Fun

After they collected all the information, they had to put their observations of the other person into a journal of sorts.

'Of sorts' because it wasn't just a journal that had one describing the feelings and thoughts of what happened in the day (which can include impressions of a person), but it would also be public and read by everyone.

This was Teacher Krauss's method of expanding the children's social skills and awareness.

The writer had to be careful not to write anything that would be too hurtful (but had to be truthful at the same time) and they could also see how others viewed them.

Teacher Krauss would also monitor their mental health, to make sure that they develop healthily and not be too overly stressed by the pressures of society and expectations of parents.

Perhaps, even their own expectations of themselves.

Geniuses have that added 'danger', so to speak.

Child prodigies, or geniuses, do not necessarily grow up to be adult geniuses (or researchers as Teacher Krauss wanted). It required a lot of nurturing, as these children were still growing up - which meant, essentially, that they tend to do things that they enjoy.

Adults, do, too, but they are (usually) mature enough to do what needs to be done even if you don't enjoy it.

Bearing responsibilities and doing things that involve meeting the mundane demands of independent and professional living, such as paying bills and running errands.

In short, adulting.

Adults, of course, would (or should) know how to balance things out and still find time to do things that they enjoy.

Children, however, would need to keep their interests going.

It's a myth that gifted children would thrive no matter what their learning environment. Teacher Krauss knew this, and the fact that the Accelerated Class was created in order to challenge these kids already told him how much thought was placed into it.

Highly talented children who are not challenged in the classroom are at risk of falling through the cracks. They can become discipline problems, lose interest in schoolwork or even drop out.

The education system was such that it catered to the majority and this did not include geniuses. Albert Einstein, for example, who was hailed as having THE greatest mind in the world, had dropped out of high school at 15.

When they were younger, they couldn't have a say but once they grew older and got more and more bored with the education system, they'd either become problematic students or just leave.

Just how many children out there were misunderstood?

Einstein may have gone on to actually flourish (in terms of research) but how many did not?

This was the golden time to catch them and Teacher Krauss had to be very careful.

The vast potential in every child could only be brought out to its fullest as long as he enjoyed what he was doing. If the potential becomes a duty, then the fun drains out and they may not be able to fully utilise it.

It was argued that the purpose of childhood, even a precocious childhood, isn't to realise potential but to play.

That is, to realise potential through play.

For example, one should not make a prodigy at golf just practise golf all the time to make him, or her, be good at it, but to have him/her see golf as 'play' and thus, practising it all the time isn't a chore.

When you forget how to play, you're lost. You'd get tired and resentful, and grow cold to its joys.

Teacher Krauss firmly agreed with that.

So, the tough thing to do here was to ensure that each of these kids do not get bored and 'play' a lot.

And there were 9 of them.

Truly, a daunting task but he was up to it.

He looked up at the children who were now doing their daily schoolwork.

Yes, such potential.

✿ Author posts on WN and neovel ✿

One of the things Alex was really grateful for, was the fact that the table and chairs in the classroom was not like a normal classroom.

His deskmate was only his sister, who was on his right.

Taking the spot right at the end of the long table that ran alongside the wall was the best decision he had ever made.

Luckily, Teacher Krauss did not insist on them changing seats.

If he did, they'd be a mutiny.

Well, in his mind at least.

Teacher Krauss told them that their first task was to finish the syllabus of the year that they were in. He left them to their own devices, saying that it was up to them what they wanted to do first.

He was there merely as a guide.

Of course, for those that wanted more feedback, he was there to help.

Isaura was the first to hop over to him to ask him what he really wanted them to do.

Considering that she was the youngest and only one from P1 in the class, it was only natural that she quickly became the class mascot.

Alex watched as Isaura, who was sitting on a chair next to Teacher Krauss's table, quietly and seriously did her work.

"Isaura is pretty interesting, huh?" piped up Aurora beside Alex.

Alex snorted and turned back to his work, "For a chatterbox, yes."

Aurora bumped him on his shoulder with hers, teasing him, "That's a pretty big endorsement from you."

Alex turned to glare at his sister, "What the heck nonsense are you spouting? Since when did I 'endorse' her?"

"I read what you wrote about her," Aurora said, filling in the formula and answers on her maths worksheet.

She decided to do a couple of exercises from each chapter, to indicate her knowledge on them. In this way, she would finish the entire worksheet for P2.

"And so?" Alex prodded, wondering what his sister derived from his jottings of Isaura's family and breakfast pancakes, "It's no different from what I wrote about Annabell."

Except for the pancakes, of course.

"On the contrary, dear brother," Aurora said, flipping the page of her worksheet to start on another sum, "You were more human for hers."

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"It means exactly like how I said it," Aurora replied, stopped her work for a while and looked at her brother, "Annabell's was more like a biodata. Cold, hard facts about her family. Yet, for Isaura, it appeared to have more of a human touch. You described the diner as a mom-and-pop shop."

Alex frowned, "And so? It is a mom-and-pop shop."

"Yes, it is," Aurora said with a smile, "A much warmer description of a small business owned by a family. You could have just described it simply as a small restaurant, but instead, there is that human touch."

Alex rolled his eyes, then retorted, "You're just imagining things."

Aurora simply smirked.

Upon seeing this, Alex turned his body a bit to block his sight of his sister.

Sometimes, she could be quite annoying.

Just from the words, 'mom-and-pop' diner, she went and concluded that he found Isaura interesting?

She was a kid, for goodness sake!

Alex grumbled to himself, complaining all the way while doing his work - completely forgetting the fact that he, too, was still a kid.

When the recess chime rang, everyone quickly handed in their worksheets and dashed out.

Teacher Krauss looked at the disappearing backs with a shake of his head.

Luckily, the Fantastic Four were still around and he called out, "Alex!"

Alex stopped and turned to look at his Head Teacher, who jerked his head towards Isaura, "It's her first day here, so take care of her."

Alex pointed to himself, "Me?"

"Yes, you," Teacher Krauss replied.

Alex thought Krauss was crazy. Did he look like he was a babysitter? Aurora, maybe. Even Fleur - or better still, Ziad.

But him?

Isaura, however, didn't seem to see anything wrong with it and she jumped up in glee, "Yay!"

She ran over and Alex instinctively stepped to the side to avoid her hug but found himself blocked.

By his own sister, who swiftly moved into the area he was (or would have) stepped into to avoid Isaura.

Before he could do the necessary counter-measure to side-step around Aurora, he felt those small hands wrapped around his waist and arm.

"We're having lunch together!" Isaura said happily, rubbing her face on his chest.

Alex gritted his teeth and glared at his sister who simply smiled at him and gave a peace sign.

Fleur had her hand on her mouth, stifling her laughter while Ziad just took in all the sight in front of him with a small smile.

"Hello, Isaura," Ziad said, "I'm Muhammad Ziauddin, but you can call me Ziad."

Though they had all introduced themselves in front of the class earlier, they had not really met.

Isaura let go of Alex and smiled at everyone, "Hello Ziad, Fleur, and Aurora. Nice to meet you."

Aurora gave a huge smile and replied, "Likewise, Isaura. Likewise."

Aurora never realised until that moment just how much fun it was to see her brother being so uncomfortable.

She looked at Alex and wriggled her eyebrows. Alex just rolled his eyes.