That is the question that will always remain.
Jesus supposedly was a sort of prodigy child at the age of 12. Asking questions.
However, we who understand the bible do believe he was raised "in Nazareth," in a plain sort of way. He was not given everything he ever "wanted" in terms of education (like sending him off to learn from Socrates, Plato and Aristotle types of teachers).
I don't believe it is wrong to have a gifted child. (My daughter seems to absorb literature like a sponge....with hardly any effort).
I do believe it is wrong to assume that excessive "testing" (like the fill in the blank, multiple choice exam) should EVER be forced on a child that is under the age of 10 or 11. It seems that a child simply NEEDS more REAL LIFE experience. Even taking out the trash with momma and watering a garden for a while can serve as BETTER memories and actual EXPERIENCE for a young child. Visiting a new baby relative (like a new cousin) could have a major impact on the child's HEART one day..... "Luk_1:58 And her neighbours and her COUSINS heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her."
Our minds and wills are here with us until we pass away from this earth. Intellectual strengths are fine....but BEWARE that the HEART is given preference to the intellectual strength. Morality is a big deal....and a HEART of awareness is most importance.
In the long run, attitude/character (review Galations 5) , surpasses all the earthly exams that we have in this world.
All in all, I do have a degree from a "competitive college" in Math and Statistics. I know Spanish and basic phrases from Hebrew which is "non-latin" in some way or another....yet still holds "cultural significance" from an indigenous angle. Simply knowing the "stuff" won't help a man, woman or child actually USE the "stuff" in real life. (ie.....reading about how to wash clothes in an ancient way....is different than actually washing clothes on a regular basis). The actual TASK of washing clothes by hand takes patience and a certain amount of emotional strength on the part of the person performing the task.......though the PHYSICS and ENERGY are there.....(socially.....no man can wash clothes under pressure of an "angry man".........so the social significance needs to be there.....not just the physics)........
Types of social/ emotional situations that a child should go through or be exposed to in order to test their endurance:
1. poverty (when a child "wants something".....the parent simply cannot get that item for the child)
2. disabled relatives (the child should clearly communicate and understand the situation of the family member)
3. different culture practices (different hair style, different social routines, different clothing etc.)
4. hard work conditions (flooding? plowing a field by hand or with an animal?)
5. professional types of careers (much testing through life and connections with others created their ability to achieve this level in the career ladder....ie doctor, college president, musician which works with classical music, Accountant for a large company etc.)
6. Drug-addicted people or people who made some bad choices (teenagers who sped and crashed a car). Ask questions about why their life didn't work when they chose to stop listening to wisdom.
7. Refugee status people (what caused this family to "loose everything")
8. People who speak a different language and have a different skin tones, heights, facial features, weights etc.
9. Family members who work in service careers. (donation store, home-health work, social worker etc)
10. People of different faiths than your own. Yes, if that means going to just "observe" a faith instead of being a missionary, then that is what it means for a while. (if there is persecution present in this faith then only speak "outside the temple" and meet in a friendship sort of way....don't actually feel that one needs to go inside "the temple made with hands".
So on and so forth....
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