be uncomfortable if you happen
to be one of the facts that need altering." The Doctor - Doctor Who:
The Face of Evil | Where am I: Frankston, Victoria, Australia