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The case for expanding rather than eliminating gifted education programs (2021)

teachforamerica.org

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Re: The case for expanding rather than eliminating gifted education programs (2021)

#11

Post by derac »

Gifted programs are "unacceptably white". WTF does that mean? I had to pass essentially an IQ test to get placed into those classes.

For me, it made a big difference in being engaged in schoolwork when every class consisted of reiterating content for days which I had mastered in minutes.

Edit: I removed "I don't see what race has to do with it." I do see how race can affect this when the gatekeeper is a teacher with biases choosing who takes the test to be in the program. This does not however make it ok to say "unacceptably white"

Re: The case for expanding rather than eliminating gifted education programs (2021)

#12

Post by natly »

basedgod wrote: post #7

Quoted post unavailable.

There's usually gifted programs in poor schools as well. This isn't a private vs public education thing. It's more about keeping bright students stimulated and not bored to tears and have their potential stunted.

Re: The case for expanding rather than eliminating gifted education programs (2021)

#13

Post by jeremyjh »

Bostonian wrote: post #5

"The current population of students we identify as academically gifted and talented is unacceptably whiter and wealthier than the actual student population of academically gifted and talented students should be." A typical IQ threshold for a gifted program is 130. The average IQ overall is 100 with standard deviation 15. For black Americans the average score on IQ tests is about 85, which explains why blacks will be…

Did you read the part where he pointed out that black/brown students are 66% less likely to be in a gifted program with the same test scores ?

Re: The case for expanding rather than eliminating gifted education programs (2021)

#14

Post by protomyth »

Equity matters for education, but not the sports teams? If the conversation about gifted and talented programs doesn't include the other activities the school sponsors, then its not fair. We've eliminated voc-ed and now g&t programs. I bet sports cost a bunch.

Re: The case for expanding rather than eliminating gifted education programs (2021)

#15

Post by aantix »

thebooktocome wrote: post #2

I’m not aware of studies showing that gifted programs have a positive impact on student performance. My hunch is that the typical school district is looking for a palatable excuse to reduce funding needs.

They were the only interesting classes.

Project based learning.

Being with other students that actually gave a shit.

Re: The case for expanding rather than eliminating gifted education programs (2021)

#16

Post by paulpauper »

Bostonian wrote: post #5

"The current population of students we identify as academically gifted and talented is unacceptably whiter and wealthier than the actual student population of academically gifted and talented students should be." A typical IQ threshold for a gifted program is 130. The average IQ overall is 100 with standard deviation 15. For black Americans the average score on IQ tests is about 85, which explains why blacks will be…

I depends. I think the threshold is more like 120, but IQ may not be used anymore as a criteria

Re: The case for expanding rather than eliminating gifted education programs (2021)

#17

Post by thebooktocome »

_3u10 wrote: post #8
thebooktocome wrote: post #2

I’m not aware of studies showing that gifted programs have a positive impact on student performance. My hunch is that the typical school district is looking for a palatable excuse to reduce funding needs.

I can’t speak for everyone but they kept me from dropping out.

But would you (and the statistical student like you) have been better served by a different intervention? That’s the thing I’m curious about.

Re: The case for expanding rather than eliminating gifted education programs (2021)

#18

Post by jeremyjh »

derac wrote: post #11

Gifted programs are "unacceptably white". WTF does that mean? I had to pass essentially an IQ test to get placed into those classes. For me, it made a big difference in being engaged in schoolwork when every class consisted of reiterating content for days which I had mastered in minutes. Edit: I removed "I don't see what race has to do with it." I do see how race can affect this when the gatekeeper is a teacher with…

Just read what he wrote?

> Black students are 66% less likely to be identified as gifted compared to white students with similar test scores. Black, Latinx, and Native American students are far less likely to attend a school that even offers a gifted program.

Re: The case for expanding rather than eliminating gifted education programs (2021)

#19

Post by acchow »

whatshisface wrote: post #3

> I agree that it is unacceptable to have eighth grade Algebra I classes and gifted education programs that disproportionately exclude Black and brown children. But if equity is the goal, we should be mandating that every eighth grader takes Algebra I—and then structure the entire pre-K to seventh grade student experience to ensure this is a legitimate possibility for every child. Since when does equity mean everyone…

> Why can't we just admit it and quit trying to make people who are unique the same?

America keeps conflating equity for equality.

Re: The case for expanding rather than eliminating gifted education programs (2021)

#20

Post by mikece »

Eliminating accelerated or gifted programs doesn't create equality any more than mandating a uniform maximum height will stop people from growing past 2 meters in height. All it does it rob society at large from the possibility of the exceptionally able from realizing their potential sooner. If we're willing, as a body politic, to eschew the possibility of an exceptional learner from discovering things like the cure for cancer in the name of equity then we'll reap the fruit of that collective decision.
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