BY RUSSELL TURNER
GETTING PRIORTIES STRAIGHT
We humans have a bad habit of putting time and energy into things that give us immediate pleasure, and often fail to see the need to take care of those things that will have the ability to make the future a better place. We often take for granted the accomplishments that a very few people have made to the world that have been the basis of our technologically advanced society. Gifted people such as Einstein, daVinci, and Tesla had the ability to think and solve problems that the vast majority of humans lack. Without their insight our world would be much different. Throughout history there has always been a small part of the population that has their insight; when we do find them we should do everything possible to encourage and nurture their abilities. Under Oklahoma law schools are required to provide gifted education, but districts are given flexibility to design programs to serve their students. Oklahoma is also one of just four states to fully fund gifted education according to the Davidson Institute, a nonprofit that supports gifted young people. That’s an estimated $55 million this school year. One of the state’s largest school districts wants to eliminate the specialized classes for the most gifted children.
Moore Public Schools’ plan to discontinue a weekly class for its gifted students has raised concerns with state advocates for gifted education. According to state data, Moore Public Schools is the state’s fourth largest district and received $2.7 million in state funds for gifted students this school year, more than any other district. Beginning in the 2019-20 school year, Moore is implementing a STEAM class (science, technology, engineering, art and math) for all elementary students and plans to group gifted kids together within that class. Moore plans to continue testing students for giftedness to receive gifted funding, but spend it on the STEAM class. Their plan is for the new program to be implemented for the 2019/2020 school year, but it has not received approval from the state department of education.
I find it strange that the proposal to lower the academic outcome for our most gifted children does not outrage people. Most schools would never propose something like this in their athletic department. Schools will hire the best coach possible, and money seems to be no object. Too many of our parents seem to be fine with this policy; they would rather their children become great ball players instead of great thinkers. Ask yourself a question, how many ball players have developed technology such as a cell phone, medical scanners, etc. When choosing a ball team they would never put their best players in the same group as the children who don’t have the natural ability to play ball. We think it is a shame to not cultivate the athletic abilities of a gifted person, but in my opinion it is a far bigger shame to not cultivate the gifted mind of a child. We need to start getting our priorities straight, the gifted people of our world have made our life easier and more comfortable than most people could ever realize.
GETTING PRIORTIES STRAIGHT
We humans have a bad habit of putting time and energy into things that give us immediate pleasure, and often fail to see the need to take care of those things that will have the ability to make the future a better place. We often take for granted the accomplishments that a very few people have made to the world that have been the basis of our technologically advanced society. Gifted people such as Einstein, daVinci, and Tesla had the ability to think and solve problems that the vast majority of humans lack. Without their insight our world would be much different. Throughout history there has always been a small part of the population that has their insight; when we do find them we should do everything possible to encourage and nurture their abilities. Under Oklahoma law schools are required to provide gifted education, but districts are given flexibility to design programs to serve their students. Oklahoma is also one of just four states to fully fund gifted education according to the Davidson Institute, a nonprofit that supports gifted young people. That’s an estimated $55 million this school year. One of the state’s largest school districts wants to eliminate the specialized classes for the most gifted children.
Moore Public Schools’ plan to discontinue a weekly class for its gifted students has raised concerns with state advocates for gifted education. According to state data, Moore Public Schools is the state’s fourth largest district and received $2.7 million in state funds for gifted students this school year, more than any other district. Beginning in the 2019-20 school year, Moore is implementing a STEAM class (science, technology, engineering, art and math) for all elementary students and plans to group gifted kids together within that class. Moore plans to continue testing students for giftedness to receive gifted funding, but spend it on the STEAM class. Their plan is for the new program to be implemented for the 2019/2020 school year, but it has not received approval from the state department of education.
I find it strange that the proposal to lower the academic outcome for our most gifted children does not outrage people. Most schools would never propose something like this in their athletic department. Schools will hire the best coach possible, and money seems to be no object. Too many of our parents seem to be fine with this policy; they would rather their children become great ball players instead of great thinkers. Ask yourself a question, how many ball players have developed technology such as a cell phone, medical scanners, etc. When choosing a ball team they would never put their best players in the same group as the children who don’t have the natural ability to play ball. We think it is a shame to not cultivate the athletic abilities of a gifted person, but in my opinion it is a far bigger shame to not cultivate the gifted mind of a child. We need to start getting our priorities straight, the gifted people of our world have made our life easier and more comfortable than most people could ever realize.
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