Is there a school program that teaches HARDER stuff but not MORE? Because smart* kids that get bored in regular class have the same number of hours in a day to do stuff. Just doing more of the same stuff doesn’t make it interesting. Five essays and five different novels is the same as one essay on one novel, but with more stress.
And I was in IB where they want you to be “well rounded” which is great. But then they don’t leave space for having a passion. What if, hypothetically, I’m smart* and interested in academics and I want the skills and like minded classmates I can get in your fancy program but I also have a hobby I’m dedicated to and brings me joy? I don’t have time to do all your extra philosophy essays and CAS hours and reflections and come up with exciting individual assessment projects, AND commit myself to my hobby the way it demands and I think you would want. This is especially true for the many programs that only really exist until you graduate high school.
And and. What about dealing with any amount of mental illness? It runs rampant among the high achieving perfectionists you find in these advanced academic programs. Shouldn’t we try to nurture those kids, help them manage their lives and find balance? Not push them to achieve unobtainable heights?
I’m sick of kids being ignored because they’re smart*. They need care to, just a different kind.
*you know, smart as in good at school. Advantaged in the ways that matter to teachers and interested in pleasing them. There are certainly other kinds of smart that NEED to be valued more highly, but that’s another post.
