Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion The Obama Presidency & Gifted Education = A Bright

Future for the Educational system.

The Barack Obama Presidency will change the Gifted Education landscape for the better and brighter. Regardless of your political views, expect Gifted Education to flourish under the Obama Presidency.



Why? For the simple fact that his wife, Michelle Obama - The First Lady of The United States of America, is a Gifted.

And every good man listens to what their wife has to say about anything.



If the Bush Administration's defining Educational reform was the "No Child Left Behind" plan (as a Gifted, I still support the idea), let's hope the Obama Administration will work towards Gifted Education (maybe with a catchy phrase, No Child Held Back?).



& if you wanted to know, we pulled this fact from http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12268846716 and did some research on Michelle Obama's gifted education background.

My one big worry is that GT education isn't listed on their education plan on the whitehouse.gov page...

To be fair, they haven't been in office for 6 hours yet. Don't expect change to come overnight.

Just let the First Lady get into his ear.

Oh, yes. Read the other thread on the inauguration--I'm not AT ALL into immediate gratification. Not what I'm talking about at all!

But the website is VERY specific and detailed about what the administration plans to tackle. GT ed is not on the list.

Science and math is, so that will help. Revamping NCLB is, so that will help. But GT ed is not specifically listed.

Not sure if it was mentioned on this board yet, but Michelle Obama and her brother both skipped 2nd grade and were apparently in gifted programs. Assuming she had a good experience with the skip, she would be a great person to spread the word about the benefits of acceleration for gifted children. Then again, like you Kriston, I see no evidence that gifted ed is on their priority list at this point...

Maybe it's time for a letter-writing campaign...

Maybe letters to NAGC to see if they would seek her endorsement for their stance on acceleration...

I like that!

Maybe I'm just the eternal optimist, but the way I read their education plans, gifted ed. will be improved.

I initially was disappointed not to see gifted ed. specifically referenced. However, on second thought I think it would be a bad idea for them to specifically focus on gifted ed. since gifties are in the minority and those who aren't gifted (and some who don't yet know they are) would surely question their priorities if they focused on gifted ed. above all the other problems with our educational system. Actually, I think I would question their priorities. It would be too much like NCLB. The solution to the issues with NCLB is not to prioritize one category of learner over the needs of another - that's what got us into the mess we're in now after all!

The way I read their educ. goal is that they are focused on the prize: an improved future for the country. The details about how they plan to achieve that improved future specifically call out a focus on math and science and individualized education.

To me, that's their way of improving gifted ed. in addition to non-gifted ed. AND it is a great way to approach the issue without it getting rejected right out of the gate.