I'm horrified. Seriously, seriously horrified by this teacher's response, especially if it's indicative of the entire school. I am over and over again shown how fortunate I was at my school. (I went to a public school, but every teacher and librarian I ever had was overjoyed at my love of reading and were constantly suggesting more difficult texts, not *less.* I was never as advanced for my age as Mason clearly is, but *still*.)

And like you, I've found that most kids (myself included) when faced with something they "aren't ready for" just ... don't get it, and keep on going, completely unscarred.

It sounds like this is going to be a continuing battle, not just with this instructor, but with all of them.