I had an aptitude and respect for natural science, environmental science, physics and architecture/design at an early age. Even by the age of two, to hear my parents talk about it. What disinterested me was political science, history and social sciences. Of course, being in a typical American public school, the concentrations were diluted so that the students could get a well-rounded education, which I think is a great idea on a certain level. (I mean how would you know you loved social science if you had never been exposed to it?)
However, when there is a clear aptitude in one direction or another, it seems that children should be encouraged to go in that direction even if it means eliminating a semester, here and there, of courses that do not meet their personal needs. Somewhere in those 12 years, customization should be possible.
Or one could follow the example of the KIPP schools. Hard, hard work. Serious discipline and long, long hours. But those kids don't even have time to play.
Jennifer
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