School trip for G&T kids. I don't approve, but not sure what to do.

I have no objection at all to special activities for G&T children- but this was a trip that would have benefitted the whole class. I honestly can't see the justification, particularly as it was related to a whole class project.

Of course you would be selfish. There's no room to be anything else these days. It's all very well denying your children things because it was a G&T trip and you didn't want to make it obvious or her friend didn't get to go. But really, in the future when the motivation for the effort has been crushed out of them for the sake of everyone else, do you think when they are stuck flipping burgers that they wil think "least those other kids felt better" ? No they will wish they had taken the opportunities when they had the chance. They won't see them again after school and would you deny your children the chances for a bunch of people they won't even remember in ten years time.

As the OP says it is not a co-incidence that the majority of the kids that are being offered the G and T trip probably have lots of opportunities already, so this is a case of the more they have the more they have the more they will be given. I don't doubt that some of these children are academically gifted but I also think that it is more often the case that any potential is already being realised and enhanced through advantageous backgrounds.

Trips aren't like extra academic activities they are seen as a treat to most children. It might have been better to take all children on the trip particularly as it was linked to a project they are all doing and to give the G and T group some extra task to stretch them.

Most parents would do as Rosencratnz suggests, they want to further their kid's education even if it seems selfish.

However IMO the school is wrong, it is a lazy and unfair way of ensuring G and T political criteria are met.

Two of mine are g&t in one area and the other is dyslexic.

They all get (or got) the appropriate help.

I don't see a problem.

My DC's school arranged a workshop at a theatre in London for gifted, talented and passionate pupils. My sons English has slipped quite a bit since he has been on meds for epilepsy so I think he went as a 'passionate' pupil rather than gifted or talented. He really enjoyed the trip and all the activities and I was very impressed with the school for organizing it. In previous years he went on a Maths and a Geography trip ( he is very good at those subjects) and again I thought they were very good. The teacher asked him to share what he did on the Maths trip with the rest of the class. I don't have a problem with them.

I would go for a chat with the teacher or trip organiser and ask them specifically what the learning objectives are for the trip and just see what they say.

I wouldn't do anything either. Extra help should t just be confined to those struggling. It's not righteous to have kids coasting and bored for fear of what people might think. The other kids parents won't be thinking about your G&T kids when they take their extras. They will be grabbing it with both hands.

Brams, I wouldn't do anything.

I do have a G&T kid, yes. She's G&T at music, and I was frustrated at the lack of extra provision for kids in that catetory. Take what you can get.

If it was a trip for SN, kids who speak English as a second language, I don't think people would complain. Why should g&t be any dufferent?

My dd is set to be probably the higher end of average. But average none the less. If those below average get help and support and in some schools extra activities for the pp children who are identified on all these threads as being the ones in need. Then there absolutely should be something for the G&T kids.

As long as the middle aren't the forgotten average and there are trips and stuff the whole class go on then i don't see the problem. Yeah I'm sure it sucks for those higher end average kids who are borderline BUT it's bloody tough out there and those kids should be able to go far not held back because of the other children.

Realise we've also all ignored the whole point of the OP's post!

She doesn't approve - she wasn't asking for opinions on whether or not that was right. She was asking what she should DO.

That's more tricky IMO. In Y7, and with a new-ish relationship with the school to build, I'd probably just grump about it and do nothing. Or bring it up at parents eve with specific reference to your DD.

No, titchy- there are two separate museums involved. And the second one, the one the G&T contingent is going to is directly connected to a whole class project..............

titchy - no, the whole year trip is to a different museum.

Going against the general flow here, I tend to agree with you OP.

However, I know from DDs old school that a similar group were taken to a local arts centre to see an exhibition, and then did an extended writing project that would have been beyond most other DCs in the year. The trip wasn't about introducing them to the gallery, but collaboratively working on a specific project. The work produced was outstanding, and I think exactly the sort of G&T extension work we'd all hope for for our DCs.

Curlew - the whole year ARE going to the museum! This is an extra visit for those who have been identified as academically G & T who presumably will have a different programme of activities to do at the museum which wouldn't have been suitable for the majority of the cohort.

To answer OP's later question - I have one on G & T and one not (arguably the brighter of the two....go figure!).

If you are good at something, you should be encouraged.

I was at an SN boarding school but took language classes at the high school. I was moved into the IB Spanish 3 class from Spanish 2 and SN school complained. I wanted to work at the UN as a teen and know 7 languages now.

Let the G&T kids go on their trip.

So hoping that middleaged and rosencrantz are being ironic.......

Hmm - I'm with you OP - it sounds badly thought out.

DD1 is in Y6 and G & T for English, so she's been on some workshops at the secondary school to develop her creative writing. IMO an excellent use of resources and a well-thought through extension activity. Others have been for maths stuff etc.

This isn't that, unless there's a very specific focus that's not apparent now - eg. these kids are going to do a special project based on this trip - produce a newspaper / work up a business plan based on running a successful museum.

I'm a little confused as to why you think the trip isn't relevant because she's G&T with maths.

Maths is not confined to the class room. A museum is a fab place to combine all the subjects those going are G&T at.

Surely the answer is a museum trip for all, with differentiated work during and after?

Everybody can benefit from a museum trip, not just the G&T. It's not like, as in our school, a trip for gifted mathematicians to the university, or talented footballers to the local semi professional club.

Rosencrantz is right. When it comes to your own kids - sod your socialist principles and do what's right for them.

Agree with titch.

Benefits of being g+t act as encouragements to keep trying hard.

Sod the average lot, be selfish and further your own education. Job market doesn't want average.