As a teacher, I don't want my children to be considered gifted.

I have spent the last 15 years working in gifted and talented education and have worked with over 5,000 students. I've worked at three separate schools. <br><br>Our district has a 35% gifted population for middle school and high school. <br><br>I've seen the worst of the gifted population and it's fucking terrifying. <br><br>We have kids who are unkind, mean, bullies, and sometimes violent. <br><br>We have kids who are depressed, anxious, and have horrible mental health. <br><br>We have kids who don't work hard and get good grades doing the bare minimum. <br><br>No one holds these students accountable. When it's pointed out to parents or administration that these students are doing things wrong they are protected. <br><br>The parents tell me that their children are stressed and need to blow off steam. The kids spend their weekends picking on the less smart. Not so they can go to a good college or make more money, but to feel superior. To show everyone that they are better. <br><br>These students cheat. I've had students openly cheat in class. When confronted by a colleague or me they tell us to go fuck ourselves and smile. When I turn them in they are let off with a warning. The parents say that gifted kids are anxious and need to be able to copy off of each other so they can be ok. They say that all kids cheat and that it just comes with the territory. They are usually right. Nothing usually comes of it. I've never seen a gifted kids held accountable for cheating. I've seen two non-gifted kids held accountable. <br><br>I've seen gifted kids place their success on everyone's failure. They see others as competition and they must lose. It doesn't matter how good they do, as long as everyone else does worse. <br><br>They don't work hard. They get good grades without doing any of the work. They don't study, they don't participate, they don't read the material. <br><br>I've seen gifted kids kill themselves. I've had two that I know of. I've seen a handful attempt. <br><br>I've seen gifted kids fall apart with they have to do something difficult. <br><br>I've seen gifted kids know everything and have to correct their teachers. They usually do this loudly and with condescension. <br><br>I've had a gifted student turn in my work as his own. I spent 20 hours on it. He got a 100%. I was told to only give him 100% and to never accuse a gifted student of cheating or stealing work. <br><br>The only times I've seen them work hard is to learn how to manipulate people. They know exactly what to say to make me feel sorry for them. <br><br>I know there are some good gifted kids, but they are few and far between. <br><br>My children will not be tested. I hope they are average. I want them to have friends. I want them to work hard for success. I want them to be kind. I want them to view others as human beings not things to be used and destroyed. <br><br>I've loved my job for 15 years. I wish I could get out of education.