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Gifted Education: Plenty to Discuss, Plenty to Debate
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My habit is to tell a child: "What a fine piece of work. You must have given it a lot of thought." I have known too many gifted people who just sat and waited for the world to hand them the prizes so many people had told them they were entitled to.
Dear Extra Credit:
I have a son and daughter, both identified as gifted. We are fortunate that our experience in the elementary school gifted program, at C. Hunter Ritchie here in Fauquier County, was excellent. The GT teacher there was so accommodating. She made sure every student was being challenged, ensuring all the children grew a year academically. Our middle school is also doing a good job.
The only problem I have had is with the county's refusal to even test my son for his readiness to take algebra in sixth grade. I had to weigh whether it was worth the fight to get him into algebra and decided it is not.
Middle school requires such a social adjustment, I'm still not sure if it would be wise for him to be in with older children for math. I am now hoping that his year in sixth-grade math will challenge him sufficiently.
We are also fortunate to have Mountain Vista Governor's School serving our county among others for 11th- and 12th-graders. We are hoping it will serve ninth- and 10th-graders in the future.
Joanne Hoelscher
Warrenton
Not a fight, but at least a conversation would have been worthwhile. Kim Raines, Fauquier's instructional coordinator for math, says she first discouraged a request that might have been yours because of various complications, but upon reflection realized she could make it work and sent out word.
She is sorry you didn't get that message and says it is not too late. I e-mailed you her number. Parents can't change ill-considered decisions if they don't at least ask polite questions about them.
Please send your questions, along with your name, e-mail or postal address and telephone number, to Extra Credit, The Washington Post, 526 King St., Suite 515, Alexandria, Va. 22314. Or e-mailextracredit@washpost.com.
