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Gifted
13/f
I am a very high-performing student. I have never in my entire life gotten below an 86 on report cards, and have an IQ of 143, which I think is pretty good for my age.
I always used to sit in class and be bored as the teacher rambled on for days on things I could not grasp why others did not understand. There were a bunch of helping classes for low-performing students, but never any AP classes. I mean it's only middle school, but you know, it's four years in the same school.
Just this year (8th grade) they installed an AP Algebra class, but I am terribly bored in other subjects, especially English, which is basically full of idiots.
My question is, why did no one ever install advanced classes, but always gave tons of funding to help classes to kids who aren't going to amount to much anyway? I feel held back and kind of betrayed. Can someone explain it to me? I'm not too informed on the No Child Left Behind Act, but someone told me that's why we never got to get ahead. Now I'm learning stuff that's a year ahead of regular classes for Math, but what about other classes? I get really upset about this.
Thanks.
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Want to answer more questions in the Work & School category?
Maybe give some free advice about: School?
All kids in the United States have the right to an education.
There are far more kids who have a hard time keeping up than there are of those in your position.
Sadly, there are many kids who have a hard time keeping up who come from poverty-stricken lives. Said children's families can't afford extra tutoring if they need it. They can only rely on the public school system.
You excel in school. You are getting the education you have a right to receive from the state. Those who don't excel in school aren't. That is why their classes out number the ones you are looking for.
Have you tried to see about skipping to a grade that is appropriate for you? Transferring to a school that DOES provide the classes you seek?
You should stop thinking things like "because of these kids I can't get ahead." You already ARE ahead.
You have to remember that you are obviously a fast learner- you are a minority. These "idiots" are doing what they can to make the grade, which is what most kids have to do.
You never know what the future holds for anyone, not even yourself. You can't judge that someone won't amount to much. You never know, you are smart and all, but what if YOU don't amount to anything?
You aren't above anyone. You aren't better than anyone.
Something that could be helpful to your school is you, and other kids like you, volunteering to tutor kids who need help.
ygs-29/f
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i'm in a similar situation. and i agree with you. it's so frustrating to be surrounded by idiots all the time. and i know that kids should be given "equal opportunity", but that would also mean providing more AP classes for kids. i don't know about your school system, but there were not many advanced classes when i was in middle school, but now that i'm in high school, i'm taking the hardest classes i can and they're pretty challenging but i learn a lot. so i am thinking that it will get better for you in high school. i think you need to talk to a school guidance counselor about how much your classes suck. but, keep in mind that when i was in 8th grade AP algebra was the only AP class, and then the next year i got to take more AP stuff, and now i'm in even more this year. so your opportunities will definitely increase when you get to high school. i completely understand you... it's so frustrating. but there's not much you can do besides talk to your guidance counselor or the school board... but by the time anything happens with that, you will already be in high school. trust me, it will get better.
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Children who 'aren't going to amount to much’?
That is plainly not true.
Isaac Newton did poorly in grade school.
Beethoven's music teacher once said of him "as a composer he is hopeless."
When Thomas Edison was a boy his teacher told him he was too stupid to learn anything.
F.W. Woolworth got a job in a dry good store when he was 21, but his employer would not let him wait on customers because he "didn't have enough sense."
Winston Churchill failed the 6th grade.
Steven Spielberg dropped out of high school in his sophomore year. He was persuaded to come back and placed in a learning disabled class.
Einstein's parents thought he was mentally retarded. His grades in school were so poor that a teacher asked him to quit.
People who struggle in school, don't necessarily struggle in life. People who do well in school, don't necessarily succeed at life. I have quite a few friends who are putting their high school 4.0s to little use as they work at... payless shoes, a drycleaners and blockbuster. They were the smart kids at school, but they just didn’t decide to do much else…
Success is about who you are, about not giving up, about being passionate about something, not about As in English. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a lying fool.
