<p>The tough classes don't mentally and physically drain S1. It's the easy, boring ones that do. The toughest classes set him on fire.</p>
<p>^^. Countingdown is so right! That was exactly the problem my S faced in elementary school. He still feels that way as a college senior, just passed up a chance to take an easy class that would be fun but where he would not learn much (his words).</p>
<p>I knew I was in trouble when I asked mathson what he liked best on the playground, and he said the thing bar thing (Swing</a> Bars :: Fitness and Exercise Equipment :: Commercial Playground :: Maryland Materials) "because it was hard".</p>
<p>A major part of S's rationale for choosing the college he did was he felt it "would challenge me to grow more as a person" than anywhere else he considered. He wanted to be set on fire in other subjects besides the ones that have always consumed his interests. His other choices, all excellent schools, would have let him stay in that comfortable math/CS niche.</p>
<p>He was very disappointed he chose Honors Lit senior year instead of AP Lit, because the course was boring, he tuned out and his grade was lower than it would have been had he taken AP. Had he known he'd have to do art projects in senior honors English, he would have <em>gladly</em> analyzed poetry for a semester!</p>
<p>The problem is that many parents push their kids along from the minute they are born. Everyone wants to be a leg up on everyone else. It's truly sad. High school should be about high school courses... college courses in college.</p>
<p>Coming to this thread late. Please forgive me if this has already been said.</p>
<p>First, neither of my kids is a math person or ready for those advanced courses in high school. Both felt pretty good about plain old AP Calc.</p>
<p>Having said that, I know many of the kids whose parents spoke here are.</p>
<p>I am very happy they were able to have courses that really challenged them in high school. It's exciting to me to think of them spreading their intellectual wings.</p>
<p>Two factoids:</p>
<p>Math skill peaks early. Why not teach advanced when these students are best able to absorb it?</p>
<p>And I know a entire math department who left their university and started the most successful hedge fund in the world. (Each went from a regular Joe to a billionaire.) They complain that they can't find any Americans to fill their jobs. Math skills aren't adequate according to them. </p>
<p>Now I know this isn't true for the brilliant American kids taking very advanced courses in high school. </p>
<p>So, maybe the US has it wrong and other countries have it right. If a kid has an aptitude challenge it, demand more, not less.</p>
<p>As for writing, I think the problem is writing and language skills are much harder to teach, and most high school teachers are just not competent to do the job.</p>
<p>Sorry if high school English teachers are reading this. I am sure you are the exception.</p>
<p>This was my area of expertise as a young person and my teachers gave up an told me to go the library every day. I ended up graduating a year early which I don't thing was the best choice. Missed all those senior year milestones, including how to drive.</p>
<p>However, I did finally get really challenging humanities courses the minute I dipped my toe in college.</p>
<p>"Isn't the whole college in high school thing getting a bit crazy?"</p>
<p>In a word- YES- whatever happened to learning for learning's sake- engaging one's passions-enjoying all aspects of high school life- developing social as well as academic skills- focus on success as defined by all aspects of life?</p>