Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: billybudd
I was a math/physics geek when I was a kid. Took Calculus at 13 and university Mathematics throughout High-School.

The hardest thing to teach a child genius, and the thing that they most need to know, is that excellence in one field does not translate into excellence in another. The same mental skills that you are using in your area of expertise will not necessarily translate to other skills which will be necessary as an adult.

Unfortunately, the best way to teach them this is to drive them hard at their area of aptitude. The expectations have to be high enough that they occasionally stumble and their imperfections are made obvious. At that point, it is much easier to point out the values of emotional control, social skills, time management, etc.

In addition, they need to be put in continuous contact with well balanced adults who have 'been there' when they were kids. Having someone like that in their life will give them a proper sense of perspective on life. They can also begin to pick up their emotional habits through osmosis.

Frankly the trouble isn't getting along with the other kids, that's overrated. The difficulty is finding good adult role models who have the right perspective on their gifts but who can guide them to be well-balanced adults.

Someone also needs to inform this kid that while Non-Newtonian propulsion MAY be made possible by super-string theory, there is a rather large engineering hurdle to cross as well? Someone should find a good commercial use for Electroweak theory first.
57 posted on 11/06/2005 12:53:13 PM PST by Netheron
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies ]


To: Netheron
I'd prefer that young Song work on AI and nanotechnology. Both are clearly the keys to get to the "next level."

Ref: Staring Into The Singularity

60 posted on 11/06/2005 12:59:51 PM PST by sourcery (Either the Constitution trumps stare decisis, or else the Constitution is a dead letter.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies ]

To: Netheron

Someone should find a good commercial use for Electroweak theory first.

Every vacuum cleaner I have ever owned was an Electroweak.


80 posted on 11/06/2005 7:57:19 PM PST by Syberyenta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson