We’ve all heard about the advantages of private schools—from the small class sizes to the higher academic standards. Even when it comes to extracurriculars, students from private schools appear to have an advantage over students from public schools. Plus, students in private schools get more personalized attention and are able to develop better as individuals. Getting into college is easier when you go to a private school. Indeed, the list of advantages goes on and on. However, there are certainly other reasons why you should send your kids to private schools—reasons which haven’t been dwelt upon that much. These have to do with teaching gifted children.
Schools Encourage Certain Subjects Over Others
According to Sir Ken Robinson, who has given one of the most-watched Ted talks ever (garnering 18 million views), the school system often discourages creativity in children. The subjects which are usually emphasized in school are English and Math, sometimes science. But, Ken Robinson says, why not dance? We all have bodies. We can all dance. So, why aren’t we all taught to dance?
Sir Ken Robinson and the Story of Gillian Lynne
Robinson gives the example of a little girl in the 1930s who was so fidgety during class that she disrupted everyone around her and just couldn’t do well on these subjects. Her teachers thought she had a learning disorder and her mother ended up taking her to a specialist. In front of the girl, the specialist spoke to the mother about the problems the girl was having. Then, he said he wanted to speak to the mother privately and asked the little girl to wait while they talked outside. Rather slyly, he turned on the radio while they left the room.
Once outside, they looked into the office from a window to find that the little girl had started dancing to the music. The entire time that they were outside, she was dancing. And the teacher told the little girl’s mother that her daughter did not have a learning disorder. Instead, she was a dancer and she should be taken to dance school. The mother agreed to try this out and the little girl was so happy when she got into dance school. Here she was, surrounded by other little girls just like her. It was heaven.
Today, Would Gillian Lynne Be Diagnosed With ADHD?
Remember that all this occurred in the 1930s. Back then, they didn’t have terms like ADHD. Robinson says that if this little girl was in school now, she would be diagnosed with ADHD and given some medication to help her concentrate on schoolwork. Luckily for this little girl, this didn’t happen to her. Instead, she joined the Royal Ballet school from where she graduated, then founded her own dance company, met Andrew Lloyd Webber and did the choreography for Cats and Phantom of the Opera. Her name is Gillian Lynne and she is now a multimillionaire.
Private School Help You Find Out If Your Child Is Gifted
It turned out that Gillian Lynne didn’t have a learning disorder; she was just a dancer. Is it possible that your child may also discover that they are one of the gifted children and talented in a similar way? It’s possible. One of the many benefits of a private school is that children are given personal attention. Their habits are observed. And if they love doing certain things at the expense of others, then this is more likely to come to the forefront in a private school.
This is not to say that a child shouldn’t learn English or math. They should, of course. But if your child’s talents lie in a different direction, then it will be easier to spot this and encourage them to move in that direction in a private school. They can be encouraged to work harder at the subjects they love and at least do moderately well at the ones that they can’t seem to wrap their heads around.
Learn More About the Advantages of Private Schools for Gifted Children
At a private school, it’s not just assumed that if a child doesn’t fit the mold, then they have a disorder. Instead, each child’s case is taken separately and given equal, unbiased attention.
Contact us to learn more about private schools and how they can help your child.