Pauline James: Let's help the brightest be their best

Kids come in all shapes and sizes. If a child in the group is unusually tall, she will be encouraged to go into a sport that takes advantage of her height.

[been there and done that]

Thank you for calling attention to this easily overlooked group of students. No Child Left Behind has focused attention on on bringing up the bottom; the top is easily overlooked, especially if these kids are not causing "problems". In South County, there are 2 administrators who are expected to oversee and provide GATE services for 16 schools. There is very little money budgeted to keep the attention of the brightest of the brightest. Teachers are already overwhelmed in overcrowded classrooms of children of mixed abilities. As parents, we must advocate for our children and make sure they are being challenged to their highest potential. Get into the classrooms, talk with your school principal, meet with district administrators. Be the squeaky wheel that will help your child, and just may help to save what little is left of the school programs that serve these amazing children.

[Hey Pauline]

Good luck with that. You see how the linch crowds go after Pacific Collegiate, whose inception was born from exactly what you are talking about.

[Margie Bowles]

As an advocate for appropriate education for the brightest children in our schools I served as a resource teacher for the gifted in the district in which I taught. I had the opportunity to teach many bright students over the years and found the California Association for the Gifted to be a great resource for me as a parent and a teacher. I highly recommend what CAG has to offer. Thank you, Ms Jones for these appropriate and timely words.

[Skipper]

Happy to report that my GATE kids have had wonderful experiences in Santa Cruz public schools and that our family has enjoyed the many GATE sponsored parent education and family nights over the years. I especially appreciate that program and daily focus continues even as funds decline.