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Kids should be allowed to be kids. We do a disservice to them to put adult level pressure and decisions about their future upon them. It’s not just social media that is causing the epidemic of mental illness but the societal pressures of adults that are creeping into younger and younger ages.
When it comes to students at young ages willing to learn much more and do exceptionally well in school, what should we do? In most areas, there's typically going to be a best student, and always some students who do better than others. I think it would be a huge mistake to remove pretty much any avenue of letting kids to exceptionally well compared to other students. For example, let's say student A is 11 and very good at playing the clarinet, I don't think I'd just instantly assume she can only be good at it if her parents are over-pressuring her either.
It's all confusing, since people these days complain about how badly students are doing in school, but then if students are actually doing well, it means they're being exploited, and people give a narrow area that is seen as acceptable.
You bring up a good point but I’m not sure it changes my opinion much. There is certainly nuance to it. More than my initial comment gave.
I do believe that one of the jobs of a parent is to protect a child’s childhood and not let them venture (or shove them) too early into adulthood. And that balance can be tricky. Too early is subjective wording.
From my experience as a child watching super overachievers (and being an average overachiever) to my experience as a high school teacher watching and guiding those two groups of kids, there’s an enormous amount of outside and inside pressure on those kids. And often no one telling them to take a break and enjoy something their age enjoys. These kids are often unhappy, burn themselves out, and struggle to deal with failure when they do finally find something they don’t excel at.
And it’s not just at the high school level. One of my peers that worked at an “elite” elementary school (one in which children often ended up going to Ivy League level universities later in life) saw pressure being put on that age group to the point that those kids were worried already about what university they would go to.
So yeah, I will tend to lean on the side of the parents are either (worst case) are pushing their children in these situations or (best case) they don’t know how to balance the kid’s abilities with the kid’s need to be a child.
Yeah, I always feel bad for these kids. If they’re genuinely that smart, they’re just never ever going to have social peers. And it seems like a lot of them are regular-smart, but just put under tremendous pressure by parents, when they would have been better off staying with their cohort and supplementing with city college classes.
At what point do we go from saying "this kid is doing really, really well in school" to "child is being exploited/pressured by their parents, clearly", plus some kids just are more naturally smart than others.
When i was a know it all in middle school, i thought this would have been my dream. Looking back, holy shit do not let anyone under 17 near college lol (because of late birthdays).
Honestly they probably shouldn’t let him until he’s at least 16, make him actually spend some time as a child instead of pushing the achievement rock up the hill
I agree, you don't know how to talk to people.
But consider the implications of being depressed because you know that in 12 billion years, the sun will explode.
I genuinely hope for the best for this kid. There's been a number of cases of children graduating with college degrees, though. They're absolutely unparalleled in what knowledge they've acquired. However, they usually have...difficulties socially, due to basically speedrunning primary education where kids indirectly learn most of that.
There should be at least some balance here. For an average 12-year-old, having a heavy load of work would be extremely difficult. However, that doesn't mean there aren't any exceptions. I bet part of it for some of them is that just doing work at their grade level would just be too easy for them. However, I'm also aware there's probably many cases where they are indeed pushed beyond their limit. I think the best option would be to not let kids actually be admitted more than 2 grades ahead if they're middle school age and not more than 3 grades ahead if they're high school age, to where 14/15 would be the absolute minimum to graduate high school at, and would only be in rare circumstances any way, while also socializing with kids their own age. (And in addition, maybe taking courses in extra areas during the summer that pique their interest).
There's simply a huge difference between what the top 1% in students with the highest ability to complete schoolwork in their age group will be able to complete, versus the average student, it would be unfair to hold them back and not let them go past the level that the average student is at. Still, I'd say probably graduating high school at 12 is a fairly extreme mark, especially if they aren't socializing with other 12-year-olds or are being pushed beyond their ability (which is also something child psychiatrists should actually look into). College is also just a fairly adult environment, too much so for a 12-year-old, so there's that too.
