Goal: no gifted minorities left behind

Richmond Times-Dispatch ^ | 11/23/09 | Bob Brown

[LibWhacker]

In Henrico County schools last year, African-American students made up 36 percent of the enrollment and 7 percent of the children who received gifted education.

Chesterfield and Hanover counties saw similar patterns the last school year.

Area school officials who provided the numbers acknowledge the disparities and say they've dug in with task forces, targeted programs and studies.

But last week, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine put the issue in the spotlight with an order to analyze disproportionately low representation of minority students in gifted education.

[Jack Hammer]

“But last week, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine put the issue in the spotlight with an order to analyze disproportionately low representation of minority students in gifted education.”

Uh... just a guess here, but possibly low numbers of gifted “minority” students.

And, let’s face it, we’re not talking about Asians here, and nor is Gov. Kaine, come to that.

[pnh102]

Of all the things that should be based on merit and nothing else, it should be the “Gifted” programs they have in schools. What does racial “parity” have to do with being admitted into this program?

Of course, the school system has 2 options. Kick out as many gifted whiteys, asians and other non-blacks as needed so that the the number of gifted blacks in the program is equal percent-wise to the number of blacks in the school system or admit enough non-gifted blacks into the program so that the same goal is achieved without kicking anyone out. Of course, the effectiveness of the "Gifted" program is diluted since it will have to be dumbed down to keep up with the large number of ungifted students attending it.

[C19fan]

Others, including the NAACP, say it's partly the way schools identify the students. They want to see broader criteria used in identifying prospective gifted students and a more flexible screening policy that considers student populations at the school level and not just the district level in hopes that such factors as socioeconomic status would be better addressed.

Another dumbing down affirmative action programs. Then when these students enrolled in the program due to "flexible screening" start getting F's the NCAA will be back screaming racism. Then the gifted program will be dumbed down so these students can pass. Then kids with affluent parents who want to achieve will flee the public school system for private school. In the Richmond area, people move to Henrico and Chesterfield counties to escape the Richmond public schools. Even in very nice parts of City of Richmond itself the white kids go to private schools leaving the public schools almost all black. Of course, the real reason is unmentionable: the whole anti-education attitude of African-American youths who think being smart is acting like "whitey".

[blam]

We ought to start a class action law suit against ALgore and recover the $100+ million he is reputed to have made off this hoax.

[stephenjohnbanker]

I was in AP courses (1969-1972). AP is so watered down today that anyone can enroll in it. They acually have “remedial tutorials” for AP students....LMAO!!

[denydenydeny]

The conclusion will be, of course, a change in the definition of “gifted.”

[Hodar]

African-American students made up 36 percent of the enrollment and 7 percent of the children who received gifted education.

BS. or for the bilingual Freepers, El Toro Poo-poo

If we were to expand these statistics, they would have us believe that 19.4% of the population is 'gifted'. Really? 19.4% of the Black population are considered 'gifted'? If I said that nearly 1:5 white students were 'gifted' I'd be lamblasted as a racist fraud, and justifiably so.

So, is the author a liar, or a racist? Or, do the definitions of 'gifted' as the term applies to a minority mean 'average' when compared to the general population?

[I Buried My Guns]

Not touching thisstory with a 10-foot pole!

Actually I will: I had a friend who taught 3rd grade in CA. He said that the policy of his district was to get minority students into the gifted programs NO MATTER WHAT.

Since they cannot, by law, give IQ tests in CA schools they had to use other factors. Outcome: The best-dressed black children were abrorbed into the program on the thought that if their parent(singular, always) was making the effort to dress their chillun nicely then that demonstrated parental involvement and thus the odds of success were increased for that student.

It had nothing to do with merit, intellect, or grades, and of course the limited slots meant that for every nicely-dressed black child brought into the program a genuinely smart kid was expelled.

[JoSixChip]

It would be interesting to do a study on the relationship between single parent homes and student performance or welfare homes and student performance. I know this will never happen, it does not advance the progressive agenda. Screw the children in the name of “it's for the children”.

