Gifted Children

GwylimT

Petra_70 wrote: »

:huh:

That doesn't even make sense. You are only at university for 3 years! That's the length of time it takes to complete a degree.



I stand by what I say. Dropping out after TWO YEARS is utter madness. You are two thirds of the way through your degree. As an employer, I would not touch someone who had dropped out of university two thirds of the way through their degree. It shows immaturity and irresponsibility and a lack of seeing things through. I can't believe people keep defending it. No wonder so many young people lack direction and motivation if their parents are happy to let them make stupid decisions.

And I don't believe that so many posters know so many people who dropped out of uni (when they were more than halfway through their degree,) and then went on to have a wonderful successful career; much more successful than they would have had if they had completed their degree!

And why aren't people acknowledging the fact that uni fees have to be paid back IMMEDIATELY if the student drops out without finishing their degree? That's potentially 10s of 1000s that they will be having to pay IMMEDIATELY; not when they start earning over £21K. Why on earth would you support them having serious financial problems so early on in their life?

I am not going to keep repeating myself. I have given my opinions and views and the reasons why I think them several times now, and don't intend to do it again. Nothing anyone says is going to make me feel differently. I am done on this thread.

My son dropped out in his second year, after a year of working he went back to study medicine. As a parent I value my childrens happiness and I don't believe I have the right to make them miserable, I most certainly don't have the right to control any adult, I wouldn't want to either.

He has zero financial problems, is very happy and owns his own home.

Anyway, if you need life saving medical treatment you're more than welcome to go without as he is clearly too irresponsible to administer to it.

daytona0

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

It's a shame for many, but the brightest often drop out because school/uni isn't geared up to them and it's so boring.

Maybe at school level, but university is different!

At school level you are being forced to do it, but at university level you initially choose to do it! I find it mental how you can go through GCSE and A-levels with great grades only to then complete part of a degree!

Thoughts:

1. If you can survive many years of compulsory education (and get really good grades) then why can't you survive three years of voluntary education?

2. If you leave because it "isn't geared up to [you] and it's so boring" then would this be a reflection on your professional working life at a later date?

3. Why did you initially choose to do it in the first place?!


I suppose I'm an idealist in that I'd like to see the funding provided to your husband for his failed degree go to a school in a rough part of Liverpool to support those students who, despite being gifted (by your definition), have no way of becoming Vice President of a household name company or in one of the top 4 accountancy firms....

But hey ho, I don't think that this will happen

(although I appreciate that I dropped out after 1 semester at university, and the SLC was very quick in getting back the bursary/loan money! I did, however, go on to complete a full degree elsewhere)

Davesnave

daytona0 wrote: »

Every child is gifted.

wannabe_sybil wrote: »

Absolutely agree with this.

I don't disagree, but it's important to find and nurture the gift. Even then, it might only become a key to something else, lying within.

My daughter is dyslexic. When her incredibly powerful singing voice was discovered and encouraged, she somehow found the confidence to stand in front of the school on Show Night and belt it out like Aretha Frankin .

However, although she kept it up to some extent, the singing wasn't really what she was about; she just used it to break the confidence shackles that had held her back, socially and academically.

It was a sea change. She polished-off the GCSEs and A levels and went on to study Art, which was her main love. All power to the school for recognising her true talents.

As a teacher, I sometimes had pupils with great artistic ability, but on parents' evenings the attitude often was,"Well, that's very nice, but what about numeracy and literacy?" They clearly thought I was plugging the good news about art to distract from the 'real' business of schooling! The notion of children as organic wholes was not strong

I still think my daughter could make money, singing, but it's not for me to choose. She met someone at art college whose skills complement hers, and together they make a great team, so they'll never go hungry. More important, they're happy too.

wannabe_sybil

When I go to parents' evening I ask three questions.

1. Is bear happy
2. Has he got friends
3. Is he well behaved.

As far as I can tell he is doing okay with 2 and 3 but he ain't hitting 1. That is not just because of any of this 'gifted' stuff. However it isn't helping.

I have hidden stuff bear has done from other parents in the playground after one parent accidentally saw what bear was doing and had a screaming fit. Literally, standing in a car park screaming. That is, actually screaming and shouting. It was scary.

