CHESAPEAKE
Each week, hundreds of gifted fourth- and fifth-graders from across the city travel to a special school in Indian River. There, they solve problems, think critically and participate in lessons that are more challenging than those taught in their regular classrooms.
Depending on how the School Board votes tonight, however, that center may be closing after next school year - a move that worries some parents.
Chesapeake school officials want to shutter the division's Laboratory School for the Academically Gifted, located in the Indian River Middle School annex building.
Instead of their once-a-week visit to the Lab School, the division's advanced students would receive gifted instruction at their home schools all week.
The proposal would eliminate lengthy travel times and allow for a new curriculum with stronger ties to Virginia's Standards of Learning, said Anita James, director of elementary curriculum and instruction.
"It's been a wonderful experience for them. S tudents and parents alike love the Lab School," James said. "It works, but we just thought that we could enhance what we provide for gifted students."
Kymberly Pool, chairwoman-elect of Chesapeake's Advisory Committee on Gifted Education, called the plan "ambitious."
Pool, whose sixth-grade son has been identified as gifted, said she's advocated for a school-based program for years. But she has concerns with what has been proposed.
For one, Pool said, she feels the process is being rushed before a new curriculum is in place and teachers are fully trained. She also fears the lessons could be watered down if not monitored properly.
"Who's going to provide oversight to ensure the quality?" Pool asked. She noted that she was speaking as a parent, not on behalf of the advisory committee.
If the proposal passes, next year's fifth-graders would be the last class to attend the Lab School. Gifted fourth-grade students would be clustered together or pulled from regular classrooms at their home schools for advanced instruction.
For at least the first year, some teachers would not have their gifted education endorsement but would be working towards earning it, James said.
Feedback to School Board members and the superintendent's office has been mixed, James said. Some parents are excited about what they view as an expanded program.
O thers, however, fear their children won't be challenged.
"I think once we get started with it and we see children are getting so much more" gifted instruction, James said, "it's going to be a real benefit."
School Board chairman Thomas Mercer Sr. agreed, saying that he feels the program needs to be "refined."
Hattie Brown Garrow, (757) 222-5562, hattie.brown@pilotonline.com
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Sounds like sour grapes
Every parent whose child isn't selected for the gifted program believes "all the gifted kids are the children of board members, teachers, hyperactive PTA members." It's mostly sour grapes.
I can't speak directly to the situation in Chesapeake, but most of the gifted programs I am familiar with are based on standardized test scores, grades and teacher referrals. Any child who is placed in these programs based on connections rather than merit quickly falls behind.
I don't disagree that we need to do more for all students. But we can't expect our most gifted students to wait while the average and below average students catch up.
Face facts. Most of us and most of our children are average. Smaller percentages of us are gifted or stunningly stupid. Being average isn't a bad thing. An "average" child might do great things in the future.
But gifted children are a rare resource that needs to be nurtured. They are well worth the extra investment and this is not an area to make cuts.
"leave the SOL to the average kids."
And who decides who is "average"? Does this also mean that my child will get taught less since the schools will not teach new material while the "gifted kids" are out of the class room? If they are so "gifted" why do the "average" kids have to wait for them. From my experience all the "gifted" kids are the children of board members, teachers, hyper- active PTA members,.. you get the idea. Why can't the schools challenge all the students to do more? This program doesn't serve the best interest of the student population, only a select "priviledged" few.
SOL's don't help
These kids don't need to be taught for the SOL's. They are the brightest kids in school. The SOL's are for the average and below average students. These kids know what is on the SOL's and all of them would pass the SOL's with flying colors. These kids need to be challenged, they will be the kids that go on to be scientists, engineers, business leaders . . . Challenge them and leave the SOL to the average kids.
My son was one of those
My son was one of those "gifted" or advanced for his years in knowledge and we never made exception for him...all we asked was to have him do the best he could without any promises of gifts, money ect..we always held to the reason that education is the "prize" you get..
He graduated high school with honors and just graduated college paying his own way..because it was shown how valuable education is WITHOUT gifts or prizes or promises...
Sad that we now have to instill into the children of this generation that they are owed something for doing what is EXPEC TED of them...otherwise we can lower the standards till they meet with what the kids FEEL like doing..sad, sad country..we are now raising a generation of burger flippers...
Be honest!
Students aren't gifted only once a week....it makes sense to incorporate enriching activities into the regular curriculum. Yes gifted students can receive proper nurturing in a regular education classroom. It doesn't have to be a watered down version. With only a minimal amount of training in gifted education, a Teacher will be able to meet the needs of gifted students.
I just hope the underlying reason for this decision is not based on a budget. It's a shame how we seem to focus on the bottom dollar instead of education.
Lastly, if the school is closed I hope parents of gifted students work with the Teachers and not against them. Too often these parents have an elitist attitude suggesting that gifted education is somehow better when it's just different....respectively different, not superiorly different.
Having a high intellectual ability is an awesome gift and it should be nurtured properly.
"Who's going to provide oversight to ensure the quality?"
..why..The great and illustrious leaders that the developers have in thier pockets. The City of Chesapeake! You remember them right? Nail Technology? The curriculam that is taught in high school..right? I'd love to see a Research Triangle, NC student matched up with a Chesapeake student. Keep going Chesapeake...keep going!
Let's praise stupidity and
Let's praise stupidity and low morals and ignore and treat gifted kids as the plague...what a great country we are!
Gifted Academic Students
I don't believe its the greatest of ideas. What about group participation? Separating the gifted academic students would limit knowledge/ideas learned from each other. This at a time when locals schools are lowering GPA's for "gifted" athletes. Guess we will be more recognized for our pro athletes than our rocket scientists. Shame too, with NASA so close, & no professional sports teams in Va.