<p>Opie: I have a D who is both gifted and has an LD. Of all her siblings and her bright friends, she was the only one who did not have a big struggel when the workload reached a level which could not be addressed by just being smart, but rather required hard work. Because she had always worked hard to stay up with the work, due to her LD, yet others to whom it had come so easily, there was a time, usually around grade 10/11 when the workload escalated dramatically, it never got “hard” for her, because it had always been hard, whereas the other kids were so surprised.</p>
<p>That’s kind of been my point here a bit. Do you let a natural talent do their own thing or do you look down the road for them and make them develope the habits for 5,10 or lifetime from now? </p>
<p>Now both my K’s work very hard now, but early on one didn’t have to and one needed extra help to get rolling. The path the older was on certainly could be alot worse than now except for a teacher who saw the bigger picture. My D, like your D, never probably had the luxury of phoning it in. Plus her B made it look so easy for a while that she be damned if he was going to beat her. extra incentive. </p>
<p>Except for a change in district math programs to comply with NCLB, she might have passed him on the SAT’s rather than finish 20 points (1 or 2 questions) below him. His math program was better suited for the SAT, hers a few years later, was about getting out of HS, not going to college. Alot of holes that “now” they are starting to address.</p>
<p>I’m sure Dufusmom is wondering what the heck happened to the thread ;)</p>
<p>(Sorry D.M., but we all just get carried away like this. Happens all the time)</p>
<p>Still hoping that you are pondering over the situation. Don’t do anything rash; but don’t do nothing either. You did mention that something else happened recently with other team-members, that was more serious, and they got off with no consequences? Strict standards are fine with me, but double standards make me ill. Is this something you can enquire about? Also, does the coach have a handbook, or set of written expectations/consequences that you can refer to?</p>
<p>Speaking as someone who was kicked out of the school debate club by teachers who then lied about the incident to the rest of the club and the principal…
Opie’s been making some very sensible posts in my opinion and I don’t see any malice in them. No need to automatically assume bringing up another viewpoint is a personal attack 
I think it’s reasonable for any sort of educator at that level to be frustrated with someone who could work harder but coasts. Personally, I often wish I had someone nagging me in my earlier years to put in the work rather than just knowing I would get through it easily (which is why I’m here procrastinating on the internet rather than working on my essay due in next week!). </p>
<p>To the issue at hand though, I would also say it’s not a good example to the rest of the team, who perhaps can’t win debate with no preparation. Perhaps that was a consideration? What I would be inclined to do is politely enquire as to the coach’s reasoning for the decision, and explain your kid’s point of view, for example mentioning that your kid feels that others are getting away with things while he is being punished. The coach may have good reasoning that your kid is not privy to and calm discussion should hopefully avoid the notorious teachers’ united front! If you’re not satisfied with the results of that, I would then take it to the principal.</p>