For Accelerated Learners, Private Schools Try To Be Flexible

Mulling over FCPS views on gifted learners, this article covers good ground -- if a child is enthusiastic and can do the work, accelerate their curriculum. Grouping children in special schools and classrooms of any sort -- special ed, GT, etc. -- is like a neighborhood full of cul-de-sacs.

Educational cul-de-sacs provide exclusion for the dwellers and deadends for the community -- they cut off the free flow of ideas from point A to B and systematically prevent the free exchange of of ideas among students.

I guess inclusion for GT students is akin to the inclusion movement for special ed -- is cul-de-sac learning really the best place for some the community's intelligent, but sometimes socially inept students? Isn't it common sense to include all kinds of people in one classroom and provide each with challenges they can meet?

If your test scores show ability -- why shouldn't you get the opportunity to try the accelerated work? If you fail, no harm done -- move down one level. If you prevail, well that's rewarding for the community, not just the individual.

Thoreau MS comes to mind in this area -- kids are mixed and matched and can learn from each other. Not as much identifiable exclusion based on nerd vs NOT. Not as much opportunity for failure as in other school districts, especially private education. Goal is to learn, not fail. If you fail, you relearn till you get it. That's the point right?

Digression...bttp (back to the point) -- challenge kids on their own level and stop the nonsense of segregation based on a TEST score and a SUBJECTIVE teacher assessment. Personally, there are some teachers who would not pass my assessment, but no one has asked for my opinion. Unless parents are included in these subjective discussions, suggest leaving out the "group" discussion of children and use only test scores. OR, better idea, get rid of the segregation -- did I say that twice?

For Accelerated Learners, Private Schools Try To Be Flexible