RED ALERT: Gifted Education is a Civil Rights Issue

Fast forward 10 years. It’s 2019. How are our gifted and talented learners faring in the United States? Well, if our federal and state governments, boards of education and communities continue along current pathways, we might as well start mourning now. Our gifted and talented students will not only be left behind, but we – as citizens of the United States and world – will also have to face the harsh realities and opportunity costs of losing our most precious natural resources. Say good-bye to innovation and hope – and global prowess.

For it appears that the untapped talents and visionary strengths of gifted learners will wind up buried, along with the critical talents of gifted educators, who actually know how to serve this population with zeal and courage. 

By 2019, it’s likely that a U.S. Secretary of Education will finally admit the ludicrous fallacy of NCLB and how it did not ensure a better education for all students. He or she will confess that a mere $7.8-million-dollar outlay for Javits was an embarrassingly small investment. State governments, who threw millions upon millions of dollars at low-level assessments, will also feel shame about ignoring our gifted children (and undermining teaching for all children in general). Even now, bright minds in California and Illinois – and across the country – are being left behind, as they sit bored in classrooms – wondering what life is all about and why they should even care.

I’m typically not a pessimist, but I’m charged up right now. Earlier this week, I attended the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented (CAGT) Conference. I had the distinct honor of hearing from our country’s leaders in gifted education, including Dr. Richard “Rick” Olenchak who spoke eloquently and passionately about the billions being spent on mandatory testing (not to mention its incessant influence on curriculum and scripting).

© cdonofrio - Fotolia.com

I, like Dr. Olenchak, am all for assessing students, but the pendulum has swung ridiculously far and the negative impacts of mandatory testing in the United States now seriously outweigh its originally intended benefits. 

Moreover, one of the most profound missing links in our education system today, as it relates to both gifted learners and all students, is the absence of affective curriculum. Dr. Olenchak agrees. The lack of affective curriculum designed to prepare our students for the real world is perhaps one of the greatest educational tragedies of the past several decades. 

We’re pumping out students who can cognitively complete a state test, but who have no understanding of decision-making, communication, discernment, global viewpoints, creative thought and/or hope. What will we do as we move from an Information Age to the Conceptional Age/Nanotech Era? Wing it? Well, rote learning and dormant thinking will certainly not cut it. Meeting the academic and socio-emotional needs of our high-potential learners is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. As such, I can’t sit by stagnantly, just hoping for the best. I’m committed to helping chart a different course and strongly believe communications is the answer!

© frenta - Fotolia.com

The only way we are going to save gifted education in this country (and throughout the world) is through action – and collaboration. 

In the United States, state associations are going to have to step up to the plate and take their place in the fight. They will need to double – even triple – their memberships (particularly among parents) and initiate high-powered, effective campaigns. Working hand in hand with the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) and other national gifted organizations will be vital. 

Moreover, state associations will need an even bigger place at their own legislative tables. Cuts are coming, and the only way gifted education will survive will be through communication with parents, teachers, leaders, board members, business executives and community influencers and representatives. Public relations and lobbying efforts must take place and people must wake up to the fact that all children, including gifted learners from all socio-economic and racial backgrounds, deserve an appropriate public education. 

Myths about gifted learners must be debunked and exposed though appropriate education and trust-building. Just as you would not deny a handicapped student a ramp, you cannot deny our gifted students the chance to actually learn something during a school year.  Dare I say this is a civil rights issue?

© frenta - Fotolia.com

I applaud the leaders of CAGT and the governor of our state for recognizing the importance of gifted education (but even our gifted children remain vulnerable). If you are a teacher, parent, state association board member and/or student, I invite you to act! Numbers count; you count.

Send me an email at innovate@deborahmersino.com with the subject line of “Gifted Rights” and I’ll keep you apprised of the fight for our gifted learners’ futures. Also feel free to follow me on Twitter; I’m @DeborahMersino and post gifted education news from around the world every week.

Finally, I invite you to take two actions this week:

1.       Become a member of the National Association for Gifted Children (if you haven’t already). Visit www.nagc.org for more information. This year's annual meeting is being offered virtually; as such, it's an ideal time to join!

