The website www.doe.k12.ga.us will show Mrs. Schmid where to get the information about costs and alternatives to the gifted program.
I’m glad you agree the gifted program is not perfect. I believe it is important to bring attention to this issue in a time where most attention in classes is focused on students near the bottom, thanks to the No Child Left Behind Act.
I graduated in this county and personally was in the gifted program since third grade, and I began AP classes in 10th grade.
For the most part, all classes in school were easy for me and I graduated high school with a weighted GPA of 3.98. Many kids in the program are very mature for their age, and if they can do well on college level material in AP classes, they should be given the opportunity to finish faster than their peers.
Also, most students who finish AP classes and gifted classes still have some social development problems, because they have been so focused on school that they lack most of the social abilities learned by others in their age group.
I mean, there’s more time to get the bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and Ph.D., so, they can begin working in their chosen field faster if grade skipping is allowed.
If the curriculum is so easy for them, the current system is just holding them back until they finish 12th grade. Grade skipping should be an option.
Sure, the students’ will be in classes with people older than them, but continuing to keep them engaged educationally should be the main focus.
Also, students who skip grades will have more exposure to diverse groups and people; so, they will have the knowledge plus the diversity skills that will make them more attractive to a potential employer.
The gifted program gives many students the superiority belief that they are above non-gifted students, and the program continues segregation in public schools. None of these qualities may be applicable to your kids, but these problems are out there.
With recent cuts to the state’s budget it seems reducing costs on education has been a priority for politicians. The HOPE requirements for full tuition have been increased, and it seems more cuts will appear shortly in the future. Currently Georgia spends about $9,000 dollars to educate a typical student according to http://www.educatedgeorgia.org.
Also, according to www.nagc.org/index the state allocates money for the gifted program in addition to the normal funding that all students receive. The additional expenditures are just below $1,000, once you calculate the amount awarded and divide by the gifted population.
I believe if the gifted programs are eliminated due to budget reductions, then grade skipping should be allowed, with the consent of the parents and children.
Now, Mrs. Schmid, you may personally not like the idea, but the option should still be available for other parents who would be interested.
Matthew Boyle
Fayetteville, Ga.
