Experts warn of antisocial behavior in 'Super Class'
Experts warn of antisocial behavior in 'Super Class'
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Education experts and psychologists have called on people behind
Jakarta's Super Class project to anticipate a possible imbalance
in personal development among students selected to sit in the
program.
They also urged proponents of the program to include other
subjects, including social responsibility and human and religious
values, in its curriculum.
"It is common for very brilliant children taking intelligence
acceleration programs to experience an imbalance in their
psychological development as they do not grow as other normal
children do mentally, though, their intellectual development
excels," education expert Mochtar Buchori told The Jakarta Post.
He said that many gifted children put in special programs
become solitary and feel alienated by their communities.
In some extreme cases, he added, those students often become
offensive as in the case of Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh, 27,
who set off a truckload of explosives in the Alfred P. Murrah
Federal Building on April 19, 1995. The bombing killed 168 people
and injured 500 others.
"He (McVeigh) was reported to be a smart guy with antisocial
behavior who grew up with little interaction with society," he
said.
He asserted that the manifestation of such personality
imbalance could be less offensive or milder, but it was still
definitely antisocial.
"That's why I hope the people involving in the project are
able to anticipate possible adverse impacts on the students to
ensure that they also grow as emotionally-balanced persons, while
at the same time grow as creative and contributive scientists who
understand well actual situations in their society."
The DKI Super Class is a program for exceptional students in
Greater Jakarta in which they are awarded free education with a
chance to be coached as international Science Olympiad
candidates.
The idea of the Super Class was floated by noted scientist
Yohanes Surya, the person behind the success of several students
who won International Science Olympiads recently.
Among the requirements for the students admitted to the Super
Class is an intelligence quotient (IQ) of over 150.
Meanwhile, a psychologist with the University of Indonesia,
Farida Haryoko urged the inclusion of "social, human and
religious values" in the curriculum taught in the Super Class
program.
"We don't want to let the students become freaks -- people who
cannot interact with others despite their intellectual
brilliance," she told The Post.
She emphasized that only scientists, who have soundness of
mind as well as a balanced personality, could deliver a real
contribution to the society and nation.
"Of course, the government should also pay greater attention
to them by giving a decent reward. Otherwise, we have to let them
work with private companies which are willing to provide higher
pay since the scientists' expertise is needed for their
business," she said.