Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site aplvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!seismo!rlgvax!cvl!umcp-cs!aplvax!eric From: eric@aplvax.UUCP Newsgroups: net.kids Subject: Re: 'Talented and Gifted' program - (nf) Message-ID: <513@aplvax.UUCP> Date: Wed, 15-Feb-84 15:54:31 EST Article-I.D.: aplvax.513 Posted: Wed Feb 15 15:54:31 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 18-Feb-84 03:23:34 EST References: <862@inmet.UUCP> Organization: JHU/Applied Physics Lab, Laurel, MD Lines: 23 As the product of a T&G program, I thought I would throw in my two cents worth. I went through a program in the mid-west, shortly after it was started (I was in the third year). There was certainly no sign of class bias. My own parents were not particularly well off, and several of my classmates were from lower income families, or minorities (not necessarily the same). There are disadvantages to such programs, such as the danger of elitism, false perception of elitism, etc. But in ordinary classes, I was "dogging" it to avoid harassment from my fellow students, that was not necessary in the T&G class. And I think that most of us ended up to be fairly normal (my own warped self excluded). That is, no Nobel prize winners, some lawyers, docters, car mechanics, salesmen, businessmen, unemployed. The T&G programs do not guarentee riches or super-intellect, but they do give gifted children a chance to excel, and to learn that they are not abnormal. P.S. One difference I do note, I remember most of my classmates from those early years, and in fact often look them up if given the chance. This is probably more a product of going through three years of school together than the T&G program, but it is a nice feeling of camaraderie. -- eric ...!seismo!umcp-cs!aplvax!eric