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From: mel@houxe.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Re: "Talented and Gifted" program
Message-ID: <462@houxe.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 29-Jan-84 19:43:59 EST
Article-I.D.: houxe.462
Posted: Sun Jan 29 19:43:59 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 1-Feb-84 01:29:52 EST
References: <869@ihuxr.UUCP>
Organization: American Bell, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 16

One trap of the "talented and gifted" programs is that they form
another track for progression through the school system.  Miss out
in getting into that track in 3rd grade and you are in trouble getting
advanced classes all through school.  In our town there was serious
consideration given to a parent's suggestion that only kids in the
"talented and gifted" program could be considered for A's on their
7th and 8th grade report cards ("After all, they were the only kids
doing really outstanding work.").  Considering how different kids are
in their talents, gifts, and rate of maturation, I really object to
the process of tracking kids on the basis of a few IQ tests and small
sample teacher's observation.  My quiet, competent, perfectionist
daughter is just as bright as my "gifted" son, but faces only lower
level, lower rated High School courses because she is slower and
more careful on tests.  Worse, one of the brighest, hardest working
kids I know in town tracked out on the bottom (probably from
kindergarten on) because he's black and poor.   Mel Haas