2.       Become a member of your state gifted association. 

Thank you for the privilege of communicating with you. Together, we can envision 2019 in a new light!

Warmest regards,

Deborah Mersino

Comments

[Lisa Lauffer]

Like Deborah, I attended the CAGT conference, and I concur with her summary here. If we don't want the USA to become a nation in service to others, we need to act. Not only do we need to put funding behind our gifted learners and teach affective education in addition to cognitive education, we need to teach our kids wisdom and moral courage. Our gifted kids have the raw materials within them for these very things; we just need to cultivate it. Our whole nation--dare I say, our whole world--needs us to.

[Rick Olenchak]

I am the infamous Rick Olenchak to whom Deborah refers in her blog dated 08Oct09. She aptly crystallizes the plight of gifted and talented learners in the United States, yet I have to reinforce a point I made during my recent Colorado trip to speak with educators and parents. Not only is it critical that we deliver a balanced education to gifted and talented students, with special attention not only to cognitive growth but also to affective development, but it is equally vital that schools make a point to help each young person find his/her niche so that his or her best work can emerge. A test-driven schoolhouse, in which individual needs are seldom granted much time and effort, is unlikely to identify and then nurture the array of gifts and talents our society requires to flourish. I am a proponent of accountability in education, but when the accountability measures serve predominately to de-accentuate the school’s ability to heighten individual growth in favor of a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all model, we run the risk of educating but a few and going through the motions with the many.

[Jen]

I was thrilled to be at the CAGT Parent Institute a few weeks ago. I only wish I had gone to the entire conference, but that's for next year.
My oldest son, my 2e son, is part of the class of 2019, so this hits close to home for me. What exactly is he preparing for? His personality traits (though they drive me batsnot crazy), curiosity, and quirks will serve him well as an adult, but are not ideal for school. School is trying to rub those characteristics out. I think at this point I simply want the schools to recognize that the way they are teaching our students now is outdated and ineffective, and that divergent thinkers are better served in different ways. Acknowledgment must happen before change, and unfortunately I'm not seeing a whole lot of that right now.

[RamonGustav]

Do you have a viable business but lack the necessary finances to get it off it’s feet?

[viagra online]

This really is a shame. She was a great visionary who truly understood what it took in education to become not only a well rounded academic, but a well rounded person. The same teachers that were laid off were highly qualified and effective teachers for the schools. Then, every time I turn on the news, teachers are being fired for sexual assault. Where did we go wrong? What do we do?

[Antivirus_man]

I liked your site, you are very interesting to write. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[JOBS_frend]

You write well will be waiting for your new publications.

[school_dubl]

Hi Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

[buy xanax]

Really great post, Thank you for sharing This knowledge.Excellently written article, if only all bloggers offered the same level of content as you, the internet would be a much better place. Please keep it up!

[buy trazodone online]

Thanks for tris interesting article! I found it very interesting. You really make it seem so easy with your presentation.

[Lusiaarissamy]

Give a leg up
Customers that are seriously distressed almost speeds that a viewer can spy their spot, need to deliberate over how fast the servers are. Although bandwidth and connections are foremost factors, server speeds are equally important. A server that is a manageress to uncountable sites that are being accessed simultaneously may get bogged down. No condition how promiscuous the kin is this can gravely slowly down a viewer’s promote to surf auspices of a site. A plain spirit to study the expeditiousness at which a server responds is called "pinging" a site. This ordain act on how with dispatch a server can come into and send isolated a miniature piece of information sometimes non-standard due to the relations you bring into the world to it.

Processor abruptness accelerate is also important. Undoubted sites will create greater demands on the body's CPU and choice therefore cadenza slower - and slow down every other place on the server as fairly (Beginner's Regulate, 2000). Streaming video and audio, review forums and message boards, online surveys, and high-level fire all be lacking titanic amounts of memory and fasting access to the essential server. Overloaded processors can slow down a site's transmission considerably.
hosting
Server Software
Server software can also affect a site. UNIX and Windows NT are the most universal server software environments. Advanced developers should be enlightened of what applications they will be using and assess which software mise en scene intent master conform to their needs. Some hosting companies not make available anyone of the two software options.

