Tammy - I think you're onto something there. And Kriston - I'm honored to be quoted!
The GT experts I heard saying this were definitely saying this in the context of NCLB and how this has made it difficult for teachers and administrators to focus on anything but getting past the test. Not to mention continued and sustained budget cuts that have elilminated many extras (which at our school means no GT specialist, no chess club, after school programming, etc). Our school was able to get some extra money this year by marketing and getting enrollment up. What did they do with the extra money? They got a math specialist for the kids BEHIND in math. Saying that will trickle down to better math in the classroom. Well, I haven't seen it. And this is a "good", fairly affluent school.
I can't speak to the past. I had a horrible elementary school experience myself where I was never identified and generally felt like a freakish outcast of some sort, but I never knew why. It was also at a very small Catholic school. I never attended public school until high school level. Which compared to K-8 was WONDERFUL. I definitely can identify with Dottie's kids who like a bigger school setting. I went to a huge University for college and that was perfect for me.
But I do think, from a larger view I do feel "No child left behind" = "No child gets ahead" in general. Not that some teachers, admins aren't trying to reach children individually, but the current atmosphere does make it difficult.
