Six-year-old Nova Scotia boy tackles calculus, particle physics

Having a 12-year-old teach you calculus is pretty surprising. Having a boy half that age tell you about particle physics is downright shocking.

Six-year-old William Bate of Dartmouth, N.S. is no ordinary primary schooler. In fact, he's not enrolled in public school at all any more. When it became obvious the public school curriculum wasn't challenging him enough, Will's dad, David, pulled him out to begin a home school program.

"He was too frustrated. They kept promising he could do Grade 5 math but they wouldn't let him do a test," David said in a recent Chronicle Herald article.

"And now we can do Grade 8 math," Will added.

According to David, the gifted policies in place in Nova Scotia schools aren't properly implemented, leaving children like Will feeling frustrated because they aren't being challenged and often end up bored.

Now, Will is free to learn at his own pace through lessons provided to him by his dad, who finds the material using online learning websites. Will learns subjects like particle physics, calculus and chemistry.

David said in the Chronicle Herald story he's worried, though, because his son is already learning math concepts beyond what he knows, and he is unsure where to get help in order to continue with Will's lessons.

In the meantime, Will is enjoying a recent victory from an online spelling competition. He placed first for his age group in Canada (seven and under) and 46th for his age group worldwide.

"I feel proud, but I feel bad for the other people that were lower than me," Will told the Chronicle Herald.

David said he expects his son to begin university classes by the time he is 13. Not bad for someone who started speaking later than most children.