I agree with both you, and Karma. In retrospect, there is nothing wrong with an artist, or a poet, learning mathematics. The division is probably arbitrary, and probably the result of lack of imagination on the part of the instructors.
In point of clarification, it is interesting that you mention Nick, who wasn't the subject of the conversation, Ben was, but Nick probably has more of a scientific bent than his brother, Ben. More likely than not, your intution at work.
I remember, the first time I coached Ben's cadre in "spontaneous" for Odyssey of the Mind, five out of the seven boys on that first day were sitting straight up and in a line, all eager, like the oysters in "The Walrus and the Carpenter." Ben, and his buddy, Zaal (father Georgian, not from U.S. Georgia), both reclined, at an angle. I thought to myself, this is the clearest depiction of right vs. left brain that I have ever seen, but there was no one to tell it to.
How to inculcate these brilliant young minds, without being too hard, nor too soft, is a difficult thing. I don't think, however, that anyone with an IQ lower than the kids have should even venture the effort.
I don't know if I made clear that the recent tragedy in Ben's mind was not getting accepted into Thomas Jefferson, the "brain" school. Not, I believe, on the basis of native ability, but on the basis of maturity and developed skills, at which, quite frankly, he is woefully inadequate. His best buddy, Robert, who was accepted into TJ, has painted a dismal picture of what it's like to be a student there. The biology teacher calls himself "the mean fat biology teacher," and jokes about flunking students. The C++ teacher is nicknamed "the devil." These are 9th graders, having to deal with these egocentric lunatics.
All I can say, in amelioration, is that it's never been any better as far as I can remember. These sadistic pricks are the norm.
At the same time, I can't help but believe that if I had been a "better mother," done more, somehow he would have gotten accepted into TJ. I am, however, grateful that he wasn't. That's between me and you. If it were any harder, I don't see how he'd do it. Especially now that crew will be eating up two hours a day. |
