I found this from back in July and it seems he's writing in response to the push for pre-K programs in our state. This letter includes more derision of gifted programs.
Right way to teach
I was really surprised to learn from the Herald-Leader that �the state is recruiting pre-K advocates to strengthen goals of education.� Educators say, �Pre-K programs can improve the state�s work force and save tax dollars.� Pre-K diplomas were awarded to 3- and 4-year-olds. The owner of Shaw�s child care in Lexington says: �We teach them Spanish, sign language, they get their sounds down, we have them reading ready.� A child cannot learn reading before adequate language skills and vocabulary.
That means not just memorizing hundreds of words but how these words relate to thought.
Compare this to the nation that is leading in educational progress among the tested world�s 57 countries. In Finland, children start elementary school at age 7. The schools have no honor societies and no classes for the so-called gifted. They have no marching bands, proms or valedictorians, and they have no organized competitive sports programs. Physical education, arts and music are included in the curriculum. At 9, they start a foreign language and at 11, a second foreign language. By ninth grade, students have achieved 100 percent literacy and are way ahead in math, science and reading. Daily homework takes 30 to 60 minutes.
All teachers have master�s degrees in their teaching specialty. They also have to show competency in the extremely important heterogeneity in child development and learning.
This basic pragmatic approach in education has achieved the desired results.
Pentti Teraslinna Lexington
I'm thinking about including this in my response. It's about special needs education in the Finland.
Children whose development according to experts in education and pupil welfare services and parents or other guardians, involves risk factors related to learning potential, shall also be entitled to special support.
It's been pretty well documented that gifted children have risk factors related to learning potential - learned underachievement and unhealthy perfectionism.
