Brightest Kids Being Left Behind

N

newsjunky

Driving Instructor
Not sure anyone is even interested in what is happening to these kids. I know that Fox and I have spoken about this before. A new study shows that we are leaving the "High Flyers" behind in an effort to close the gap with under achievers. Folks this is costing America. Does anyone care? Below are excerpts from a very good article on this subject.


http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=46896
The Thomas Fordham Institute released the results of a study September 19, entitled "Do High Flyers Maintain Their Altitude? Performance Trends of Top Students." This is among the first studies to examine the performance of America's highest achieving children over time and at the individual student level.
The study raises a troubling but predictable question: Is the U.S. preoccupation with closing achievement gaps and "leaving no child behind" coming at the expense of our "talented tenth"?

Unfortunately this condition has an influence on national competitiveness: This is an America where everyone is believed to be above average, even though the net result of our education systems is mediocrity.
 
I care. Which is why I will do everything in my power to help my sister (a single mom) put my nephew through private school.
 
And this is why the princess is in a private pre-k program and will probably stay in private schools. I refuse to settle and I kept hearing that I needed to "lower my standards." I was astounded but it reinforces my belief that public education has gone into the toilet.
 
I am glad I am not alone. Grand kid has an online class in Algerbra after school every day. Wish the funds were there for private school. I think it is shameful that these kids are being left behind! :rant
 
It's totally true. The kids at the low end prevent a school making AYP. Schools and teachers are punished for not making AYP. As a result, the incentive is to focus on those kids.

I like my school's solution with junior high math (admittedly, we only have 34 eighth graders, but still...). We have split them into 2 sections based on ability. One section is in Algebra 1. The other section is in 8th grade with with Algebra delayed until next year. This allows both groups to get more of the education they need. In a larger school, maybe even more differentiation would be possible.

But yet, it is very difficult for a teacher with 20-30 kids in a room (especially with 6 different periods of teaching a day) to individualize instruction the way it should be. More to the point, kids and parents resist it!

Interestingly, in other countries such as Japan, Finland, and Singapore, kids are not split up until the upper grades. The idea in those countries is that the higher-achieving kids tutor and help the lower-achieving kids. I have to admit that the system does seem to produce results! Of course, those countries don't venerate individualism the way we do in this country. I believe that is a weakness in their systems.
 
Waski_the_Squirrel said:
It's totally true. The kids at the low end prevent a school making AYP. Schools and teachers are punished for not making AYP. As a result, the incentive is to focus on those kids.

I like my school's solution with junior high math (admittedly, we only have 34 eighth graders, but still...). We have split them into 2 sections based on ability. One section is in Algebra 1. The other section is in 8th grade with with Algebra delayed until next year. This allows both groups to get more of the education they need. In a larger school, maybe even more differentiation would be possible.

But yet, it is very difficult for a teacher with 20-30 kids in a room (especially with 6 different periods of teaching a day) to individualize instruction the way it should be. More to the point, kids and parents resist it!

Interestingly, in other countries such as Japan, Finland, and Singapore, kids are not split up until the upper grades. The idea in those countries is that the higher-achieving kids tutor and help the lower-achieving kids. I have to admit that the system does seem to produce results! Of course, those countries don't venerate individualism the way we do in this country. I believe that is a weakness in their systems.
Click to expand...
We have something called 1-2-3 math here. We are pretty much alone among the states in using this math. It intergrates statics's, algebra, and geometry into one course. I hear that all of the the students who started with the new program a few years ago are failing AP Calculus. At least at one school in Paulding. Add to the one track program the issue of no books and the fact that there is not a set curriculum and I believe it is a recipe for disaster. That is why grand kid is getting a real math class after school every day. More work for kid and we have to pay for it. Makes me a little angry. It costs twice to educate a child properly these days if they want to make it in college. At least here it does. We have a pretty good program for special needs here though. Gifted children are not considered special needs in this state apparently. :rant
 
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