<p>One of the side-effects of living in a tech area is the density of high-intelligence but low-social skill parents and kids. They are the ones who choose our district’s TAG program, something typically avoided by either smart/popular or smart/athletic kids. Our neighbor, a teacher in the elementary program, had to kick the kids out of the classroom during recess because they would rather stay at their desks. They would stand forlornly near the door for 25 minutes until she allowed them back in. </p>
<p>When they get to HS, the ones who do not lottery into one of the choice schools are put in with the general population. The HS teachers call it the “TAG Effect,” when TAG kids presume they will be at the top of the class without much effort but start bombing tests and are getting lower grades than some of the non-TAG kids. Some recover, some don’t, some were never quite as smart as they were led to believe. </p>
<p>I guess what I’m getting at is that our program works for some and not at all for others, and is not necessarily great for the kids selected.</p>