Comments on: It’s Okay to Look Like an Idiot

By: Joshua

Joshua — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 19:01:12 +0000

Hey Feroz,

I think it really depends on personal preference then and what you value more. Some students might prefer the faster pace, while others might want a more relaxed pace.

For most school subjects, I think I would prefer a more relaxed pace. But that would definitely change if there were a certain subject I was crazy about, in which case, I would want the accelerated pace for sure. Unfortunately, I can’t think of too many school subjects where that would be true for me =P

By: Feroz

Feroz — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:38:09 +0000

Well, in Mode 3, the only difference is that you are surrounded by people that want to succeed. The result is that kids finish their work faster and we have more time to enrich ourselves by discussing things and going into depth on certain topics. We write the same exam though. Sometimes its a good thing, other times it really isn’t.
I did fine in both classes, but in things like Math, I felt that I could do better in an academic class because the pace is slower.
Mode 2, which you were in, sounds really nice. I’m glad you had a good time. A bunch of the kids who have done both modes prefer Mode 2 over Mode 3. I haven’t had the chance so I don’t know why exactly. But it seems that Mode 2 is more fun.

By: Joshua

Joshua — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:15:49 +0000

Hey Feroz,

I actually never had “enhanced” classes or anything like that. My gifted program lasted only for Grade 5 to 8, and we didn’t do advanced subjects or anything like that – it was mostly focused on creative thinking, developing team-work skills, etc.

I was fortunate that since I only went to the gifted program once a week, I still had all my friends from my main school and wasn’t really segregated or anything. It was more of an initial phase I guess, but by graduation, I didn’t feel much segregation.

What is the difference between your enhanced and academic classes? I would assume that the enhanced classes cover the same material but more in depth, and if that’s the case, I would agree that you probably not do as well in enhanced, but I can’t say for certain.

It’s a pretty weird conflict though. On the one hand, your enhanced classes will probably be more challenging and intellectually stimulating for you, but if you do better in your academic classes, that could significantly affect your chances if you are applying to some competitive undergraduate programs.

By: Joshua

Joshua — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:10:25 +0000

Hey Jose,

I’m sorry to hear your experience wasn’t as good as mine. I loved the gifted program – I guess it’s just different wherever you go. It honestly felt like a vacation whenever I went, it was that much fun.

The kids in my program were super laid back and relaxed, and I don’t remember meeting anyone who was snobby. I guess it goes to show that everyone’s own experience is going to be pretty unique.

By: Feroz

Feroz — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:46:45 +0000

Great article Joshua! I have been in the program since grade 5. In my experience, I saw a lot of segregation. Being in Mode 3, where all your core classes are enhanced, you are put in a class with all enhanced kids. I saw many kids lose their social lives, as other “non-gifted” kids did not want to hang out with them. I think the program broke the ties by taking kids outside of normal social circles and putting them in new ones. Circles that they may not be comfortable being in. My only way to still keep my old friends was to play school sports and get involved in clubs. It turned out for the better, but I think a lot of kids did not benefit too much from the program.
As for the expectations part, I definitely agree. You are called stupid and an idiot by both gifted and non-gifted kids when you get something wrong. It definitely puts people down. I tend to ask a lot of questions and have gotten bashed for it. Now, I am in my last year (gr. 12) and I am mixing it up. I am taking both enhanced and academic core classes. (My school has both streams) The enhanced co-coordinators are deathly against this approach. They suggest that my marks will drop, because “I am not in my diagnosed learning environment.” I think that’s bullshit, but I guess we will find out. So far, I’ve seen my marks go up by 5-7% but you never know.
However, I am somewhat thankful to the program. It has made me the unique person I am today. It forced me to get involved to not suffer the social stigma of being enhanced and pushed me to do better academically as well. (I am a very competitive person)

By: Jose

Jose — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:08:15 +0000

A little bit of both. I didn’t find the program to be challenging, hands-on or unique. I found the teachers sorted of just expected more, and they didn’t expect any questions!! Fellow peers in the program sort of looked down on you if a person did, very stupid I’d say! Also, many kids were snobby that they were in it, and actually thought they were better than the rest, and that really annoyed me. I had a mix of friends, from the gifted program and even more from outside the program, and they thought of me differently at first, but fortunately soon realized that the program didn’t really change the “real” me – it was just supposed to be more of an academic challenge with peers of similar interest or “academic level”.

I really liked your thought that the all the different MIs are not integrated into specific program, only the “traditional” smarts. Its not fair to some students who really excel in other areas.

By: Joshua

Joshua — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:47:28 +0000

Hi Jose,

Just curious, did you not like it initially because of the label or did you just not like what you were doing in the program?

By: Jose

Jose — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 07:46:36 +0000

Wow, “x” marks the spot. Great article!

I convinced my parents and teacher to net let me go into gifted in grade 4 so i wouldn’t have that label, but in grade 7 they forced me in… at first I really hated it, but it became a sort of motivation for me to work harder… still interesting experience.

By: Joshua

Joshua — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:03:40 +0000

Hey Kuri,

For sure, fear is one of the biggest things that holds many people back. I think many people are scared to fail more than they are hoping to succeed.

Once you realize that success and failure must come hand in hand, you will be able to do anything and not look back!

By: Kuri

Kuri — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:37:34 +0000

Aww, this reminds me of when I took the gifted program assessment in Grade four as well. I wanted more than anything to be identified as gifted, and was totally heartbroken when my childhood “rivals” were granted that title and I was not. I think that my jealousy was one of the reasons that our friendship failed. *sigh*

Great post, as usual. If there’s one thing I definitely need to get over, it’s the fear of failure.