Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy Annoyed at the gifted program

About a week and a half after school started this year, my son's teacher informed me that she was recommending him for the gifted program. While I haven't been thrilled with their 30 minutes a week, at least he seems like it's making him think, and he's enjoying it. Last night I took a tour of a magnet school where I am considering sending him, and spoke to the gifted teacher there. She told me that in this county, they don't recognize anyone as "gifted" until third grade. Instead, they have a "nurturing" program where kids whose teachers think they may be gifted see a separate teacher who isn't even trained to work with gifted students. Then at the end of second grade, they are tested for the gifted program. Okay, I know that every school system has different policies, and if my son can't be in the gifted program until third grade, so be it. I don't expect the whole district to change their policies just for one kid. But I admit I'm a little miffed that the teacher and administrators just flat-out lied to me. Probably to get me to shut up about the fact that my son wasn't learning anything in their school.
I'm entering both of my kids' names into the lottery to get into the magnet school next year. It's not perfect, but it has a much more broad curriculum and they will learn SOMETHING there, I'm sure. And, most importantly, the people who work there are honest about what they can and can't do for my children.
Anyway, no question or anything, just a warning to other parents. I can't imagine that lying about an imaginary gifted program is common practice, but it may be something to check into if you have suspicions.

Hi treecritter,

I'm sorry you're so frustrated with the current school. It's great that the magnet might be an option. I'll keep my fingers crossed that it works out!

On the part of the current teacher, I wonder if it might not be more a matter of semantics than lying. Do you think it's possible that the teacher just looks at the "nurturing" program as the gifted program of the lower grades, and didn't think to call it something else, like enrichment? I could imagine the teachers at our school doing this, not in an attempt to deceive, but out of a lack of awareness that their term might be misconstrued as something more in-depth. Just a thought.

I hope you don't look at this post as me suggesting you shouldn't be upset. You are obviously in the best place to judge what's going on, and have every right to your own feelings. I just wanted to mention this, in case it might be a different way to look at it. Regardless, I think your warning that parents be aware of what schools advertise as GT is a very important one.

Again, good luck with the magnet school!

You might be right about the teacher misunderstanding. I don't really care what they call it - my big issue is that the teacher who does it is not trained to work with gifted kids. The teacher has always been very honest with me, and may have just not known the difference. The administrators HAD to know.

That's the system they have in our district. It has the same name, the only difference is that they're not "formally identified" until third or fourth or whenever. That's apparently because some parents get annoyed if their child has a label and then loses it (probably the parents who are over-invested in the label to start with). Does it matter what it's called when you knew exactly what the program entailed, that is, 30 minutes a week of non-curricular pullout?

I'm not concerned with the name. My concern is the fact that i was under the impression it was a formal program, which would require a trained and licensed gifted teacher to be conducting it. It is not - it's just another teacher that they hired, with no formal training in working with gifted students. She may have a natural talent for it and be just as good as someone who is licensed. But I thought it was deceptive to lead me to believe it was a formal class when, in reality, it's just half an hour with a different teacher. I guess it's just bothering me that I don't feel they were honest, for whatever reason. Why not just let me know this from the beginning? I probably still would have allowed him to be in the program - but I would have felt more informed about it.

The "gifted" NYC program was a joke

I can see why it bothered you, Treecritter.

It sounds as though it gave you the sensation that they see no problem with patronizing you and not treating you as a real partner in your child's education. I agree, that kind of subtle message is one to tuck away and check in on periodically. It's possible it was a series of mixed messages-- but it is also possible that it means something more about how the school/program views parents.