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The Tallest Poppy Syndrome

11/4/2016

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Picture
Paul Cummins and Tom Piper, temporary ceramic poppies installation at the Tower of London, Armistice Day 2015.
​Photo by Andy Rain.
         ​In English idiom popular in the United Kingdom and Australia, the tall poppies are the people who receive criticism as a result of accomplishments that put them above their peers. In contrast to the "crab mentality," where peers try to pull down those who rise up, the "tallest poppies" are often cut down by older observers or those in positions of authority in order to ensure the flowerbed stays at a uniform height.
      The phrase alludes to an anecdote recorded by Titus Livius in his classic History of Rome. Tarquin the Proud received a messenger from his son Sextus  reporting he had captured the province of Gabii and asking what he should do next. Tarquin went into his garden, took a stick, and symbolically swept it across a garden plot, cutting off the heads of the tallest poppies that were growing above the rest. The messenger returned to Gabii and told Sextus what he had seen. Sextus realized his father wished him to put to death the most eminent people of Gabii, those likely to resist the Roman victors.
Picture
Tarquinius Superbus by Lawrence Alma-Tadema, oil on canvas, 1867.
       Intellectually gifted children are often "tall poppies" who are regularly "cut down to size" so they won’t continue to stand out among their family or classmates. A gifted child might experience the feedback from older siblings, extended family members, coaches, and even teachers to take care and "don't look too good, or talk too wise."

        It is curious that older observers and authority figures don’t see all gifts in the same way. We don’t seem to have the same reaction about the gifted youth athlete, musician, dancer, or artist. However, some adults seem to fear that intellectually and academically gifted children might become arrogant and self-absorbed if they are celebrated. Instead of praise, they are often gently (or not so gently) teased with labels--“the little professor," “nerd,” “brainiac,”--or given guidance to hold back on their efforts: “How about giving someone else a chance to shine?”
"Tall Poppy Syndrome," Hopscotch Dance, 2014, Choreographer Kat Walker
        Intellectual challenge and rigorous, thoughtful responses coming from a youth may trigger a negative reaction from older brothers and sisters, parents, extended family, and other members of the community. Science writer Arthur C. Clarke observed, "the old are often so very jealous of the young," when the topic at hand is one of knowledge and intellect. A younger pair of eyes and set of hands can surprise our senses with rich art; flexible, stronger bodies are capable of great athletic feats and breathtaking dance performances; precise control and timing create beautiful music from a youth soloist. However, when knowledge, thought, and judgment are at stake, we counsel students, "have some respect for your elders."   
           Tall poppies deserve to understand why their accomplishments are not always celebrated,  and they deserve to be nurtured so that they stand proudly. When you look at the world around us and the challenges we face, it is clear that our global society cannot afford to lose its tall poppies. 
Picture
​--Art by Barbara Harms, fabric quilt sculpture, 2013.
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Scholarly Pursuits Always Reveal Knowledge
​​SPARK Mission:
To provide students with experiences and foundational skills necessary to pursue knowledge, develop character, and strengthen personal motivation to engage and persist in more rigorous academic challenges.
We regret the  SPARK program is not active for the 2017-2018 school year.

​This website is maintained as a legacy site  to serve as a collection of useful links and activities for students and teachers.

Website Updated: 6 September 2017

Webpage maintained by the Scholarly Pursuits Always Reveal Knowledge (SPARK) classes of Richland School District Two, Columbia, South Carolina.
Please direct queries to Mr. Kevin Durden.
  • SPARK 2016-2017
    • SPARK Goals >
      • 6 Cs of Education--Golinkoff & Hirsh-Pasek
      • Collaboration
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      • Confidence
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  • 4th Grade
    • SPARKed!
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      • Analogies
      • Idioms
      • Phonetics
      • Spelling
      • Vocabulary and Word Work
    • Word Power! Latin Roots >
      • Latin Study Tools
      • Latin Stems Video Library
      • A Game of Stems
    • Literature Ladder >
      • Share and Request Writing
      • Expository-Informative Writing
      • Narrative-Storytelling Writing
      • Persuasive-Argument Writing
      • Poetry Month!
    • Critical Thinking Practices >
      • A History of Numbers
      • Algebra: Restoring by Balancing >
        • Algebra Patterns and Formulas
        • Algebra Variables and Expressions
      • Benjamin Franklin's Magic Squares
      • Logic Puzzles >
        • Logic Puzzles Coaching
      • Perimeter Magic Polygons
      • PI Day
      • A Game of Asteroids
      • Critical Mathematical Thinking
    • Digital, Collaborative Investigations >
      • Digital Projects Spring 2017
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      • SPARK Digital Research
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    • Mindsets Moments
  • Breakout EDU
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  • e-Reading
  • Extra Time
    • SC MESAS Contest
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    • Poetry Contest: Young Minds Dreaming
    • Actors and Actresses >
      • People Smart: Multiple Intelligences
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      • Recitations and Readers' Theater
    • Artists >
      • Art & Images
      • Amazing Artists: Multiple Intelligences
    • Authors at Play >
      • Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence
      • The Art of Cursive Handwriting
      • Kids in Print (Jan 10-11)
      • Letters About Literature (Jan 3-4)
      • Narrative Writing Challenges
      • Paragraph of the Week
      • Poetry
    • Chess >
      • Chess Advice for New Players
      • ChessKid.com
      • Chess.com
      • Chess: The Scholar's Mate
      • Chess in Art and Film
      • Chess Puzzles and Mathematics >
        • Chess: A Difference of Opinions
      • ​A Chess Novice Challenged Magnus Carlsen
      • The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played >
        • Rook on 7th Rank: Capablanca-Tartakower, ​New York 1924
        • The King Is a Strong Piece: Tal – Lissitzin, Leningrad 1956
        • Knight in Center: Boleslavsky – Lissitzin, Moscow 1956
        • Aggressive Rook in the Ending Tarrasch – Thorold, Manchester 1890
        • Passed Pawn: Akiba Rubinstein vs Oldrich Duras Vienna 1908
        • Mighty Knights: Mattison – Nimzovich, Carlsbad 1929
        • Finesse Ending: Rafael Domenech vs Salomon Flohr B44 Sicilian Taimanov Rosas 1935
        • Pawn Phalanx: Tigran V Petrosian vs Kozali Montevideo 1954
        • Passed Pawns: Fischer-Berliner 1960
        • Rook and Pawn Ending: Smyslov – Reshevsky, Moscow 1948
        • King in the Center: Tartakover-Frentz, Paris 1933
        • Shifting Attacks: Reshevsky-Najdorf, Dallas, 1957
    • Computer Coding, Gaming, and Making >
      • botLogic
      • Code.org
      • Game Design and Makers
      • Logic and Brain Games: Multiple Intelligences
      • SCRATCH
      • Snapp
      • Stencyl
    • GeoBee and GeoGuessr
    • Kinesthetics: Sports and Activity
    • Music >
      • Music Library
      • Music Smart: Multiple Intelligences
    • Self-Paced Math Review >
      • Khan Academy (Self=Paced Math Skills and More)
      • The Beauty of Mathematics
      • Coordinate Grids, Geometric Forms
      • Data and Graphing
      • Decimals and Percents
      • Division
      • Exponents and Scientific Notation
      • Fraction Operations
      • Geometric Forms
      • Measurement and Scale
      • Multiplication
      • Pi!
      • Right Triangles and Pythagoras
    • Mensa Kids
    • Nature Smart: Multiple Intelligences
    • Reflect and Recharge
    • Thrively
    • World Languages
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