The pack mentality of the present school system works for the group often at the expense of the individual.

Case in point. A bright girl enters school already ahead of her classmates in many subject areas.

Are her abilities celebrated, is she challenged, praised, supported in maximizing her potential?

HELL NO! She’s told to stay with the pack, don’t work ahead, do the same busy work as the other students which bores the hell out of her.

This sends the message that education isn’t an individual pursuit. That it needs to be steered by an authority figure who isn’t interested in what you love.

I’m not saying this is the intention, I’m saying this is the message often received. How do I know? I work with these kids that’s how.

We work hard to undo the damage caused by the curiosity suffocation that can occur, hopefully unintentionally.

“Off task” has become a euphemism for using your imagination at a time when it inconveniences an authority figure or the pack.

It’s a wonder many of these kids end up working alone.

I call BS on this pack mentality and encourage parents and teachers to work closely together to allow a gifted student to blow past her peers academically if it means she learns to bring the best version of herself into the world.

Our world needs more female leaders and when they show up at a young age the last thing you should do is hold them back.

That’s the kind of education she needs.