Speaking of Headcanon

[penfold_x]

Just when I think I'm teetering on the edge of too creepy and gross, someone shows me how it's really done:

Of course, great software architects and bioengineering minds don’t just develop overnight. That’s why the District’s intense focus on technical education must begin very early on. Just before the age of 3, all District 3 youth are tested and ranked by their abilities for appropriate placement within the school system. The advanced placement children are then appropriated through an annual “district roundup,” where they are freed from the natural constraints and intellectual limitations of a family setting by living and training at a state-of-the-art educational facility managed by the Panem Advanced Technical Training system, or PATT. Here the very best minds are trained to build a bright future for the nation and share a lifetime comradery in achievement and service.

Comments

[inthespout.livejournal.com]

This kind of reminds me of how Chinese and Russian gymnasts and figure skaters are trained. All totalitarian regimes think alike, I guess.

[penfold-x.livejournal.com]

Oooooooh, yes, it is just like that! I'd forgotten about that, but I can see it--especially how there might be less social resistance to the plan than one would otherwise expect, since success in the program could give the child a better life than they would have as a factory laborer.

[inthespout.livejournal.com]

Yeah, exactly. You may miss the kid, but you know s/he will be well-fed and have a chance at a much better life, plus you probably get extra money for handing the kid over, so the rest of your family is better off too.

[kawuli.livejournal.com]

WOW

Apart from the "that is creepy and weird" part, I'm skeptical how good an assessment you can really do on 3-year-olds. Can you really identify high-performing kids before they can read or write?

And yeah, anytime I think I'm being too grimdark terrible something comes along and reminds me that actually, I could do much worse.

[lorata.livejournal.com]

Hah, as a teacher I had the same thought with 3yos. Way too early to make an assessment, a lot of kids normalize around 5 despite showing delays and/or advancement around 3, especially in a system like Panem. (Look at me not ranting about the effects of lack of outdoor/nature play on child development etc etc etc)

Fun aside: did you know lack of exposure to nature actually causes serious health deficits in kids? Such as poor eyesight? There's a whole generation of kiddos in China who are wearing glasses as toddlers/younguns because they're never just playing outside anymore.

I dunno, I like penfold_x's version, myself. Caste systems and ersatz "meritocracy" combined with enforced austerity and starvation (keep 'em hungry keep 'em quiet, eh?) makes more sense to me. (Panem Propaganda is a 'take with a grain of salt' part of fandom to me. They barely tried with their D2 imho) IDK like it seems like too much privilege? Pen's castes work better for me, this is way more than I'd think the Capitol would give a district they need to keep a heavy eye on.

[penfold-x.livejournal.com]

a lot of kids normalize around 5 despite showing delays and/or advancement around 3

Interesting! It's good to hear from someone who would know whether that age is really a feasible one to start making those judgments.

did you know lack of exposure to nature actually causes serious health deficits in kids? Such as poor eyesight?

*snort* Might explain a lot about Three!