It is very frustrating to my husband and I that Green School District has decided to eliminate many of the Gifted Program teachers, basically eliminating the Gifted Program. We moved to Green School District just before my son, David, started kindergarten to be sure that he was in a school system that was going to challenge him and motivate him to be the best student and person he has the potential to be. I understand the levy didn't pass and money is beyond tight, but of all the things to cut why would it be something academic?
My son came home the other day asking us why they were not going to have the Gifted Program anymore, what were he and his friends in class going to do. It seems to me that the school board took the easy way out, the smallest group of students was affected, but at what cost?
My son and his gifted classmates are in gifted math at Kleckner, they are all in the third grade but are doing fourth and fifth grade math. So what happens in fourth grade? Are they supposed to stay focused and interested when they are being asked to sit through lessons that they have all already learned and mastered?
The class is about more than Math though, my son and his classmates have all taken pride in their intellect and have now all been told that it isn't worth it. I know it is easier to take from the smallest percentage of students because the lash back will not be as bad or as loud, and easier to ignore.
My son is an athlete, as are many of his gifted classmates, and I would rather have to pay for him to play sports, which is not a requirement of the curriculum, than lose the possibility of my son being educated at a level that challenges him and pushes him to use the "Gift" he has been given.
If the Green School District sends a message to these kids, these "gifted" students, that teaching them and pushing them to learn all they can and are capable of, is not a priority and something worth fighting for, what do you expect these kids to think? They are being told that the past few years they have been challenged has been wasted, that doing your best is not rewarded or noticed when it comes to academics, that pushing yourself to learn is not valuable and that the teachers who helped them get to this point aren’t worth it either.
Please reconsider your plans to eliminate the gifted teachers, as by doing so you are also stifling the potential of greatness in these gifted students. I would like to have the opportunity to speak to the board about my concerns and I know that there are other parents that would like to do the same so please contact me with a time that we may meet to discuss the future of my sons education and the gifted program.
Betty Heath
Green
