Instead of starting threads taking the piss out of G&T children why don't you all just...

[PhantomOfTheChocolateCakeAvena]

stop it. It's pathetic.

Thanks.

G&T doesn't exist in ds's school by the way. They are all bright. It's soo much better this way.

Anyone who has been through Oxbridge and can still laugh is either an imbecile or a fucking genius

phantom, you seem to be taking offence at anything, frankly. The piano thread is funny and good humoured. The free school dinners thread is asking an important question about the link between a G&T label and privilege. If you see insults everywhere, that's unhealthily paranoid.

Aye but Jimjams and Mabanana you have both hit the nail on the head many on G&T are not in fact that exceptional they are just fecking bright and can cope quite happily in the main. If however you are in freaky clever territory it is a whole different ball game and maybe some of those children do need help. And not necessarily because they are not NT but because they are different.

Also no labels are applied in Scotland but kids just KNOW when someone is different for whatever reason.

I think Oxbridge is full of both

Maybe the whole G&T stuff doesn't bother me because my dd isn't in school yet?
Lord help me when she does. Bitchy parents at the school gates criticising what I do / say / wear (God forbid I'm not there myself), competitive parenting and now the whole G&T topic too.

Oh I don't know gomez- I know someone in that category - he went to a bog standard comprehensive and did fine. I'm sure there will be some who need some support, but that's true of children anywhere on the IQ spectrum

If you read those threads mabanana you will be able to see the sarcastic comments for yourself. I'm not taking offence but they are hardly supportive.

"I do not buy for a moment that being clever makes life hard."

haha - what about being talented? (remember gifted and talented doesn't just cover those that are going to get 15 A*'s at GSCE).

I was musically talented as a child and life was a bloody nightmare for me. I was teased and tormented when I chose to spend some of my breaktimes and lunchtimes in the music room practising well I did have auditions for senior schools coming up - but no-one, not even the teachers understood that). People no doubt talked about my parents as "snobs" and "pushy" because they'd let me auditon for music scholarships, and spent much of their freetime (and money) on my music. They didn't push me I wanted to do it.

I was lucky and then moved to a school which was full of musically talented people (if they were musically talented they wouldn't have got int). Many had similar stories to me. Several have gone on to make their living in the music world.

I have no doubts that my musicality, and their decision to let me apply for scholarshops would mean I would be boarding away from home caused them a great deal of worry and anxeity. I know they agonised as to whether it was "fair" to let me go when they couldn't afford to pay for my brother to go private, and he would never have got a scholarship or bursary to help (I ended up on a full scholarship)

Wtih regards to academic giftedness - children also get bullied and called "geeks" if they so much as show hint of really intelligence.

God knows what the parents of one girl I went to school with went through, not only was she was exceptionally talented violinist, she was also extremely gifted academically - she is now working at the Gregor Mendel Institute in quite a high position.

I do think that a lot of people take the p*ss with it - which means that parents of those children who are gifted and talented (whether because they fit in that 5/10% or whtehr because they really are incredibly gifted or talented).

Oh guy.

"knows what the parents of one girl I went to school with went through, not only was she was exceptionally talented violinist, she was also extremely gifted academically - she is now working at the Gregor Mendel Institute in quite a high position."
I rather think the last part of your final sentence speaks volumes about why this is not a tragedy or disability.

Support is needed for the very special parents who were selected specially by god to give birth to such perfect, yet persecuted beings. They've all given birth to Jesus, and the burden they carry is a heavy one, like a cross to bear. They need support. Because that makes them as important and special as their very special child.

Or something? I dunno? [thicko]

Guy, you sound like you had a fantastic education, in an amazing school surrounded by people who shared your passion. You seem determined to paint yourself as a victim, what with your 'no doubt peopel talked about my parents as "snobs" and "pushy" - er you just made that up!

This girl may be working here but can you imagine how isolated and unhappy she was when she was growing up? I spent many years feeling out of place and unhappy, it's really not a nice feeling. I don't envy any child for this. We should be able to support all of our children through their childhood, without having the piss taken.

The problem is that there are parents who have pfbs who think that because they do quite ordinary things they are exceptional. Then we get into the whole "Oh I am so worried that little Jocasta won't fit in at the local school because she is so ADVANCED". I see no harm at all in poking a little gentle fun at such parents - they need to be brought down to earth a bit and they will look back at their effusions with cringing embarrassment in a few years time. It it never acceptable to take the piss out the children - and I have never, ever come across a thread on here that does. Preciousness and pomposity needs to be deflated.

Evening QV

I saw no evidence that she 'went through' anything. She was clever and a good violinist, which gave her access to what sounds like a truly remarkable school and she now has a satisfying career. Where's the tragedy?

Being bullied, ostracised or singled out is not just the domain of G & T children you know.

It happens to children who havent got the cahoonas or plenty brians.

zillions of teenagers feel out of place and unhappy. I see no evidence that being clever makes it worse. I imagine struggling and failing is infinitely more depressing, as well as more likely to lead to a life of difficulty and poverty.

I've missed you lady

kerrymum I have a child with s.n to and I have a gifted and talented son of 18 who has a kind of a special need also. I don't think that anybody on here has a laugh at gifted and talented kids. I don't have a laugh at any children. My opinion is that most g &t are from middle class backgrounds because of opportunities etc. I feel for the kids with so much potential who have problem lives and have no opportunity.
Gifted and talented is good as long as the child is enjoying learning and not being overstretched / pressured. Children should be able to be children also.
Gifted and talented is very hard to determine and somethings posted like my 18 month old can count to 1000 is ridiculous as well as disturbing. Some posts like that amuse me. Gifted and talented is it natural,or is it extra tuition, private education, no playing out, practise papers, pushy parents, parents who are teachers etc,etc. Is it fairly judged? The whole topic is debateable. It is put forward opinions not personal accusations.