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Re:For gifted children, being intelligent can have dark impl... by legulere on Friday February 12, 2016 @10:13AM (#11087694)
In Germany we have a three class system for schools (+ a school for children with special needs). The effect of this is that children not get separated by their potential but by the socioeconomic class of their parents. There's research that even at the same grades you're more likely to get a recommendation to go to the highest class of school, Gymnasium, if your parents are from a higher socioeconomic class.

When I was in basic school, before the separation happens, I had a friend that was said to be asozial. Asozial is a common description in Germany for low class people without basic education. His father was alcoholic, they lived in a really run down house and his parents weren't able to help him with the topics covered in basic school. At no point did I have the feeling that he was somehow dumber or less intelligent. What he was struggling with was the situation he was in. Meanwhile I was struggling with add and was only able to get through the first years of school with the help of my mother that made me sit down at the table until all homework was finished. When my parents saw that we struggled only the slightest bit they helped us with school. I didn't get private tutoring, but that seems to be extremely common now. Another thing that's only available to kids of affluent families.

The vibe I'm getting from Sweden (I lived there for a while, learned the language and still follow the news), is that it's moving to a more and more class-segregated country. Sure, everybody can look for the best school for their children, but only parents from higher socioeconomic classes will do that.

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