I love it when he does something amazing, but all kids do amazing stuff. I just want him to be happy.

Lunar_Eclipse

daytona0 wrote: »

3. Why did you initially choose to do it in the first place?!


I suppose I'm an idealist in that I'd like to see the funding provided to your husband for his failed degree go to a school in a rough part of Liverpool to support those students who, despite being gifted (by your definition), have no way of becoming Vice President of a household name company or in one of the top 4 accountancy firms....

I'm not aware that I have defined gifted. My interpretation, is the one commonly understand and measured by IQ.

Although it was my husband's choice to go to university, I'm not sure he really gave it much thought and really knew that he had a choice. I don't recall any conversations taking place about alternatives, for him nor me. There were only two girls in my year at sixth form who didn't go to university; one went straight into nursing (now you do need a degree) and the other went to secretarial college. At the time, if you did well at school, the assumption was you went to university. He thought it was the best option at the time.

Why do you feel gifted children living somewhere like Liverpool can't become successful?

My husband went to university overseas, so didn't use up any valuable funding here. He is however now contributing to the UK in many ways.

LandyAndy

wannabe_sybil wrote: »

I have hidden stuff bear has done from other parents in the playground after one parent accidentally saw what bear was doing and had a screaming fit. Literally, standing in a car park screaming. That is, actually screaming and shouting. It was scary.

.

Well, if he will swivel his head through 360 degrees and growl........

wannabe_sybil

LandyAndy wrote: »

Well, if he will swivel his head through 360 degrees and growl........

to be honest, I wasn't sure the other parent wouldn't.

The other kid is a sweetie, and bear can learn a lot from him about manners. I still flinch from the mother sometimes.

Petra_70

daytona0 wrote: »

Maybe at school level, but university is different!

At school level you are being forced to do it, but at university level you initially choose to do it! I find it mental how you can go through GCSE and A-levels with great grades only to then complete part of a degree!

Thoughts:

1. If you can survive many years of compulsory education (and get really good grades) then why can't you survive three years of voluntary education?

2. If you leave because it "isn't geared up to [you] and it's so boring" then would this be a reflection on your professional working life at a later date?

3. Why did you initially choose to do it in the first place?!

:T

My sentiments exactly. And at last, someone talking a bit of sense.

I agree particularly with the paragraph that I have bolded. As I said earlier in the thread; if you quit a degree after 2 years, and you can't be bothered to complete the last year; that reflects very poorly on you as a person. It shows you can't see things through, and have no staying power or determination. I would not even give this person an interview for a job, let alone employ them.

I am amazed also, at how many people have gone on to do amazing things and achieve incredible levels of success in their life, despite dropping out of university... and even earning £150K a year.

It's quite incredible actually.

I can imagine that these people whose children achieved these amazing levels of success, probably work 3 jobs and do 77 hours a week at work, and walk 7 miles to get there.

GwylimT wrote: »

My son dropped out in his second year, after a year of working he went back to study medicine. As a parent I value my childrens happiness and I don't believe I have the right to make them miserable, I most certainly don't have the right to control any adult, I wouldn't want to either.

He has zero financial problems, is very happy and owns his own home.

Anyway, if you need life saving medical treatment you're more than welcome to go without as he is clearly too irresponsible to administer to it.

That's absolutely smashing! So great that your son has done so well. And it would be intensely amazing if he saved my life one day!

(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)

quidsy

Petra_70 wrote: »

:T

I am amazed also, at how many people have gone on to do amazing things and achieve incredible levels of success in their life, despite dropping out of university... and even earning £150K a year.

It's quite incredible actually.

I can imagine that these people whose children achieved these amazing levels of success, probably work 3 jobs and do 77 hours a week at work, and walk 7 miles to get there.

Jealousy is a terrible trait. It's a shame you haven't achieved the same level of success as some drop outs but that's life. Suck it up

Mr_Costcutter

I'm not sure I understand the term ''gifted'' - it makes no sense to me at all. Each one of us is a unique human being and may be good at some things and not so good at others. Our profiles will never match.