[Eagle Eye]

The term "gifted" should be banned unless the terms "moron", "idiot", "retard", or "dumbell" can be used to describe the opposite end of the bell curve.

Many so-called 'gifted' kids work extremely hard and their achievements are hardly gifts.

[equalitybeforethelaw]

The concept of equality and freedom is so lost on dems. To them, it is race, pander, race, pander, and then some more race. God I am sick of these aholes.

[SevenofNine]

Hey Stephen I got better story

When I was going to school in North Hollywood some La Raza people got tick off because Asian students were getting better grades for AP and SATS score and so they make lots of ruckous call it racist they threated sue the district so what happen

They kick Asians out and brought in Latinos in on some class placement turn out they got lower score than Asians

So they brought back the following year

[LibertyThug]

Sadly, gifted programs in most districts are stacked with kids who aren’t gifted, just usually high achievers who got in because there weren’t enough gifted kids to put in or because of pushy parents who wanted their children to be in the programs.

[RobbyS]

IMHO, the main problem is black culture, which is thoroughly anti-intellectual, and which denegates academic achievement,or to use terms that used to be fashionable admires “right-brained” abilities and disdains “left-brained” abilities. Jews, of course, are the opposite. So lots of black athletes and few Jewish ones. Now I have fit musical talents into this scheme. Do you think it washes if I compare a musician like Louis Armstrong with one like George Gershwin?

[Hacklehead]

If asians were counted as minorities the numbers would work out better.
I think we all know what’s going to happen.
1. Make the entrance tests/criteria easier to increase the numbers of a certain group.
2. When that fails eliminate the test since it was racist anyway.
3. Set a quota requiring a minimum number of the desired group.
4. When the desired group flunks out disproportionately, make the subject matter easier.

Why don’t they just take the remedial course and rename it “advanced”. That would solve all their problems.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“They kick Asians out and brought in Latinos in on some class placement turn out they got lower score than Asians

So they brought back the following year”

Seven, I have learned a few things over the years....

1) study habits trump natural intelligence 2 to 1

2)It appears that certain Asians have an aptitude for mathematics.....they also have a strong work ethic.

Like I stated previously, AP ain’t what it used to be.

In 1976, I moved to 5747 Laurel Canyon Bl. North Hollywood. (luxury apartment)

I understand this is now a ghetto. Sad to hear.

Great hearing from you!

Be well!

[Pietro]

I'm foing to save Henrico Co a ton of $$$:

Look at the family structure.

There, I'll accept a 10% residual on the millions saved.

[CharlesWayneCT]

Part of the problem is how the “gifted” program is used.

For example, a “gifted” program can be used to entice good students into poorer-performing schools. In that case, students already IN the school might be passed over for students outside the school, simply because the good students already IN the school are already pulling up the school’s numbers. Since the poorer-performing schools are invariably minority-majority, that would discriminate against minorities.

On the flip side, a lot of parents might use specialty schools to get their children out of problem-schools they are assigned to. Since white families are more likely to try to move their children out of “problem schools”, this would mean the applicant base for specialty programs would be skewed away from minority students.

In our county, to go to a specialty school you need transportation to feeder-bus routes. Children of parents who have flexibility, or children who have a parent NOT working, would be more likely to be able to take part in these “gifted” programs, which might skew things away from minorities where they might be single-parent households, or where the job schedules just don’t allow for transportation to common bus collection points.

There is also the issue that white parents might feel more motivated to support their children in being “gifted”, while minorities may not see the advantage or the point.

All these factors could reduce minority participation, BEFORE you get to where you would evaluate the participants.

BTW, I’m certain that part of the reason for “gifted” programs is that liberal whites who tend to control the process want a way to get their kids out of minority classrooms. I’ve seen them make speeches at hearings, struggling not to make the obvious statement that they just don’t want their kids going to the minority school where gangs and drugs are interfering with education.

[SevenofNine]

I know a kid took AP test he told me that known they dumb it down for everybody

Really sad