Section 504 of the Rehabilitation act of 1973, guarantees the right of students with disabilities to a free appropriate public education. Free being either provided by, or reimbursed by the school district. Appropriate, being; as required by the assessed needs of the particular individual student. Public, meaning; meeting the ever so stringent requirements of public school requirements. Education is self explanatory.
This is a great thing that shows our compassion to those who are unfortunate. But it is backward thinking. I would never say that we should not help the disadvantaged. But I will demand parity for the gifted. Just as I could argue that being too tall is as much, if not more of a handicap as being too short, I will go on record as saying that we are not providing Free Appropriate Public Education for our country's gifted.
I once worked with a man from China. He told me that in China you are tested, at quite a young age, to determine your mental abilities. If you do well enough you go to a gifted school for your entire educational career. This is to ensure that the people who could most benefit society receive Appropriate education. At the risk of being called a communist, I feel perhaps they have the right of it on this issue. Why would we leave the next generation's best and brightest in a classroom where they will become bored, and possibly give up on pursuing education. Did you learn anything between fourth grade and college? I damn sure didn't.
In major cities there are special schools, and special programs for the gifted. Go outside of them by so much as a foot, and there are none. Within the cities, these programs are not conveniently located. Nor are they able to take all of the students who would benefit from this type of program.
My brother, who has a teaching degree, said he was taught that teachers are supposed to "aim for the fairway". Teach to the middle. Well that is fine if you are in the middle. If you are behind, the schools are mandated to help. But the gifted students are just left to their own devices, bored, miserable, neglected, and misunderstood. Is it really any wonder the smart ones never go into politics.
This is a great thing that shows our compassion to those who are unfortunate. But it is backward thinking. I would never say that we should not help the disadvantaged. But I will demand parity for the gifted. Just as I could argue that being too tall is as much, if not more of a handicap as being too short, I will go on record as saying that we are not providing Free Appropriate Public Education for our country's gifted.
I once worked with a man from China. He told me that in China you are tested, at quite a young age, to determine your mental abilities. If you do well enough you go to a gifted school for your entire educational career. This is to ensure that the people who could most benefit society receive Appropriate education. At the risk of being called a communist, I feel perhaps they have the right of it on this issue. Why would we leave the next generation's best and brightest in a classroom where they will become bored, and possibly give up on pursuing education. Did you learn anything between fourth grade and college? I damn sure didn't.
In major cities there are special schools, and special programs for the gifted. Go outside of them by so much as a foot, and there are none. Within the cities, these programs are not conveniently located. Nor are they able to take all of the students who would benefit from this type of program.
My brother, who has a teaching degree, said he was taught that teachers are supposed to "aim for the fairway". Teach to the middle. Well that is fine if you are in the middle. If you are behind, the schools are mandated to help. But the gifted students are just left to their own devices, bored, miserable, neglected, and misunderstood. Is it really any wonder the smart ones never go into politics.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Keep it clean and well thought out.