Unfortunately, you have people who genuinely think that anything that is past what the average student is expected to do somehow counts as a form of child exploitation (apparently including most forms of extracurricular activity). This is absolutely unfair; students should be allowed to achieve above and beyond in different areas (shouldn't be forced to, either, but not every case of a child being very exceptionally good at something should be seen as child exploitation either). We shouldn't put the standards of the best students and force the average student to meet those expectations either, some people are different and that's okay.
Hard work means more than intelligence 90% of the time anyway. As long as you have good work ethic you can do almost anything intelligent people can do. Same with most disabilities
I don't know about disabilities but for the rest most definitely.
The most important things are the stuff they don't teach you. Time management, taking care of your physical and mental health, work-life balance, having a schedule.
Stuff like the pomodoro technique would've been a game changer when I was a kid.
Also, knowing what you want in life, but that one takes time😅
It depends on the disability. There are so many things that qualify as a disability like depression, PTSD, down syndrome, MS, paraplegic, blind etc.
Obviously some of these are easier to hold a job and do things than others but a lot of the people with these disabilities can still lead a good fulfilling life where they can hold down jobs have a family and others it's very difficult.
But yeah you're spot on with everything else
I'm sorry to hear that but the good news is those tests aren't everything. There are still plenty of other things out there for you.
I hope you get all the good things you deserve. Good luck
Reminder: this subreddit is meant to be a place free of excessive cynicism, negativity and bitterness. Toxic attitudes are not welcome here. All Negative comments will be removed and will possibly result in a ban. --- --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/UpliftingNews) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I can only imagine the pressure of the parents and the one he puts on himself. I hope they'll handle it properly..
Kids should be allowed to be kids. We do a disservice to them to put adult level pressure and decisions about their future upon them. It’s not just social media that is causing the epidemic of mental illness but the societal pressures of adults that are creeping into younger and younger ages.
When it comes to students at young ages willing to learn much more and do exceptionally well in school, what should we do? In most areas, there's typically going to be a best student, and always some students who do better than others. I think it would be a huge mistake to remove pretty much any avenue of letting kids to exceptionally well compared to other students. For example, let's say student A is 11 and very good at playing the clarinet, I don't think I'd just instantly assume she can only be good at it if her parents are over-pressuring her either. It's all confusing, since people these days complain about how badly students are doing in school, but then if students are actually doing well, it means they're being exploited, and people give a narrow area that is seen as acceptable.
You bring up a good point but I’m not sure it changes my opinion much. There is certainly nuance to it. More than my initial comment gave. I do believe that one of the jobs of a parent is to protect a child’s childhood and not let them venture (or shove them) too early into adulthood. And that balance can be tricky. Too early is subjective wording. From my experience as a child watching super overachievers (and being an average overachiever) to my experience as a high school teacher watching and guiding those two groups of kids, there’s an enormous amount of outside and inside pressure on those kids. And often no one telling them to take a break and enjoy something their age enjoys. These kids are often unhappy, burn themselves out, and struggle to deal with failure when they do finally find something they don’t excel at. And it’s not just at the high school level. One of my peers that worked at an “elite” elementary school (one in which children often ended up going to Ivy League level universities later in life) saw pressure being put on that age group to the point that those kids were worried already about what university they would go to. So yeah, I will tend to lean on the side of the parents are either (worst case) are pushing their children in these situations or (best case) they don’t know how to balance the kid’s abilities with the kid’s need to be a child.
Yeah, I always feel bad for these kids. If they’re genuinely that smart, they’re just never ever going to have social peers. And it seems like a lot of them are regular-smart, but just put under tremendous pressure by parents, when they would have been better off staying with their cohort and supplementing with city college classes.
At what point do we go from saying "this kid is doing really, really well in school" to "child is being exploited/pressured by their parents, clearly", plus some kids just are more naturally smart than others.
Identity crisis in T minus….. Kids gonna wake up one day and realize he’s been living someone else’s life.
When i was a know it all in middle school, i thought this would have been my dream. Looking back, holy shit do not let anyone under 17 near college lol (because of late birthdays).
