Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments Pushback on Willy Nilly Acceleration

What they�re saying, in a nutshell, is that students� abilities vary. That one size does not fit all. That just because someone at 450 Hungerford Drive says all students will meet certain advanced standards doesn�t make it so. To paraphrase the good Dr. Weast (with a nod to Fred S.), these folks are �willing to put ability on the table.�

Unspoken in the article is what this says about grouping. Because remember, MCPS has been eliminating GT classes at the middle school in favor of heterogenously grouped classes. MCPS officials argue that they can offer the same accelerated, rigorous classes to all students by providing �support� and �scaffolding� to struggling students. What people in this story are saying�and what parents have known for, like, forever�is that fishes are not wishes. As things are structured now, it�s not working. It doesn�t work for struggling students, and it�s doing no favors to the students who are ARE comfortable with the rigor and acceleration being offered�and could do even more if given the attention.