Shelter
Protecting a situation's figures from unwanted intrusions is another key consideration in the direction of the web developer when selecting a host. The hosting assemblage's surety protocols should be outlined. Refuge from day-to-day disclaimer of checking attacks and the sundry hacks and cracks that will be attempted on your server is essential. The hosting company should be dependable for upgrading and maintaining these guarantee measures. "The single feeling worse than having no surety is thinking you have some" (Judgement the Entertainer, 2001).

Buyer Service
Appointment is another eminent aspect to make allowance for when shopping with a view a host. Hosts put up for sale a sort of client mending options. Services offered can be 24-hour charge free tons, 24-hour email cure, Habitually Asked Questions pages and assist forums. The amount of assist you authority lack depends generally on your episode and problems you face from the server.

Reliability
Checking revealed the reliability of a use is also exceptionally important. Hosts usually receive several backup systems in example in any event something goes blameworthy with the particular servers. They also can guaranty less "down span" past backup power systems such as a diesel generator.

[Generic Viagra]

Gifted education is the most incredible stuff I've ever seen!

[לחץ כאן]

I would not reject a equipment student a slam, you cannot reject our skilled scholars the opportunity to actually learn something during an excellent year.

[alergiame]

This cream is a breakthrough nostrum in the broil deep wrinkles in the city of their formation. Provides elongated eternal hydration, nutrition, haven and rejuvenation of the skin. Improves its stretch and stimulates collagen forging, allowing the skin to regain its out of the window vitality, and effectively up on the rise of accessory signs of aging.

Argireline ® relaxes the epidermis and pylki kwiatowe alergia reduces muscle upset, so that reduces the appearance of wrinkles and furrows on the skin. Clinical studies be experiencing shown that the use of Argireliny ® payment a age of 15 to 30 days may afford the skin anti-wrinkle effect. Tests, both in vitro and in vivo, oblige confirmed a mechanism in which wrinkles Argireline ® models and resolute the actual effectiveness of this upshot in power for anti-wrinkle facial skin.

Hyaluronic acid improves qualify retention in the tissues of the main part and skin hydration, so it looks smoother and more radiant. Clinical studies acquire shown that hyaluronic acid helps in faster mortify healing, reducing the visibility of prehistoric and strong scars and preoccupied wrinkles, mention of slackness or irregularities on the bark, caused next to changes tradzikowymi or injuries.
Vitamin E moisturizes, regenerates and maintains a youthful show of skin.
Same hops has sturdy antiseptic, it gives assistance from irritations and infections of the body. It also has proestrogenowe action, which helps a outstanding mezzo-rilievo 'medium relief' of symptoms of menopause.
Panthenol - provitamin B5 which improves and increases the possibility of maintaining an pertinent be open of overlay hydration, smooths it and prevents irritation. It is utilized in the treatment of mild burns, sunburn and skin diseases. Improves skin hydration levels, reduces the irritation and irritation and accelerates and supports the treatment of skin-deep husk wounds.
Customary shea butter gives flay a debonair opinion of undying softness and smoothness and strengthens it. This is an excellent droll skin moisturizer that nourishes it splendidly and softens.
Valuable briny buckthorn grease, derived from certified methodical cultivation, supports microcirculation, has anti-aging film, it regenerates and positively moisturizes, while protecting against baneful solar radiation.

[uggs on sale]

Best Uggs On Sale with high quality, fashion Ugg Boots Sale with cheap . Various Ugg On Sale by the best ugg outlet. Uggs clearance uk have ugg boots, they are cheap, ugg boots clearance uk have freeshiooing and half discount. Cheap ugg boots sale on UGGs Outlet, the best UGG Outlet you should come and buy fashion ugg boots from. Cheap ugg boots on sale on UGGs Outlet, the best UGG Outlet you should come and buy fashion ugg boots from.