One of the interesting problems gifted programs deal with is that "gifted" students are often gifted in very different ways and in different subject areas, and the system hasn't yet figured out how to determine these narrow gifted areas and how to challenge those.

The programs also try to cultivate those gifted areas instead of trying to bring the non-gifted parts up to speed as well. So the gifted student gets disservice from both ends.

I'm not even convinced I was ever gifted in any meaningful capacity. I met far too many peers in high school that were never part of any gifted program that demonstrated aptitude at or above my own.

Gifted simply means you're not being challenged by the coursework. It's a label they hand to certain kids, like ADD, that doesn't mean anything other than what they've observed. They don't have the time or the expertise in every school to drill any deeper.

I spent most of my childhood reading and doing sports. Didn't ever pay attention in school except math and history, where I lucked out and had good teachers who kicked our asses.

Reading/screwing around with computers was a great way to learn, honestly, but I'd prefer to have a good teacher if possible. My best teacher was in 3rd grade, and he was made to quit because some parents thought he graded too hard. Dude was chill, read us Beowulf, Watership Down, made us write poetry every night.

> Reading/screwing around with computers was a great way to learn, honestly, but I'd prefer to have a good teacher if possible.

My point was that, despite being lazy for a year and only advancing at the rate that my curiosity dictated, I ended up ahead of my peers who spent 7 hours a day in class learning school stuff, and countless hours doing homework.

This led to a very boring 8th grade year.