I sympathize with you hun, I really do. I was bored in class throughout elementary school, but in high school I learned the trick: I filled my non-class time with things I was passionate about. I did my work, and sometimes did far and above what was called for in order to really get something out of it. I kept busy and took classes outside of school.
YOU are fundamentally responsible for your own education. Not your teachers, not the government. The government is doing their best to instill these struggling students with exactly the same thing I’m telling you that you need: confidence, passion, willingness to stick with it and a belief in their own strengths. Those are the skills you really need in life and you could take control of your own path right now if you looked for ways to develop them above and beyond what you are being offered in school.
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Well I'm not gonna criticize you, because you're just being honest and not holding back. Yeah it might not be politically correct but the world is harsh.
The No Child Left Behind Act could very well be part of the reason. Basically the school will receive more funding if more kids meet the 'standards' that are set, and a reason that the Act is criticized so much is that a lot of people believe that this causes schools to lower academic standards just so they can receive more funding. Then, that extra funding is used to pay for programs to help the students who struggle in school, getting those students to meet the standards of the Act, getting the school more funding. It can turn into a cycle like that because the school acts like a business.
Anywho, I know what you mean about feeling like you aren't challenged at all. Is there a gifted program at your school? Try talking to the gifted program director about courses you can take online.
Another thing, you're still young and have a lot of school left to go through. You'll find that when you hit high school you will have a lot more choices in terms of AP classes, you might even have the opportunity to take classes at a local college.
You basically just have to stick with it, I know it sucks and is boring and will end up being pretty much pointless, but it gets more difficult and challenging. Then before you know it you're in college!
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First off -- those "idiots" are in those classes so they can try to amount to something.
Also, schools with special ed classes get more funding, so that is why schools provide that.
I'm not sure why your school does not have AP Classes. Most schools do. My school has had a gifted class since 3rd grade. And provided AP Classes since the 6th grade. I've been in AP classes since the 6th grade and I'm not a freshman and continuing to take them now. So just wait, I'm sure that once you're in high school they will have classes for us more intelligent kids.
I also used to be puzzled and frusterated about all the special ed children and when people couldn't grasp what I thought was so easy to learn. That's just ignorance.
You're learning at your own pace and your status, other classes learn at their own, so don't worry about them.
Honestly, you may be one of the kids who has the highest grades and scoring and has the most degrees in college, but be less successful then one of those kids who you couldn't understand how dumb they were because they invented something and were creative. Just a thought..
Have fun in Algebra ! It gets harder and more exciting during the end so I'm guessing you'll be challenged :)
Hope I Helped & Good Luck !
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It's really presumptuous for you to say that someone will not amount to anything. Some people have learning disabilities, and they need the extra help. The point is to get an educated country.
Also, if you felt this was affecting you, you should have done something (talked to administration or switched schools). Instead, you just sat there and criticized everyone else who may do less well in school. If you feel strongly about something, you should take action. It's a shame some people don't value their education, and that is upsetting. But, there are other people who genuinely need help, and it is not fair to judge them by saying they are idiots.
Be lucky you were blessed with intelligence, but remember that doesn't make you better than someone else.
Teacup
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first off im sorry but i got to say it you are sooo wrong about those kids needing help and its incredibly rude and shallow to say they wont amount to anything. how do you know they arent having other problems in there life and dealing with things you cant even guess and therefore are struggling? and if God blessed you with brans then use them to help those not given smarts! thats what gifts are for ya know.
anyway pple see it as more important to help those struggling than to help those advanced because its better to help those not understanding so hopefully they can catch up and such. if there isnt much money or its a small school its completely understandable. they are limited on money and such. i totally get what your sayng tho because i am in advanced classes at my high school so ya. go to your principal and explain how you would appreciate it and benefit frm having advanced classes being taught because you arent getting anything from these easy classes.
and make sure you dont get full of yourself cause girl you will get a rude awakening and plus smarts arent everything you know. and pple make lots of money and are very successful at things like sports, art, music, etc.
hope i helped
~HiChick~
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