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In middle school, my TAG son was in regular classes with no differentiated instruction or acceleration. He never had homework and was not challenged. This experience helped him develop an elitist attitude toward other students. He began calling some students the "simple people" because they were not as smart as him.

Then, he began taking honors classes in high school. This was a humbling experience because he realized that he was not the smartest one in the class. He began to read his books, study in groups and actually learn to use good study habits. I believe that having him grouped with other high-ability students reduced elitism.

posted 5 years, 3 months ago
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All student have gifts. It is our job as adults in our community to find the gifts and talents of each child and then support and encourage the
development of these talents. Some students are gifted in athletics or the arts, TAG students happen to be gifted in learning. Being a gifted learner should be celebrated and nurtured, as it is in a gifted athlete. Instead, our Salem-Keizer School District provides no advanced classes in elementary or middle school (except math), has reduced honors classes in high school, dismisses parents and sometimes treats them with hostility. TAG students and parents value education and the work of teachers, we are a resource for our community and I will never be able to understand why the school district doesn't develop this resource.

Sandy Husk, SK Superintendent recently gave a speech about the increase in the number of families qualifying for free and reduced lunch, stating that there is a correlation between low income and low academic performance. There are TAG and advanced students in this group of students who are not being educated appropriately either, TAG students come from all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. TAG students do not just automatically succeed on their own and sometimes even drop out of school. Our district should find the high-ability students in this population and nurture them because education will help them break out of the cycle of poverty. Husk stated that the SK district needs to change classroom instructional strategies due to this increase in low income families. The SK district must look at ways to educate these students. However, diluting the curriculum to meet the needs of low performing students and bringing down the students at the top is short-sighted and wrong.

Also, I am very tired of the stereotype that students who are high-achievers only do so because their parents have money. My money does not help my children study for tests, do their homework or spend hours working with other students on group projects. We have created an environment in our home with high expectations and supported them but they achieve on their own. They are gifted in learning and are motivated to excel. My children and others like them deserve to be celebrated for their hard work just as we support and encourage a gifted athlete or musician.

In elementary school, both of my children were sent out into the "pod" with a couple of peers and a 6th grade math book to teach themselves more advanced math.

Both of my children experienced very little challenge in middle school. I had to advocate to have them accelerated in math. The school will only accelerate students if parents advocate. Some TAG students have re-taken the same math class because more advanced options were not offered or available, parents - this is against state law.

My daughter says that the only reason she made it through middle school was because of the music program. Our district has an excellent music program that encourages students to achieve to their full potential - and they do!

I am concerned for the future of our country, why on earth wouldn't we want to teach every child so they can achieve to their full potential?

There is a simple solution that is not expensive. The school should offer different levels of classes and students should be grouped by ability in each academic subject. Schools should test students to determine what level of instruction a student needs and then place them in the appropriate level of instruction, this is what the state law requires!

posted 5 years, 3 months ago
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