My kids don't generally fit the gifted kid stereotype of having a strong sense of social justice. However, occasionally, it flares up in my daughter.
Our schools give those kids with gifted services a compacted math curriculum in 4th grade, such these kids have a 1-year acceleration heading into middle school. Occasionally, a child is placed into this class as a 3rd grader. My daughter knows of 7 kids in the district (5 through our elementary school and 2 more she knows in the community). It evidently has not escaped her notice that she's the only girl who has been accelerated in this way despite the fact that the gifted program is ~50% girls.
"Mom, why is it that it's mostly boys?"
"Why do you think? Do you think with just 7 kids it's just chance?"
"I don't think so. That's pretty low chance. Like 1%"
(Me, reaching for a calculator and discovering she's right).
"So why do you think it's like that? Do you think it's right?"
"I don't know. Is it girls parents don't let them do it, or that the teachers discourage girls without realizing it?"
"Another factor at work might also be that teachers are sadly less likely to notice or realize that the girls need more when they're in 2nd grade. I think you should ask Mrs. P___ about it, since she's involved in looking at gifted services in the district right now. I bet she'd be interested in your thoughts."
"Hmm, I wonder if I could get her off topic during class today. She loves discussions like that. It would be a lot better than more grammar."
Our schools give those kids with gifted services a compacted math curriculum in 4th grade, such these kids have a 1-year acceleration heading into middle school. Occasionally, a child is placed into this class as a 3rd grader. My daughter knows of 7 kids in the district (5 through our elementary school and 2 more she knows in the community). It evidently has not escaped her notice that she's the only girl who has been accelerated in this way despite the fact that the gifted program is ~50% girls.
"Mom, why is it that it's mostly boys?"
"Why do you think? Do you think with just 7 kids it's just chance?"
"I don't think so. That's pretty low chance. Like 1%"
(Me, reaching for a calculator and discovering she's right).
"So why do you think it's like that? Do you think it's right?"
"I don't know. Is it girls parents don't let them do it, or that the teachers discourage girls without realizing it?"
"Another factor at work might also be that teachers are sadly less likely to notice or realize that the girls need more when they're in 2nd grade. I think you should ask Mrs. P___ about it, since she's involved in looking at gifted services in the district right now. I bet she'd be interested in your thoughts."
"Hmm, I wonder if I could get her off topic during class today. She loves discussions like that. It would be a lot better than more grammar."