Tag Archives: Laura Vanderkamp

Gifted education is not a reward for white children and a way of punishing kids by putting them in the “stupid class.” It’s an educational intervention for children who need it. Maybe if we keep saying that often enough, the message will get through.

I agree with Laura Vanderkamp’s assertion that “In general, it’s better to have a smaller, more targeted gifted program than a huge one that ropes in students who just happen to score in the top 25%.” If 25% of a student population is “gifted”, then the program needs modified so that the percentage of gifted students reflects statistical findings.

As a parent, I’m tired of gifted program being seen as ‘elitist’ or ‘only for white kids’. If educators and administrators think this way, the kids are going to think this way. This way of thinking undermines education for all students.