Day Nine

Was anyone else classified as “gifted” when they were younger?

Like, what was the point of it?

I know that theoretically, it was to find the kids with “potential” and then supposedly culivate that. But thinking back on it, I really don’t remember doing anything over the top compared to the rest of the kids. I don’t even remember what the criteria was for getting accepted.

I like to think back to when I got classified as “gifted” because of how I decided to be tested.

Basically, I had transferred into a new school district and obviously, all the children were already in their friend group. I, obviously, couldn’t join in on any of the friend groups becuase of how socially awkward I was (still am if we’re being honest). Eventually though, I was able to make a friend.

BUT

One day, some adult came in and took like half the class away, my friend included. I was confused, so I asked the teacher what was happening, where I learned that they were the “gifted” kids were gonna go off to do their own thing.

I was so confused. All I could think about was, “gifted? why are they gifted? am I not gifted? they took my friend, who am I going to talk to now?”

So, rather than trying to talk to the other kids (like a normal person) and make a new friend, I chose to follow my one friend and force the school to recognize me as gifted.

Which brings me to the topic of qualification.

What is gifted? All I remember doing is taking a test and then being accepted. Not sure if that was the same with everyone else but if it is, then does that mean “gifted” just meant better test scores?

I mean it makes sense since we all know schools are just glorified institutions focused on scores so that their board members can get more bonuses from the government.

But man is it such a bad system.

Not only does it encourage test score mentalities, but it also really debilitates these kids’ self esteems growing up.

By getting groups of kids and basically brainwashing them into thinking they’re special and better than the other kids, all you’re really doing is setting them up for failure once they realize they really aren’t all that. On top of that, by creating this new tier of student, it all sets up a hierachy of intelligence, when in reality, test scores don’t mean anything.

It’s really an overglorified system that really brings nothing to the table and really cripples the mental healh of so many kids.

But hey, that’s America for you.