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KC, Thank you so much for your thoughtful post #11. I appreciate your understanding this situation, and thank you for sharing your experience as well.

In a way, I felt like a failure for not being able to do more for Cheri -- because while a teacher can change lessons, and provide different materials, and there are images of those teachers who taught 10 different grade levels in one room school houses, I honestly felt the bottom line for Cheri and kids like her is that they deserve to be around PEERS who are ALSO reading at or above grade level. Because much learning does take place from peers, and this is where the schools really fail Cheri and those like her. I can't wave my magic wand and make everyone in that class suddenly mature to the point she is at, and everyone knows "Cheri is the smartest" but at some point, Cheri should have the experience of being with peers who challenge her in addition to a teacher who tried to do so.

It was very hard for me to write this editorial, because I'm certain someone may read it and conclude: "Big deal, lots of kids are on different levels -- and it's the teacher's responsibility to teach them all."

Well, yes, I would like to say, that's true -- but Cheri deserved MUCH more intellectual stimulation FAR more often than I could provide in that situation with a class that low in reading -- and getting her out was really the only way to help HER progress.

BTW, I hate that public schools are so against tracking. Because if public schools are going to shortchange kids like Cheri in terms of gifted programs, the very least they could do is put all of them together in some public school nearby, so these kids have a chance to discover there ARE other kids like them, planning their futures, reading the books they are reading. But, public schools don't bother at all. So, I have to say: Good for Gov. Bush for taking the time to care about these kids.

That is my honest assessment, even though I know some will disagree.

summer, you said it all. I have another experience. (I believe I related it before, but at my age I get to do things over). At a math teachers conference the speaker claimed that the best teachers should work with the slowest learners, after all, they are the ones who need help the most and the best teacher is in the best position to know what to do.

Next he said that the best teachers should be working with the most gifted students, because they deserve to go as far as they can and the best teachers can take them there.

Finally he said that a strong case can be made for the best teachers teaching the ones in the middle too, how can you deny the skills of the best teachers to any student?

This made a impresion on me, and I never want to see anyone teaching except the best giving their best. (Which is why I have so many complaints about education in my state.)