Factsheets

One mum's talented child dilemma

Sep 25 07:11am

Following the account of a mother who has taken her fight to the High Court for the right to accelerate her child's learning, Sunrise has learned some mothers, faced with the same decision, take a different route

One woman, Robyn MalaxEtxebarria, says when her daughter Gracia was just 6 years old, she was bored at school and needed extra homework/stimulation.
When Gracia was was 9, Robyn asked the Education Department if Gracia could attend the local High School but the Department said no, saying it was concerned about Gracia's social development.That's when the legal battle began.
Robyn took the case to the Anti-Discrimination tribunal, then the Supreme Court and now the High Court on Monday. The Department has fought her all the way.

One mother of a gifted and talented child in Adelaide's western suburbs, with an IQ of 135, says she made a decision to leave her child in his original grade.

"We just thought we weren't sure if it would help him socially."

What would you do if your child was gifted and talented? Tell us below...

While students skipping years ahead or repeating a school year was once seen commonplace, most schools have become resistant to taking action since research found the social costs of moving children often outweighs the academic benefit.

Holly's child showed signs of genius that lead him to be easily distracted in class. One savvy teacher suggested she get him assessed.

"He was found to be 3 or 4 years ahead of his peers in a range of areas." Those areas included logic and problem solving that are often not reflected in academic results.

At home we get by with a little motto - the motto from the Mythbusters TV show.

'If it's worth doing, it's worth over-doing", because we find if he's interested, he will do the work exceptionally. If he's not it just doesn't go anywhere."

"And that's a reason to move him ahead," Holly concedes.

Holly and her husband, after much reading and consultation decided they could handle each situation as it came along - "Plus his teacher at the time was giving him extension lessons anyway."

The value of a perceptive teacher becomes especially clear for a parent of a gifted and talented child.

"Some teachers see this kind of thing as evidence he is not finding the classes interesting enough but others think of it as he's just not concentrating - a behavioural thing."

Related links

Talented kids - how do you know? - Sunrise story

35 Comments Report Abuse

1. rachel_rules4 - Sep 25 08:15am

I would just like to congradulate Robyn for having the guts to support her daughter instead of taking the easy way out

2. jingle.bells32 - Sep 25 08:24am

I think that it is great that Robyn is putting so much effort into her Daughters education but I think that one thing that needs to be considered is the emotional age of the child. Being in highschool can create large amounts of stress that can be hard for younger children.

3. hoskin.ruth - Sep 25 08:28am

Everyone should have a Mum like this! Congratulations Robyn.
Surely common sense will prevail.
An entrance exam for younger kids would solve the problem.Also an interview with the child .
Keep up the good work. Aussie Mums are with you.

4. mumof2sisters - Sep 25 10:54am

Perhaps if there was an entrance exam for primary they might find a lot more kids capable of the same which would then remove the "social" issue. I think a lot of kids get "lost" in the system. Good luck and we support you.

5. mdmelia - Sep 25 11:00am

Well done Robyn, it's unfortunate the Ed. Dept don't honour their policy that all children are entitled to an education that matches their ability.

6. silara_sian - Sep 25 12:35pm

Once you pass lower grades, there is actually little opportunity for socialization at school anyway, so I think mums must do what is academically best for their kid. What's worse, a child that's moved to meet their academic needs or a child who's bored and disruptive in a lower grade?

7. silara_sian - Sep 25 12:36pm

mdmelia also said it well, education should NOT be a one size fits all deal. It just doesn't work for all kids.

8. isobeldeleon - Sep 25 01:12pm

My son is a year younger than his classmates at high school and is actually more mature than most of them. It is usually the case that when a child is highly gifted their mental age is much higher than their chronological age and therefore their social and emotional age is also above their age peers

9. selenag70 - Sep 25 01:20pm

Robyn is fighting for the future of many gifted children and should be congratulated. The comment above is incorrect - the research does NOT suggest that the social costs of accelerating a child outweighs the academic benefits. Benefits of acceleration are social as well as academic.

10. m.sutton4 - Sep 25 02:04pm

thank you Robyn for letting others know that it can be a real fight to get an appropriate education for gifted kids. These are special needs kids and should be educated appropriately.

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