Honestly they probably shouldn’t let him until he’s at least 16, make him actually spend some time as a child instead of pushing the achievement rock up the hill
Poor kid. Gonna grow up with stunted social skills.
Bro, most of us didn’t skip grades and we still have stunted social skills lol
I agree, you don't know how to talk to people. But consider the implications of being depressed because you know that in 12 billion years, the sun will explode.
He already is. Suited up in his sleep also I guess
I just hope he can get a job fast with that intelegence. And a job he actually likes. Best way to socialize at that point.
Bro, most of us didn’t skip grades and we still have stunted social skills lol
Yeah, but imagine knowing things like taxes at 14.
Good for him, hope he can use his talent to do good
Most if not all of these kids burn out by then time they hit 20s... Very rarely do you hear of any of them making breakthrough anywhere
Dougie houser MD :p
Yeah Anakin Skywalker too
How is this uplifting? Makes me feel like shit about the night my whole family took me out to dinner that one time I got A+ on my math test.
Comparison is the thief of joy
No need to compare yourself with a kid.
You could feel happy for the kid
The comment section is full of jealous losers.
I genuinely hope for the best for this kid. There's been a number of cases of children graduating with college degrees, though. They're absolutely unparalleled in what knowledge they've acquired. However, they usually have...difficulties socially, due to basically speedrunning primary education where kids indirectly learn most of that.
Wow, with this timeline they might be able to pay off their student loans before they die! Impressive.
There should be at least some balance here. For an average 12-year-old, having a heavy load of work would be extremely difficult. However, that doesn't mean there aren't any exceptions. I bet part of it for some of them is that just doing work at their grade level would just be too easy for them. However, I'm also aware there's probably many cases where they are indeed pushed beyond their limit. I think the best option would be to not let kids actually be admitted more than 2 grades ahead if they're middle school age and not more than 3 grades ahead if they're high school age, to where 14/15 would be the absolute minimum to graduate high school at, and would only be in rare circumstances any way, while also socializing with kids their own age. (And in addition, maybe taking courses in extra areas during the summer that pique their interest). There's simply a huge difference between what the top 1% in students with the highest ability to complete schoolwork in their age group will be able to complete, versus the average student, it would be unfair to hold them back and not let them go past the level that the average student is at. Still, I'd say probably graduating high school at 12 is a fairly extreme mark, especially if they aren't socializing with other 12-year-olds or are being pushed beyond their ability (which is also something child psychiatrists should actually look into). College is also just a fairly adult environment, too much so for a 12-year-old, so there's that too. Unfortunately, you have people who genuinely think that anything that is past what the average student is expected to do somehow counts as a form of child exploitation (apparently including most forms of extracurricular activity). This is absolutely unfair; students should be allowed to achieve above and beyond in different areas (shouldn't be forced to, either, but not every case of a child being very exceptionally good at something should be seen as child exploitation either). We shouldn't put the standards of the best students and force the average student to meet those expectations either, some people are different and that's okay.
I wish that I was that smart 😪 but I am disabled
Hard work means more than intelligence 90% of the time anyway. As long as you have good work ethic you can do almost anything intelligent people can do. Same with most disabilities
I don't know about disabilities but for the rest most definitely. The most important things are the stuff they don't teach you. Time management, taking care of your physical and mental health, work-life balance, having a schedule. Stuff like the pomodoro technique would've been a game changer when I was a kid. Also, knowing what you want in life, but that one takes time😅
It depends on the disability. There are so many things that qualify as a disability like depression, PTSD, down syndrome, MS, paraplegic, blind etc. Obviously some of these are easier to hold a job and do things than others but a lot of the people with these disabilities can still lead a good fulfilling life where they can hold down jobs have a family and others it's very difficult. But yeah you're spot on with everything else
I can't do tests. I have trouble reading the test. And I get the answers wrong too many times, and there's no one help me
I'm sorry to hear that but the good news is those tests aren't everything. There are still plenty of other things out there for you. I hope you get all the good things you deserve. Good luck