tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post3799154248119287518..comments2024-03-24T11:39:28.574-04:00Comments on NYC Public School Parents: Nightline on test prep & the gifted exams: more "choices" for parents or magnifying social inequities?Patrick Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10631038958645725010noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-50762015605328811002012-04-22T19:31:19.773-04:002012-04-22T19:31:19.773-04:00It was bad enough when my kids entered kindergarte...It was bad enough when my kids entered kindergarten, some 16 and 20 years ago, but now the situation is so clearly weighted in favor of families that have the money as well as the ability to prep their kids, that even Walcott recognizes it--though he tries to backtrack on what he says. Do they really believe that only 6 kids in the South Bronx can benefit from a gifted program?<br /><br />And by the way, there hasn't been any discussion about how testing at such an early age discriminates against children born toward the end of the year. Several months can make a big difference in maturity at that age, and even if the test supposedly corrects for the child's age in months, it affects their willingness to go with strangers and to focus on a task for that long. <br /><br />I have told this story many times, but both my children failed their initial screening for the D22 gifted program, yet both were top students in the D22 CIG program, went to Stuyvesant, and Ivy League schools (their choices, not mine). How many children who could benefit from a "gifted" education--which I believe is virtually all children-- are being screened out by these tests?<br /><br />Only when kids have been brought up to the same level, after a year or two in a mixed kindergarten or first grade class with appropriate attention from a good early childhood educator, might it then be fair to test them. Better still would be to give all the schools the kinds of programs parents will pay thousands to try to get their kids into.Ellen Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-81264972119141760712012-04-18T21:29:27.364-04:002012-04-18T21:29:27.364-04:00Many parents are actually doing their children an ...Many parents are actually doing their children an injustice. So many get into the program because that have been prepped and then can't keep up with the pace when they get to school. In turn, they get frustrated and recognize when their peers, who are academically superior, have natural success. Just because a kid passes the test does NOT mean he or she is gifted.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-74570533097033132962012-04-16T15:36:55.081-04:002012-04-16T15:36:55.081-04:00I have to say, I'm a former parent of NEST and...I have to say, I'm a former parent of NEST and my son was able to test at the school level and got a seat in the 7th grade there. He came from District 22's Hudde and started in PS 251's EAGLE Program. When schools handled there own testing and controlled it it seems that it was more equitable and fair. He didn't compete with the city. I sought it out for him. NYC has corrupted the GT process. Teachers identified the children and recommended them for the programs and those children would be a great fit and it was collaborative with their local school. There's no reason every school can have a class dedicated to this type of opportunity. This would remove the test and the competition for 300 seats at NEST. Too bad NEST doesn't consider becoming a neighborhood school and splitting their program with GT/Gen Education. They probably would know how to educate children who came in struggling. It would be a challenge. Many parents are interested in these programs. Children don't chose these schools. Again, Teachers identifying the children and being recommended is a better system. What about Hunter? They've raised the stakes as well for entry. This school is untouchable and very elite and certainly doesn't represent the diversity of NYC.Khemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10339020414654703472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-56192926317243336082012-04-16T10:57:21.837-04:002012-04-16T10:57:21.837-04:00As I comment any time I can when G&T programs ...As I comment any time I can when G&T programs run by the current NYC DOE come up -- the tests in use by the DOE do not test for intellectual giftedness the way the Stanford-Binet does. Instead, they test for "school readiness," meaning for how close this child is to reading, writing, doing math, etc. The Bracken School Readiness Assessment in particular SCREENS for verbal learning disabilities. Four out of ten children in the US struggling with learning to read. So use of the BSRA is discriminatory for entrance to programs labeled "gifted," since many children can be gifted and learning disabled at the same time. <br /><br />Susan Crawford, Director<br />The Right to Read ProjectSusannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-21608471948516551812012-04-16T04:54:24.582-04:002012-04-16T04:54:24.582-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13299920644015317124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-79220524437078323402012-04-15T19:35:37.031-04:002012-04-15T19:35:37.031-04:00I am so glad that you did this story. Of course it...I am so glad that you did this story. Of course it is about SES, parents in the know, and sort and select policies. It will surely result in separate and unequal classes and opportunities. There is no need for this. Each school should have a school-wide Renzulli model of gifted education that develops the gifts and talents of all of NYC students.rebelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12979189421553088631noreply@blogger.com