I'd say you are in good company... an old thread from 2019 (
https://giftedissues.davidsongifted...racking-in-san-francisco.html#Post246277) discusses potential pros and cons of detracking. The last post to-date in the thread links to a blog post dated 2007, related to ability grouping (which some may equate with tracking, the opposite of de-tracking).
This post from 2016 (
https://giftedissues.davidsongifted...le-about-poor-school-fit.html#Post229604) highlights that meeting children's educational needs includes providing:
- appropriate academic challenge
- true intellectual peers.
Intellectually gifted children also have these needs, however meeting these needs may take a concerted effort: The appropriate academic challenge and true academic peers for intellectually gifted pupils are not typical and therefore their educational needs are not met in a typical classroom. Flexible grouping for each academic subject, by readiness and ability, has been a means to meet the needs of ALL pupils, providing equal OPPORTUNITY for material in their proximal zone of development... not equal OUTCOMES.
Over the years, a number of parents and other participants on this forum have had these issues on their radar. These particular posts go back 5 years... 8 years... even 17 years. At that time most people were generally not concerned about being doxxed or "cancelled" for discussing these issues.
While society appears to readily accept variances in athletic ability and celebrate those who excel in athletic feats and accomplishments, there has been less willingness to acknowledge variances in intellectual ability, and less celebration of intellectual/academic pursuits and accomplishments.
