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From: ted@teldata.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Re: "Talented and Gifted" program
Message-ID: <223@teldata.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 31-Jan-84 14:46:26 EST
Article-I.D.: teldata.223
Posted: Tue Jan 31 14:46:26 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 2-Feb-84 01:22:29 EST
References: <869@ihuxr.UUCP> <462@houxe.UUCP>
Organization: Teltone Corp., Kirkland, WA
Lines: 31

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In the Edmonds Wash. schools the gifted program is called the "Challenge"
program.  My third grader is in his third year of Challenge and my 8th
grader is in his second year.

Three problems have become apparent with this program.

The first is the tendency to short change the basics.  It seems to me that
the 1st & 2nd graders where expected to learn the 3 R's by themselves while
the class did their challenge things.

The second problem is with childrens egos.  The first year David (the younger)
was in Challenge my oldest boy (Steve) was in regular 6th grade.  Near the
end of the school year in became apparent that Steve was feeling somewhat
inferior to his younger brother because of being in the Challenge program
and Steve knew, rightly so, that he was as smart as his younger brother.
Fortunately Steve's abilities where recognized by his 6th grade teachers
and he was recommended and accepted into the junior high challenge program.

Another problem with ego is with David who has expressed a belief that he is
entitled to special privileges because he is special and his being in
Challenge proves it.

The third problem has just come to light in the last few weeks.  Steve's
Challenge teacher this year is not a very inspiring teacher and the kids
find him boring.  The program provides very little "challenge" other than
some of the homework projects are more involved.  This teacher is the
antithesis of the enthusiastic, inspiring sort of  teacher you would expect
in a gifted student program.  Something came to light yesterday that explains
the situation somewhat,  the "Challenge" positions are coveted by the
non-tenured teachers because those positions provide better job security.