<p>dmd77:</p>
<p>I don’t think that the middle-school Earth Science will give a student anything close to the system you are talking about. I love Earth Science (my mom is a geologist, and I picked up a lot of it above and beyond of what is taught in school). But (unless Kelowna’s DS’s school is a pleasant exception) I don’t think that the class will give this kid anything he can’t get from a book. There’s also a course like this in CTY <a href=“http://cty.jhu.edu/cde/science/earthandspace.html[/url]”>http://cty.jhu.edu/cde/science/earthandspace.html</a></p>
<p>Kelowna:
This is not “pushing”. For gifted kids, the appropriate level (challenging for them) is essential for their well-being. I agree that many schools are not offering enough to these kids (and you are actually in quite a lucky situation when the school is not preventing your kid from going ahead, and is offering you the acceleration… many parents have to fight for this kind of arrangements). If the scheduling will prevent him from taking Biology, try to find some supplement for DS. Good luck!</p>